chaeto

cannot get chaeto to grow water parameters are fine, i have a hydor 2 blowing it in a 55 gal fuge, two 10k t5s on it still. I also have been adding iron supplements to it, same size for 3 weeks

 

I would get a lower K-rating light. Somewhere in the 5000k to 6500k.. It will change a lot!

 

Maybe try one acnictic bulb on it. I have one 50/50 I beleive 10k and acnictic on 24/7 and mine is growing like a weed. Four times its size in the last few weeks.

 

Your lighting is fine and I wouldn't add anything to get your fuge to grow. I think the question is if the Cheato is alive or dead/dying - I am assume its alive and just not thriving at a leave of expectations.

Consider the reasons for a fuge in the first place – the dirtier the tank the fast your macro algae will grow. I’ll assume further, you do plenty of water changes and your tank is not “over stocked”. Sounds to me like you are in great shape – just let it be.

I would also suggest not using 24/7 lighting – use a reverse photo period from your tank aside from that…just let it be.

 

thanks for the help

 

+1 on the reverse cycle...12 on 12 off. Another thought , one that affected me in the beginning was I was running the skimmer 24/7 on a tank that was barely mature yet, and there was really nothing in the water to sustain macro algae. I went reverse lighting....6500 k 96w X2 in my 55 galllon fuge...and things are looking much better ...well not looking better...but growing much better !!! only have 2 fish in the tank and lots of Clean up crew ( 125 gallon ) and macro is looking fine. Fuge is a swamp!! but plants are happier