Dying Cheato

[DarkHorseMBA]

Cheato usually grows like crazy in my Refugium, so much so that I've given it away here several times.

The last time I cut back the Cheato, it seems to be having a problem growing back. I would even say it dying. Strands turn red or brown and break off. It been at least 3 weeks like this. My LFS sold me some Iron based "macro Algae food", after a week nothing new.

All my water params are normal
Ph = 8
N03 = < 10
N02 = 0
NH3 = 0
Temp 78

Any ideas?


DarkHorseMBA
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[Big_Pun]

what food is it exactly

[DarkHorseMBA]

Kent, Iron & Manganese for the Macros.

[Big_Pun]

i would be careful on how much iron you are putting in your system if your not testing for iron. you shouldnt need any supplments for your macro algae, your system should feed it, prob reason why its turning colors and dieing

[DarkHorseMBA]

It started dieing before I added the Kent additive.
The Kent was what I was advised would help the Cheato bounce back.
I'll stop the iron, it was only a few drops every 3 days.
Is there'd anything you would recommend I do?

[Big_Pun]

i gotta say ive never had a prob with cheato dieing even after bio pellets, another possibilty is it went sexual and is reproducing. one way to keep it from doing that is a 24 hour light cycle, if thats what its doing. i would just ride it out and leave it alone, unless massive amount start dieing

[DarkHorseMBA]

I thought cheato could not go sexual. Come to think of it there are little bubbles on it that could be spores. Could that be the what the buboes are?
I have it on a 12 hour light cycle, opposite the DT lights. I'll adjust them to 24hr, should I leave it that way or just until it returns to normal again?

[StevenSeas]

I dont think cheato can go "sexual" that is typically only reffered to with calurpa, as is running the fuge on a 24 hr cycle. Everything I have read on cheato says 12 hr cycle shows no difference than a 24 hr, aside from helping to mitigate a ph and DO swing.

[Big_Pun]

I dont think cheato can go "sexual" that is typically only reffered to with calurpa, as is running the fuge on a 24 hr cycle. Everything I have read on cheato says 12 hr cycle shows no difference than a 24 hr, aside from helping to mitigate a ph and DO swing.

that too! forgot it helps with ph,keeps it from swinging so much

[cbianco]

Maybe your nutrients are low.

I keep cheato in my refugium. I don't have fish, I don't feed my tank and I don't add supplements besides C, Alk and Mag. My cheato barely grows but it hasn't died. It could take a year before I could even have a gold ball to tennis ball size of cheato to harvest.

If your tank is devoid of nutrients then the cheato isn't going to grow (possibly die back?).

Christopher