What Is Chaeto?

Chaeto (Chaetomorpa spp.) is a green macroalgae for usually used in refugiums

What is Chaeto used for?

Chaetomorpha or often called Chaeto / Cheato or Spaghetti algae is is a very popular macroalgae widely used in the sump or a planted refugium to reduce the nitrate and phosphate level in the marine aquarium for a more clean water environment .

Can you have too much Chaeto?

Just cut it back every once in a while. Too much shouldn't mess with coralline . Coralline don't need the same nutrients as chaeto. Same here, when it fills the fuge area, I cut in half and the rest goes in the flowerbed out back.

What does Chaeto feed on?

Chaeto is an excellent form of filtration. It feeds on nitrates and phosphates from the water , keeping your parameters in check. Chemically speaking, chaeto uses light for photosynthesis to absorb nutrients from the water into its cell structure. The more it absorbs, the bigger it grows.

Does Chaeto algae need light?

Chaeto doesn't need mucyh light to live. It will take as much light as you give it.

Can I put Chaeto in my display tank?

Yeah, you can grow it in your display tank . Most people don't because its not appealing to look at. All you need is a clear flow through container to put the chaeto in and your tank lights will work to grow it as well. Make sure you put it in a good flow area as it needs to move some from the current to help it grow.

Does Chaeto lower nitrates?

Chaeto consumes nitrate, so reducing the amount of Chaeto will reduce consumption . So with an equal amount of production NO3 will increase not decrease.

What do you do with excess Chaeto?

just throw it in your garden . I just keep it in a bucket of saltwater (mixed from tap water since my tap water source has a lot of nitrates). Keep it near a window where it'll get sunlight. It'll stay alive even with temperature swings.

How much Chaeto is in a refugium?

Some recommend 20 % of tank volume for a refugium. It needs to be harvested regularly to provide room for new growth. Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones.

Does Chaeto need to tumble?

No, your Chaeto does not need to tumble . It is easy and beneficial to tumble when the Chaeto is still small, but as the mass gets larger and more dense it will become more and more difficult, and may eventually stop.

Do you feed Chaeto?

Chaeto needs other nutrients to grow as well, including Iron, Cobalt, and Molybdenum, all of which can become depleted in your reef tank and halt the growth of the algae in your fuge. ...

How do you keep Chaeto alive?

Chaeto needs at least 8 hours of darkness so run the reactor's LEDs for no more than 16 hours. Run a reverse daylight cycle to keep the system water pH stable 24/7. Acclimate Chaeto to the intense LEDs by slowly ramping up the light cycle over a week. Start with AS LITTLE AS 4 hours.

Why does my Chaeto keep dying?

Good water flow allows the algae to efficiently release wastes as well as take in nutrients and carbon dioxide. However, if water movement through the mass is weak, the plants can choke out, starve and eventually begin to die . ...

Can algae grow in LED light?

Contrary to what you may have been told, LED lights do not cause algae growth any more than other aquarium lighting options . ... This also discourages algae growth more than anything else—because it's not the kind of light that causes algae growth, but the intensity of it.

What light do you use for Chaeto?

Where do you put Chaeto?

I would place in between your intake and outtake of your sump . Somewhere it can get good flow and light.