So my Chato

Have been trying to keep chato in my fuge for some time now. Its a berlyn system so the fuge is more for live rock in witch I have a ton of in there. But have been noticing some green algae in there that sorta looks like cyano but its green. Gonna put a pic in here of it. Seems to do a good job of eating the trates so have not cleaned it off at all. But my chato gets full of it to the point were I have to wash it off and trim it. And also seems like its out doing the chato and looks not so healthy. Is this a good or bad thing? The algae seems to do its job even though it looks like its starving the chato out. So do I not worry about the chato? Or do I clean the other stuff off? Kinda has be baffled on what to do about it. Figured id post something on here to see what you guys think. Sorry bout the salt creap makes it kinda hard to see. The rocks have coraline on them so I guess thats good but they also have this green crap.

 

Looks a lot like Chlorodesmis. If I'm right, it will definitely starve out the Chaetomorpha. It will be a little harder to export because you'll have to pull the rocks out. However, it will do a much better job at nitrogen reduction.

EDIT: To clarify, do NOT pull this while it's in the sump. You don't want fragments to float through the sump and make it to your display tank. Pull the rock out, pull a bunch of it off, RINSE WELL in a bucket of saltwater, then replace the rock into your sump.

 

yea does a great job and lowering the nitrates and has been in there for quite some time now! almost 5-6 months makes my fuge look like a swamp lmao. But better than my DT think maybe ill just leave it. Have removed it once it comes right back so atleast its doing its job right ?

 

Yes. Periodically remove it. When we talk about exporting nutrients, we are talking about various things;

Emptying a skimmer cup
Replacing phosphate media
REMOVING algae from a refugium. (I.e. you haven't done an export until you remove the algae. While the algae remains in your tank, the nutrients have just changed to a safer form.....BUT THEY ARE STILL IN YOUR SYSTEM. Things can happen that allow the nutrients to be released again).

 

gotcha well guess im gonna get slimy today Dont get me wrong seems like a good thing but read somewhere it was bad to do that. But gonna take your advise for sure and do that. Cuz it makes alot of sense to take out and let new grow and take out ect. so will give it a go. I like my chato better lol

 

Aiight so did my water changed today and decided to take your advise and export the nastys out of them. Cleaned and trimmed the chato hopefully that will help it out

Before

After


Think I might add some more live rock to this chamber as you can see its not all the way full and added some rubble about a month ago. Think some more would not hurt. Took it out cleaned it in my old waterchange water put it back in added fresh water looks so much better now. WOW

 

Wow!!! That's a night and day difference.

 

yea thats what i thought. think it needed it... will be keeping a closer eye on it from now on. Also gonna switch the light on top to a more directional led bulb so it does not shine all over everything cuz the sump was just covered in algae and gunk... Hopefully it does not cause any perams to spike but gonna watch it close too see what happens.