ajmckay Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 So I think I finally figured out how to grow Chaetomorpha . I've had tiny clumps of it before and it never really did that great - just sort of tumbled around then browned out and fell apart... I didn't intentionally take these pictures but they show a nice growth pattern so I'm glad I did. The sump is 36"L x 10"W x 12"H (part of a 30b) and the display is a 40b. 12/6/2015 - I'd had the chaeto for a few weeks but didn't really grow because I had it shoved behind a rock. 12/15/2015 - Growing good but there's some cyano too which is causing a bit of a surface film. 1/4/2016 - it's seriously packed with pods now and it's growing in twisted "dreads" now. I can hardly get to my mantis shrimp cave to spot feed it. Cyano is gone It's time to export! Likely helping the growth: - I've been feeding the hell out of my tank. - Lighting by 2x T5-H0 a 10k bulb and an actinic. Both are really old too - Plenty of flow (guessing 200-300gph through the sump) - Light cycle 7am to midnight (17 hours) Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Nice!! Finally got a light for mine. Set it up like 2 days ago, hopefully it grows I'm using ATI actinic + Giesemann 6500k Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 Nice dude! Loving the red algae. I have a little sprig of Botryocladia/red grape but it's currently being smothered out by chaeto - as are some cool mushrooms. So I need to thin that stuff out a bit - and soon. I've thought about giving it away on here (buyer pays shipping) but not sure how it would do in the cold. It's good stuff though you should see all the pods and stuff in my refugium. Makes me happy. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 Some additional thoughts: My refugium (16.5 gal) is about 40% of my display tank volume (40 gal) and 25% of my total system volume (70 gal). One more thing that I can recall that helped a ton is getting the cyano off. There was a little cyano growing on part of the chaeto and some of the caulerpa. I was feeling lazy so I broke down and used a 1/2 dose of red slime remover (only in the sump - turned the return pump off for 24 hrs). The red slime remover took care of most of the cyano and from that point the macroalgae really took off. Harvested on 1/9 and filled 2 gallon zip locks This is after the harvest - probably should have taken more... Link to comment
Chris! Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Man that is some growth right there! I could never get mine to grow so I tossed it yrs ago. Thinking about finding some more again when I get around to setting my sump back up lol Link to comment
braaap Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Ya mine doesn't grow that much but it isn't dead either. Just kinda living haha Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 Man that is some growth right there! I could never get mine to grow so I tossed it yrs ago. Thinking about finding some more again when I get around to setting my sump back up lol Where in MI are you? I had similar experiences with chaeto before - and usually it would just sit there and either wither away or not grow at all. Ya mine doesn't grow that much but it isn't dead either. Just kinda living haha Apparently it likes overfeeding and tons of light... Link to comment
braaap Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Where in MI are you? I had similar experiences with chaeto before - and usually it would just sit there and either wither away or not grow at all. Apparently it likes overfeeding and tons of light... I've been running mine on a 10 hour light schedule. I turned it to 18 yesterday. I don't feed a lot as my fish are still in QT. They come out Sunday and once they do I will feed more. Link to comment
holy carp Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 AJ, what's your lighting? Your chaeto looks so clean. Mine got totally infested by pink cotton candy algae and I had to chuck it. I was using a 5000K grow lamp and my chaeto was dying but other algaes in the sump (cotton candy and gha) were flourishing. Link to comment
Chris! Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Where in MI are you? I had similar experiences with chaeto before - and usually it would just sit there and either wither away or not grow at all. Apparently it likes overfeeding and tons of light... I'm in Grand Blanc. I've always ran lower nutrient (huge skimmer, carbon dosing/ pellets etc.) Once I get everything back up and fully running again I am going to change some stuff up and try to use a bigger fuge as well.... I think LOL Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Did you do a waterchange after killing the cyano? Or just turn the return back on? I have a bit of cyano in my sump too (none in the display). Debating on dosing just the sump like you did. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 AJ, what's your lighting? Your chaeto looks so clean. Mine got totally infested by pink cotton candy algae and I had to chuck it. I was using a 5000K grow lamp and my chaeto was dying but other algaes in the sump (cotton candy and gha) were flourishing. My lighting is an old 2 bulb T5 HO current Nova. The bulbs are way old 10K & actinic You're right though - you need to clear out the competition for the chaeto to really grab hold. Earlier in my post I mentioned that I had quite a bit of cyano. It grew on/in the chaeto ball and all over the caulerpa prolifera leaves. This resulted in very little growth over the first few weeks (before the first pic). The caulerpa leaves looked crappy and half of them were dying/turning clear. I dosed red slime remover and boom - 48 hours later the chaeto looked much better as did the caulerpa. I think that removing the competing algae allowed the macros to gain a foothold. I'm in Grand Blanc. I've always ran lower nutrient (huge skimmer, carbon dosing/ pellets etc.) Once I get everything back up and fully running again I am going to change some stuff up and try to use a bigger fuge as well.... I think LOL Oh cool that's not far - you going to the Lansing swap in Feb? I'm almost beginning to think that my macros are working a little too well... My skimmer is basically offlike - it's running but adjusted such that it's hardly doing anything. I only have 1 test SPS but it browned out and today RTN'd on me, my snails are dying, and zoas still seem pretty pissed... But on a positive note I haven't had to scrape my glass for like 2 weeks... Hehe. Some of the coral issues could be due to a lighting change as well - might have fried them a tiny bit on accident. Going to run the gamut of water tests tonight as well to make sure nothing is off too much. One thing I did think of recently though is that I only have 4 small fish. I think I'm going to add a few more and that should help to give me at least some nitrates. Either that or I start dosing/harvesting more frequently. I seriously do like the macros though - they look awesome and visitors also like the lushness they bring to the tank. Even my recluse mantis shrimp tends to scurry around more with the macros. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 Did you do a waterchange after killing the cyano? Or just turn the return back on? I have a bit of cyano in my sump too (none in the display). Debating on dosing just the sump like you did. I did not do a water change. I used the Ultra Life brand and it says dose 1 scoop per 15g. I calculate my fuge area to be right around 15g and I dosed a little over 1/2 a scoop. Waited 24 hours then turned the return back on. Didn't see an immediate improvement, but the next day I looked at the tank and noticed that the cyano was completely gone. Amazing stuff if I ever have to deal with cyano again I won't hesitate to use it. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 I did not do a water change. I used the Ultra Life brand and it says dose 1 scoop per 15g. I calculate my fuge area to be right around 15g and I dosed a little over 1/2 a scoop. Waited 24 hours then turned the return back on. Didn't see an immediate improvement, but the next day I looked at the tank and noticed that the cyano was completely gone. Amazing stuff if I ever have to deal with cyano again I won't hesitate to use it. I think I have some chemi-clean. Hm, guessing since the dose is so low per volume that the corals may not be in a lot of danger. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 I think I have some chemi-clean. Hm, guessing since the dose is so low per volume that the corals may not be in a lot of danger. I suppose that was my rationale as well. I had a frag or 2 in the sump when I dosed and didn't notice any ill effects so I figured that by the time the 15g of treated water was mixed into 55g of untreated that it would be sufficiently diluted. Plus the directions specifically say water changes aren't necessary. I did dial my skimmer way back though as it messed with the skimmer for a few. Link to comment
Chris! Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Oh cool that's not far - you going to the Lansing swap in Feb? I usually don't end up going to the swaps. Something tends to always come up or one of the kids ends up getting sick. If all goes well I might tho, when is it? lol Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 I usually don't end up going to the swaps. Something tends to always come up or one of the kids ends up getting sick. If all goes well I might tho, when is it? lol Feb 21st http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/announce-frag-meets-swaps/207465-michigan-coral-expo-swap-lansing-mi.html Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 Update: It's an admittedly quick decision on my part - but if my tank wants nutrients who am I to deny it? So to join my ocellaris clown, sixline wrasse , banggai cardinal, and yellowtail blue damsel I moved my new flame angel out of QT. I've always wanted this fish but could never justify the expense... My mother-in-law was cool enough to get my a gift card to my LFS and I'm pretty stoked. I got a female and I'm super happy with her. So to fill the vacancy in the QT I picked up a Clarkii clown and another yellowtail blue damsel - these guys will most likely inhabit the sump in a few weeks. Finally - while talking to the LFS emp about my plans she mentioned that it's best to keep the chaeto ball from getting too dense - hadn't thought of that before but it makes sense. Sure enough when I stuck my fingers into the ball I found that it was quite densely packed and growing back into itself all twisty like. So I pulled it apart just a bit. Link to comment
Chris! Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Thanks for the link. If nothing comes up I'll swing out. I need to get me some new pieces anyway What LFS do you use? Do they have a decent SPS selection?? Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 I try to visit them all Kees usually has some decent SPS. The frag swap will have some for sure. Link to comment
paulsvang Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 Looks like it's growing very fast. My gracilaria and caulurpa doesnt grow as fast as yours. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Looks like it's growing very fast. My gracilaria and caulurpa doesnt grow as fast as yours. Are you providing it enough nutrients, proper flow, and lots of light? The other thing that consistently screwed me up was having nuisance micro algae mixed in with the macro. Things like Cyano, GHA, etc... Link to comment
paulsvang Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I have cyano growing in the main tank. Been trying to get rid of it. Link to comment
TFish77 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I have cyano growing in the main tank. Been trying to get rid of it. large water changes! Link to comment
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