madlynb
madtaz
I have purchased chaeto twice for my fuge. For some reason it doesn't multiply like I have read so many forum pals have talked about. What am I doind wrong?:grumble::frustrat::bowdown:
Chaeto won't grow
- Thread starter madlynb
- Start date
daugherty
part time reefer
what kind of light do you have on it?
wontonflip
I failed Kobayashi Maru
I had the same problem. I switched to a CFL floodlight, 6500Kelvin and equivalent to 100 watts, and my chaeto tripled in size in 1 month. The first one I had died off, but parts of it were still in the fuge when I put in new chaeto, and those parts also grew as well.
madlynb
madtaz
CFL helical 10W. It turns on when DT lights turn off and stays on for 6 hrs. during night.
daugherty
part time reefer
i dont think you have enough light on it
sen5241b
Reef enthusiast
I had chaeto die off too. I put a strong Homedepot "plant light" or Halogen on it and it started growing. I suggest a bare minimum of 1 watt per gallon. Warning, the Halogens will produce a lot of heat. Also, try to flatten the chaeto somewhat so that it all gets light and there are no dark spots in it. I use 2 lights so that if one bulb goes out at least there is some light still going.
madlynb
madtaz
I switched to 100 watt spiral. Thanks.
wontonflip
I failed Kobayashi Maru
What brand and wattage was that, Sen? I'm looking to stop using CFL, but nothing else has worked so far (I even tried the n:vision brand cfl, and those didn't stay on long enough.
sen5241b
Reef enthusiast
I got halogens the cause the chaeto to grow but they produce too much heat. Home depot has some good lights marked "plant light". I use 2 of these:
Google Image Result for http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/61d5b05c-85d7-442d-adbd-0d361c6326ee_3.jpg
I have been having the same problem. i had my first bunch die off and now i have a second bunch. I have two 6500K bulbs on 24/7. Should I turn them off when the tank lghts are on. The top portion of the cheato looks like it is starting to die off again. i have had my water checked several times and it is perfect. Please help!
daugherty
part time reefer
what is you nitrate and phosphate levels. cheto will not grow in my tank even with 192w of pc lights. if you have a low nutrient system it will not grow.
Sunshine
Reef enthusiast
I have a plant light on mine, it all fell apart and there is very little left. I just bought some more off ebay, haven't got it yet. Hope I have better luck with the second batch....
Wes888
Reef enthusiast
I had one of those typical equivalent to 100W spiral energy saving light bulb hanging on top of the water and my Chaeto continuously dying off. Later I changed my fuge bucket to an algae scrubber setup and just let the remaining Chaeto sit at the bottom. Now that I have 2 of those 100W bulb on the algae scrubber, the Chaeto at the bottom doubled in size in the last 2 weeks. I think it just need more light.
sen5241b
Reef enthusiast
Chaeto needs strong florescent light! And the distance of the light to the chaeto is a big factor. If the light is hanging a foot above cheato it may not get enuogh light.
Sunshine
Reef enthusiast
The plant light I have is a florescent bulb. It's 15 inches from the chaeto. I just got mine today from Ebay. It is huge !! Cheaper than what I paid for that little bit from the LFS. And 4 times the size. I'll see if this one grows.
yote
In Memoriam
You probably need more light.
Wes888
Reef enthusiast
My chaeto is at the bottom of the Algae Scrubber bucket.
Can't quite see clearly from the reflection of the water...
Here they are. Nice and solid and green:
Can't quite see clearly from the reflection of the water...
Here they are. Nice and solid and green:
dcantucson
Reef pro
Wes I didn't know you could grow that in your scrubber, too.
A fuge and scrubber all in one. How long has it been growing in there?
A fuge and scrubber all in one. How long has it been growing in there?
