cheato dying off (1 Viewer)

[doubletap4311]

As stated above. Me cheato is dying off. I use 2- 100 watt equivalent spiral bulbs in the 6500 k range. Any ideas??????

 

[kevinandnadine]

I have alawys had a problem with my cheato never grows and alawys looks dark on the outside top layer I think mine is because of flow through my sump is to slow
But grape clarpa has done well for me

 

[cstewart79]

increase flow make sure you have iodine added to your tank

 

[doubletap4311]

I am dosing iodine, iron, and kalk once a week. I use a mag 18 which flows alot through my sump. I still have 20 showing up on my nitrates.

 

[AquaNerd]

what kind of light are you using on your fuge?

 

[kevinandnadine]

Im using a bulb from www.lightbulbsdirect.com: part number is 1P3816 5100K. 19W/85. It is the bulb the Marc (melev) reccomends

 

[doubletap4311]

what kind of light are you using on your fuge?

I am using the spiral compact bulbs 25 watt, equivalent to the 100 watt standard bulbs. They are in the 6500 k color range. I started using just one of them. I noticed it dying so I placed a second bulb near the sump as well. Both are probably 6 -8 inches away from the water. There is absolutely no heat comming from these pc spiral bulbs that far away from the water. I have had the sump running for 2 months. I think my lighting is okay, I have coraline algae on the sides of the sump

 

[Guest]

cheato

Mine started dying off. and I believe I replaced with some of Chris's cheato but still wasn't doing well, so this was recommended and grows like weeds now. And I don't even use anymore. But as I have more and more read up on this process. Micro Algae is like having a garden, you have to keep it cup back and not allow any to just dye off at the bottom.
http://www.petshop-online.com.au/prod1033.htm

 

[doubletap4311]

Re: cheato

Mine started dying off. and I believe I replaced with some of Chris's cheato but still wasn't doing well, so this was recommended and grows like weeds now. And I don't even use anymore. But as I have more and more read up on this process. Micro Algae is like having a garden, you have to keep it cup back and not allow any to just dye off at the bottom.
http://www.petshop-online.com.au/prod1033.htm

I am using the exact item

 

[Bakapuma]

Many of us in the hobby trim back and rotate the chaeto mass every so offten. The idea here is to allow all parts to receive light and to remove the old growth to allow new growth. Keep in the mind that the macro algae is used for nutrient export so removing old growth will remove nutrients. Letting it die off in your system merely adds it back into the water column which defeates part of the purpose of the fuge all together. It is also a good idea to have some microfauna to remove bits of detritus that can clog the chaeto. I know several hobbist that rinse their ball in the water they remove during during water changes to remove any built up detritus. the age of your bulbs is also important. If you are running your bulbs 10 - 12 hours a day, you may need to replace them every 6 months. Also, you need to have a reflector to focus your light down onto the fuge. Just to put it out there. Most people recommend a slower fuge rate to allow abosorption time. I am just still a little shocked that your NH4 is so high. this leads me to believe that you have either been over feeding, not enough skimming or a combonation of both. I would be sure that your water sources is low in NH4 and increase your water changes to get that problem under control.