Chaeto Air Injection

Sounds very similar to the Algae scrubber design that works with an airstone. In theory it sounds like a great idea to me.

 

HI Matt,

Good idea.

In my chaeto basket in my DIY sump, I have a small amount of flow going vback to the basket from my bypass with a ball valve on it. I also let my UV filter return line spill into the basket from a few inches of the water.

I also 'turn' my chaeto over every week of less by hand.

When I don't run the sock much so my corals can get more food in the water column, alot of fine debris gets caught flowing thru it like a natrual filter. When I turn the chaeto, I usually put a spong over the return line for a few minutes to catch the large stuff from going back to the DT, when I remember to anyways.

 

Hi Todd - funny about the UV, I do the same thing as shown in 2nd pic. Even with that and one of my overflow hoses, it still needs more. To be honest, those two things don't add up to much in my tank.
Anyway, sounds like you have a good routine. I guess I am trying to avoid much manual labor here with this. I'll see how it goes.

 

I love the theory Matt and hope it works, I have the same prob in my little CPR fuge. The chaeto grows into the miracle mud, and the chaulerpa( I know, but could not grow cheato forever for some reason) covers the chaeto. This seems like a cheap little way to add a little flow and even maybe turn the cheato.

Like it

 

Any thoughts on what tests I should do here?

I was thinking about pH and nitrates.
Unfortunately I do not get home until my halide is already off so this might have to wait until the weekend to get a good pH reading.

I looked 2 nights ago and the red algae was still present, although it appears to have moved somewhat from the high bubble area.

No salt creep yet. I am using the smallest Whisper air pump they make so that helps that. But perhaps a bigger model would be more effective. Hard to say at this point.

I will take pics and report test results as soon as I can.

matt

 

Great Idea Matt! I have the same issue I am def going coming on board to see your results.!

 

2 week update

Hello all, here is my 2 week update...

Positives:

• Last pH test showed a .1 improvement. I can't directly attribute it as time of day really matters here and unfortunately I am unsure of previous test times. I have a feeling this helped though.
• There is definitely more flow from the bubble disc.
• Red algae appears to have moved from sides to top of chaeto.

Negatives:

• Air injection / increased flow did not kill the red algae.

Last night I cleaned it up and removed close to 2 pints of chaeto. See pics below.

 

Looking good!! Any update on Nitrates?

 

My son woke up before I could get to a nitrates test. I will do one before the next water change though and report back.

I don't exactly see how this would help nitrates - what do you have in mind?

matt

 

I though you mentioned something about Nitrates in a previous post.

My bad