Chaeto

Simon Lim · December 14, 2019

Can anyone advise how to grow chaeto?

How much light required?

Slow moving or fast moving water?

Sent from Singapore Reef Club mobile app

R0B · December 14, 2019

You need a good light source as the key is to grow the macro algae and then harvest. The rate of growth will be proportional to the power of light you have. The faster it grows the more nitrates it absorbs. So go with a good light!

Regarding flow. I think this is more difficult and is more subjective to answer. But keep in mind that a sump with a reasonably sized Refugium (20% of total water vol) expect to pump a c.3x tank volume through it per hour. So a 200L display you would need around 600L an hour of flow-through. Similarily many macro algae reactors recommend have flow recommendations. Tunze say 500L/hr to 1200L/hr. Reef octopus 300-800L/Hr. Which looking at their rated max aquarium size this tends to relate to a 2-2.5 turnover.

In a sump set up my experience is too slow a flow and the macroalgea dies off. So I like to add in a powerhead to increase the water movement and keep it gently tumbling (meaning even spread of light). The aim is to have no die off of the algae (thus releasing of the nitrates back into the tank).

So IMHO get a reaply good light to maximise growth rates, and keep to 2-3 times tank turnover and you should be good to go.

Sent from Singapore Reef Club mobile app