Fuge/Chaeto problem

stays around 78 +-2

 

I am having this same problem, cannot keep any macroalgae alive in my refugium. Ddubya let me know if you start having some luck

 

If there are no phosphates or nitrates to keep the algae alive it will die nomatter what you do.

 

It is interesting that chaeto will grow like a weed for some people, then for me it continually dies... What I learned is that the right light is of utmost importance...for photosynthesis to work well, light in the 6500k range in important...all of the "refugium" lights I purchased in the past have not encouraged the chaeto. Once I purchased a simple clip on, metal shaded light fixture and a 75 watt 6500 k flood light, placed this on a timer to run 12 hours a day, the cheato took off and in the last 4 months has increased 10 fold in size. If it keeps this up, I'll soon be listing some for sale...

 

Are you sure you have enough nutrients in the water to support chaeto? I mean, most people grow chaeto in the fuge to scrub the nutrients which would normally grow hair algae in their display tank. Do you have algae growth? I run my fuge lights the opposite of the DT to keep my PH from dropping. I have a 55 with a 20 gal fuge, 12 fish that have a pretty good bio-load. I NEED the chaeto and it grows well under a 100 watt daylight compact flourecent, and an old grow light for hyponix. I want plant growth in my fuge and it needs to be thinned it is growing so much.