what is this "chaeto" all about??

ok, well ive seen that many people describe their sumps to have a chaeto. My question is.. what is it? (algae right?) what kind of lights would you use to keep this? and what does it do for your tank?

is this recommended to have?

 

It's macro algae. It's like balls of thick green fishing line. Basically, you keep it in your sump, or refugium - it's not pretty but very useful. I light mine with a 6500k compact florescent spotlight. It grows pretty good - basically you use it to remove nutrients (nitrates, phosphates) from your system to improve water quality.

 

its an algae that groes in a tight clump that when placed in ur sump removes nitrates and phospates biologically rather than allow amounts to build up in your tank and cause hair algae, any light even a shop type flourescent will work fine....

 

oh.. well my in my sump is kinda hard to have lights because it has a cap to which the overflows are connected so i cant remove it to install the lights.. is there any waterproof lights i can use? or something i could put inside the sump to light the algae?

also.. if the algae were to die... wont that be a really bad thing? since all the things it absorbed would go back into the tank?

 

all of what was said above.. also, when its time to cut it back, it mixes well with other greens to make a nice salad..

 

fish eat this? cool. is it possible to put it in the tank? and just kinda maintain it in one spot..?

 

lol did you eat your chaeto??

I would not keep it in your display - it won't attach anywhere, it kind of floats in a ball. I keep it in a basket in the sump so it doesn't get sucked into any pumps.

 

That aint right ROFLOL

 

lol hey it might taste good... who knows. hmm.. any ideas on how i can add lights to the sump?

 

I use a clip on light from home depot. It's one of those utility lights. It was like $5 and the bulb was around $5