chaetomorpha for my tank

rohnds

rohnds

Large Fish
#1
Apr 23, 2005
408
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Austin, TX (born NYC)
#1
I just obtained a bag full of chaetomorpha. After doing research I learned that many place them in their refugium rather than in their display tank. What I haven't being able to find is their light requirement.
Do they need any light at all? If they do, how much?

Rohn

PS What are their main benefit? pros and cons?

I don't have enough room in my sump for chaetomorpha, so currently I placed them in my main tank? Is this going to be problem?
 

KahluaZzZ

KahluaZzZ

Superstar Fish
#2
Jun 12, 2004
2,778
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Montreal, Quebec
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#2
i have a standard pc bulb 20w over a 10G sump and it works perfectly...it takes all the space...all the 10g is filled.
No real requirements.
Ony pros no cons IMO except in the display it's easily sucked into the pumps cause there are no roots
 

Last edited:
W

wayne

Elite Fish
#3
Oct 22, 2002
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#3
People buy chaetomorpha to suck upo nitrates and organics from their water. Like almost all plants it derives a lot of it's energy, and does this useful work by photosynthesizing, and so yes, it needs light, preferably in the 6500K range and preferably lots of it.

The main problems with sticking it in the display is that it's easily sucked in, also it can look messy, and if you have any herbivores they might simply eat it. Plus if you have high K lighting, it likely won't suit the chaeto. Can't you rearrange your sump and put a light over it?
 

rohnds

rohnds

Large Fish
#4
Apr 23, 2005
408
1
0
Austin, TX (born NYC)
#4
There are 2 reasons why I asked this question. First, my sump is cluttered with the skimmer, pump, heater, powerhead. I am sure If am try, I could find room for them in the sump.
The second reason, if I were to lace it in the sump, it would require placing some kinds of a light source under my tank. No I don't have any LRs in the sump (not now) that require a light source. So it hasn't being a porblem so far.
I will probably spend my weekend taking the sump apart and building a refugium and placing a light.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Rohn
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#10
Oct 22, 2002
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#10
You know you can use just about any of the household energy saver bulbs? The spectrum might suck for display purposes , but will grow algae like a champion? You just need to get a decent, safe , fixture improvised.
 

rohnds

rohnds

Large Fish
#11
Apr 23, 2005
408
1
0
Austin, TX (born NYC)
#11
It has being a little over month since I placed the chaetomorpha in my tank. The NO3 has dropped a little bit but chaetomorpha has not grown as I expected ... not even a little bit. Why?

I have 2 40W bulbs rated at 65000K. This is 65gal tank.

I have almost no traceable amount of PO4 in my tank since I use RO and cold steriled water and do frequent water changes.

Rohn
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#12
Oct 22, 2002
4,077
3
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#12
Macroalgae can be fussy to get going - where is the stuff in the tank? It appreciates high flow, but obviously putting it in a high flow area in the display is risking it being torn to pieces, disaster. The light is ok
 

ctdragonpr

ctdragonpr

Medium Fish
#14
Apr 12, 2006
68
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Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
#14
where did u get that chaeto onn ebay if got it on ebay good luck cause i got some and it never did anything plus it filled my tanks with all the green strigy mess and i had to clean it if u can get mangrove roots or caulepa prolifera its why much better but i recomend the mangrove couse is easier to get going and they dont have much requiermentes
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#17
Oct 22, 2002
4,077
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#17
Mangroves are great to look at, and for biotopes, but practically speaking for removing nitrate et al they are far inferior to macroalgaes. Plus my experience has been you get different logistical problems as they get big, and need a lot of maintenance, room, lighting.
 

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