How to keep Cheato in Sump?

I have a makeshift area in my wet/dry filtration where I am trying to keep and grow cheato to help drop nitrates. I took out my sponge and used that area to put 1/4lb amount... I have a 6500K bulb that I use at night for it...

That aside... here's my problem...
The cheato is slow getting pulled up and out of the area by the mag 9.5 in the sump along with two other pumps ... the flow is powerful and the cheato won't stay in the area where the acrylic arch is at... that used to hold the sponge... there is that area under the bio balls ... but I can't figure out how to get the light under it properly...

Any suggestions on how to keep the cheato in any of the small areas listed above?

Thx!
Ryan

 

well heres the problem you usually want low flow through macro algae and refugiums so the algae can do its job. if its being blown away probably to much flow.

I'm not sure i understand how it is placed pics?

 

build a small refugium out of a rubbermaid container just for the chaeto.. I did and my nitrates began to drop off quick..

 

Here is a pic

It's almost like I need some sort of top with openings for water so the cheato doesn't slowly get pulled up?

Ryan

 

If I built a small refugium... how would I plumb it to the existing sump... I really don't want to get into plumbing ... not very handy... besides ... I have the area where the sponge was that seems perfect if I could just get it to stay in there...

 

Hoping someone can help me brain storm this one...

 

you have too much flow there my friend. it really needs to go into a low flow area pal.

 

You serious? there's nothing i can use to cover the top so it doesn't pull out in to the pump...

 

OK so I know this is not the best set up,but has been working for me for some time now. I just have the small piece of acrylic blocking my pumps and (knock on wood) never had issues with it getting in them..It has never blown around my sump..this will all be changing in a few months when I move.but for now does the job..Im prob pushing 650 ish gal per hr return...you can see in the pics my pump intakes are clean. the chaeto may not look like alot on camera but it is deep and very full,almost time to trim...But like stated above you may have just to much flow in there...the seperate make shift fuge may be better for ya....good luck....jkat

 

Great pics for demonstration purposes! Thanks!