Chaeto dying again!

[Iplantz]

I just don't get why my chaeto is dying! It keeps breaking into small fragments after whiting out and deteriorating, which I think is causing an imbalance in my water chemistry. What can I do to change this?

[jrsatx20]

maybe not enough light/flow

[Iplantz]

A 12"x6"x12" fuge lit by a 13w Pc 14 hours a day with 100gph flow directly on it.

[R.Allard]

is your fuge full and are you taking some out every couple of weeks?? if you have allot try
taking a little out and throwing it away. i know when i had it in my fuge it had to be cut back at least once a month.

[ErikH]

I couldn't keep it alive either, but I was using tap water then. Excess metals, and phosphates can severly hinder it's growth. Are you running a phos reactor? Can you give a full rundown of your levels? Temp swings? PH fluctuations? Tank Size/Fish list(sized)? LR LS? Skimmer brand?

If your tank is new, and you are moving along slowly, your water may just be too clean...

[MKCindy]

If you are dosing your tank or adding top off water w/kalk, make sure it is in a return chamber after the chaeto. I use Power Glo Florescent lights on my refuge, they are only on about 8-10 hours at night when my tank lights are off to reduce temp. and ph swings. I have been skimmer-less for a few months now, but my chaeto did fine with the skimmer too.

[Iplantz]

I couldn't imaging my water being too clean. I have a 30g tank with 30 lbs of live sand, about 40 lbs of live rock a Aqua C remora skimmer and I run the lights about 14 hours at night. Haven't tested water yet, until I get to austin.

[ErikH]

I couldn't imaging my water being too clean. I have a 30g tank with 30 lbs of live sand, about 40 lbs of live rock a Aqua C remora skimmer and I run the lights about 14 hours at night. Haven't tested water yet, until I get to austin.


How new is the tank again? Try some phosban, I just put some in a filter sock earlier, and stuck a tube from a mj 1200 into the sock. I suspended the sock by zip tying it to my return's hose, and just let the mj hang in the water. The phosban is fluidized in the sock, so it will be alot more effective. If you have phosphates, they will inhibit the growth of macros. Is the remora in a sump? I run my halides for 12 hours, and I also run 6 T5s for 14 hours. Even though my DI Resin is toast, I am holding the phosphates off with phosban.

Check the phosphates of your freshwater. See if that is where the problem is stemming from. You need to be systematic, and find the source of your woes!