Chaetomorpha Algae



QUICK STATS
Care Level: Moderate
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Strong
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Color Form: Green
Supplements: Magnesium, Trace Elements, Iron

Chaetomorpha Algae, also known as Spaghetti Algae or Green Hair Algae, is an excellent macro algae for refugiums. Each cell grows end to end, creating long, stiff strands. It grows in filamentous clumps, resembling a ball of fishing line. This algae is fast growing and is not palatable to many herbivorous species.

Chaetomorpha Algae removes both phosphates and nitrates from the water. To increase the amount of nutrients this algae exports, use moderate to high lighting and keep it in an area of high water flow. It should ideally be tumbled in an algae filter

As far as lighting is concerned what would one consider moderate to high? Would a 75W bulb on a 5.9gal fuge suffice for Chaeto? I think the Kelvin rating was 3500 for the bulb. That's what I have on it for now unless someone tells me otherwise.

I have a 6500K compact florescent spotlight on mine, and it grows fast!

I have 2 cfl spotlight bulbs on mine. Grows great. I also have an excess of nutrients in my tank, so Im sure that helps too...

So the question is will what I have be enough? I saw somewhere 5000 Kelvin but I didn't know if that was per so many gallons or what. I don't need it to grow crazy fast simply because I don't have the room. Just steady growth. Anyone use a regular lightbulb?

Oh and I have a good current going on it now with a nano korallia. Keeps it churning well.

I had a regular bulb on mine at first, but i never noticed any growth until I switched to the 6500K CFL, but that could be because I didn't have enough nutrients in the tank for it yet. The benefits are that the new bulb doesn't put off very much heat at all, and it has a built in reflector in the bulb!

this is what I use also...it works great for me

I think the bulbs that melev from RC uses are 5100k and he highly recommends 'em.....here's a link to his site about the bulbs he uses http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

it will grow according to the nutrients in the water too....more nutrients = faster growth,but it also needs to supplemented with iron occasionally,I prefer it to grow fast and trim it regularly...the more you trim it the more nutrient you'll remove from the water and if it grows fast,you have more to share

LadyAqu, on the sump on my 75 I grabbed two old 24" NO fixtures I had and took the guts out. Then I bought a pair of Zoo Medic Tropic Sun bulbs for them and my cheato grows really well. They are 5500K and you can get them for about $7 each. If you have an old fixture laying around this is an inexpensive way to light your fuge.

Hey Redtop, didn't you say once in an earlier thread that you bought your compact florescent spotlight at Lowes? I have a real small fuge section on my 125 and just have one of those clamp on metal shop light fixtures with a normal household bulb in it, and the cheato in there does grow worth crap. I think one of the bulbs like you are using would work good in my situation.

yep,it came from lowes,it's supposed to be the equivalent of 100w output but only uses 27w if I remember correctly......I used it in a clamp on light for a while,I just removed the reflector from the clamp on....now I have a out door light fixture mounted to my stand and use the bulb in it.......I think that chaeto will grow well under any bulb with a k-rated from 5000 to 10000

My chaeto was floating at the top of my fuge today. It is still very green and healthy looking. I have a nano koralia to churn it and it usually does so towards the middle and bottom. Is this normal? It has grown alot and is thick and tightly wound in a nice ball. It seems "heavy". Any info apprecieated.

should be fine,sometimes it floats,I think it gets some air trapped in it and causes it to float

Anyone have any chaeto I could borrow to start off my fuge? I called all the LFS and it seems no one has any. It seems a bit overkill to pay 20 bucks for a clump and 30 shipping when people trim it back so often.

Where did you all get yours?

Thanks,

ben

Also looking for some Chaeto. Happy to pay a little to help someone along!

I can break some off for you guys... Just let me know.