Chaeto and phosphate question-

J

jcono

AC Members
Mar 20, 2006
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I cannot seem to get chaeto to flourish in my tank.

Could this be because my phosphates are almost undetectable? That is what my LFS guy thinks, and I guess it would make sense.

Anyone agree? I'm a little confused as to why I can never get my nitrates down to 0 while my phos. are always pretty much 0.


Amonia and -ites are zero, -ates are always around 20ppm which is why I got the chaeto in the first place. Can't seem to bring down the nitrates!

Thanks for your help!
Jano
 
I can't say it would outright kill it, but if phosphate is limiting, then the growth of chaetomorpha can be slow to nonexistent. You may also be iron limited. Try adding a fraction of the recommended amount and see if that doesn't help any. What kind of flow is going around the Chaetomorpha? Lighting, etc? Also, be aware that while your LFS may test the phosphate at 0, that usually never means that it is actually zero. If it is registering above .02 ppm, then you have too much.
 
I have 2 MJ1200 for circulation. About a week ago I got the Nova Extreme t5 HO lights. 4x 39W.
 
Is the Chaetomorpha actively tumbling in the flow? How much feed flow (actual water entering the refugium) do you have, roughly? Is the water being filtered by a skimmer or something before entering the 'fuge? Do you use any phosphate removal media?
 
I actually had the chaeto in an aquaclear 70 HOB filter- with no other filter media.
I have an aquac remora HOB skimmer and I don't use any phosphate removal.

I have since put a new hunk of chaeto in my tank to see if that will bring down nitrates.

My LFS advises me not to get too hung up on numbers- as long as I have coralline growth and little soft corals popping up things are probably O.K.
 
chaeto, although only requires low to med. lighting, some sort of source of light on top of the filter instead of relying on natural room ambience would be advised.
Putting it in the display tank would pose no harm, but some of the critters might pick away at them, and could grow out of control if not trimmed on a regular basis.
While it's true if your corals are indeed growing at a healthy rate, that would probably indicate a healthy tank, but it could be a very objective way to determine the condition of your tank.
I know test kits can get expensive, but most LFS's do water tests for free.
If your LFS can't/don't test your water for free, then you should perhaps look for a more customer-friendly store.
 
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