MY CHEATO IS DYING

[papijames]

Hello there,
Slowing the cheatos in my sump are turning from red to a reddish color. are they dying? what am I doing wrong?
I'm using one of those energy saver CF light bulb 13w=60w output, and it's on a timer from 10:30AM to 9PM. so let me know if I need to upgrade the light, let it on for longer hours, etc.....

PS: I was doing a little experiment and did drop 1 bottlecap of liquid calcium reactor directly in that sump.

[CoryDude]

Sounds like you may need to update the light, judging from what you're describing w/the cheato. Don't think the CF produces the correct intensity and wave lengths for plant growth. But, the more experienced guys will chime in w/confirmation or better suggestions.

[Texreefer]

did you mean from green to a reddish color?

[Jonthefishguy]

Chaeto is not red, it is green. If you have red algae it is probably Gracilaria. I have never seen chaeto change colors to red. When it is dying, it simply falls apart, turns white, or desentagrates.

[subsailor]

the energy cf light is fine I get tons of growth from chaeto from it

[Mr_Cool]

Why are the lights on in the fuge from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm? Usually, they are on in a reverse cycle from the tank lights. Or, like me, people keep the fuge light on 24/7.

This shouldn't make the macro algae die, though. That bulb should be fine, too. I've use one like that before with no problems. Something else is going on. Maybe the liquid calcium?

[papijames]

thank you for your replies guys. after so many people asked question about the color, I went ahead and grabbed the cheato to get a closer look and oh oh, I don't know how to explain it but that thing ontop of the cheato fell apart as I touched it, and the cheato is green under. what's that all about?
Also is the length of time on for lighting good enough? 10:30AM to 9PM

[papijames]

oops, I'm sorry. the lights are on a reverse cycle. so when the lights from the tank go off at 9pm, then the fuge light goes on from 9pm to 10:30am when the tank goes back on

[rz1a]

sounds like cyano growing on top of chaeto?

[tropicana]

sounds like cyano growing on top of chaeto?

Thats my opinion as well.

[nanoty]

Had the same happen to mine. Grew great for a few months then turned to mush in days.

[CoryDude]

Sounds like you may need to update the light, judging from what you're describing w/the cheato. Don't think the CF produces the correct intensity and wave lengths for plant growth. But, the more experienced guys will chime in w/confirmation or better suggestions.

Well, I guess we know what happens when you ASSume. But, in my defense I did say to defer to the more experienced guys. Sorry, didn't know you could use a regular cf on a refugium.

[papijames]

Tropicana and Rz1 I think the 2 of you are correc with the slimmy red Cyanos growing over the cheatos. now what do I do?

[Zoofan]

If it is cyano try to increase flow, do a water change and see if that helps.

[seatrueblue]

There are a few different energy saver bylbs out there. Make sure you have the right color temperature.
I use a 6500K. The standard 3500K isn't usually sufficient for photosynthesis

[Bill S]

The Chaeto came out of my small fuge. It has a 6500 CF on it. I do have a little bit of cyano in the tank, but the chaeto he got was bright green.

[subsailor]

Hmm that is normally pretty hardy stuff, How is your flow through your fuge?

[Bill S]

BTW, some tanks/people have a hard time growing it. Just like Xenia, some tanks will grow it, some won't.

[Kristy]

James,
When we first set up our fuge, we had some cyano settle in there in a couple of places, including a bit on the chaeto. We added a Koralia nano size (1?) and did a water change and never saw it again. Check your flow.