Using Chaeto

SuperScro

SuperScro

AC Members
Sep 3, 2006
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I was looking to use some Chaeto algae for my tank, yet I don't quite have the money just yet to set up a hang on refugium. I know Chaeto is very beneficial and ideal to have in my tank. I heard that it can grow pretty fast too, depending on how much nutrients are in the tank. My tank has been set up for about 4 weeks, cycled in about 20 days. Can I place the chaeto in my tank? Will it overgrow? Not just a good idea at all? Or will my snails, hermits, or even my Cardinal eat it? Even If i Don't add it just yet, I will invest in a hang on refugium before I upgrade my lighting.
 
i dont see why not...I have a ball in my fish only...I used some womans tights, and tied the macro up in that ans secured it inside the tank in the water...so water is contantly going through it..and bits of the algae that stick through the stocking gets bitten off, but, it saves me trimming it down myself...it can only be benificial for your system. When you do finally get a fuge, either throw it in there, or just by some new...

Niko
 
I had a turbo snail in our refugium that would eat chaeto, but our other snails (trochus, astrea, cerith, nassarius) never bothered it. Not sure about crabs, but most fish don't bother it much. I'm sure there's a few that do, but I haven't seen any in my limited experience.

If it begins to grow too large, that would actually be a good thing, as it means it's removing excess nutrients from your water. Regardless of the macro you grow, it should be pruned slightly from time to time as needed. In pruning it and removing that portion from your tank, you are also removing all the nutrients that it took up.
 
I have 2 astrea and two turbo snails, but I think that they would be occupied. My clean up crew right now looks like this. 2 turbos, 2 astrea, 3 nassarius, 4 red legs, 3 blue legs, and 3 other small snails not yet able to identify.

Hopefully my LFS sells the chaeto algae, would like to pick some up.
 
Little update. I do plan to get a refugium, now sure what size or type yet. I was told a refugium with 20% of my tank volume which is 7 some gallons.

Was just thinking of using the hang on size if I don't go reef, except the one is 19 inches long, and it won't really fit on my bowfront tank atm. The base which holds the lighting fixture is in the way. Until I get a new lighting fixture, I can't fit it.

If I do go reef, which will only include a few corals, I will probably have to add a large refugium, except I don't know where to put it atm.

The main reason I was thinking of the fuge is to grow the macroalgae and populate pods in my tank, so in the future I could keep a mandarin and some corals.

Anyone know of a decent fairly priced fuge that I could use for my tank?
 
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