How to save my Chaeto

I added some Chaeto to my refuguim last week because it was noted that I might have some byposis by members of this site. So figured as part of the process I would add this.

The amount of algae I have in my tank is very small, so thought this might help starve what I did have. The problem is my Chaeto is getting smaller, probably half the size it was when I put it in. It is dark green in colour and doesn't show any signs of going transparent. It is also still clumped in a ball and isn't breaking up. So it doesn't look like it is dying, just shrinking.

Problem is I have to import the stuff and I have more on the way, so is there anything I can do to perk it up? I have a clip on LED lamp which has about 30 small bulbs and is pretty bright. I also have a daylight bulb in the unit. I have tried 24 hours and reverse lights.


I am running a phosphate media and skimmer. My phosphate readings are 0, but I know if you have algae that can be a false reading. I also use RO/DI water at TDS 0


Not sure what action to take?

Thanks

 

what do u have in your rufium? they could be eatting it or not enough light?

 

Nothing in the refuguim just a 4" DSB. Well nothing I can see anyway . I have quite bright LEDs a few inches above the water line, so I wouldn't have thought light would be an issue, unless it's the wrong kind of light?

 

Brightness has nothing to do with proper spectrum. 6500K lighting is optimum for macroalgae. A lot of people use a twisty fluorescent bulb in a clip-on flood lamp fixture (found at Lowes or Home Depot).

You might also be having an issue with insufficient nutrients, until it starves out the nuisance algae at least.

 

Thanks guys.

Bill, another noob question then. If the idea is too rid the system of nutrients (and I have a skimmer to help do this) how do you feed the Chaeto with zero nutrients? Or will there always be enough that gets past to support growth?

 

Zero nutrients is a bit of a misnomer. As long as you are feeding something in the tank, you have nutrients; a reading of zero simply means that your filtration (NNR, GFO, macroalgae, etc) is able to absorb them as quickly as they are being created.

As for the skimmer, it removes DOCs to help reduce the bioload on the bacteria. There will always be enough left over to be converted into nitrates that will support some type of algae (unless exported through nitrate reduction filters or water changes).