Growing chaeto

I want to grow chaeto, here are my setup.

5100k light bulb with clip clamp $15 at home depot.
2 in. of sand bed
12 in. of water

My tank is fairly new, about 1 month. I got the chaeto in last week from ocreef. It size of a golf ball. Chaeto been in my tank for a week now. I try to push it around, I see the bottom of the chaeto is getting white, and is loose now, I can see little piece have come off. The water flow is very slow. Water temp 78-80.

My chaeto going be ok?
Should I add more sand, so it higher up, more effective for the light?
Should I get the plant bulb?

Thank 1st, for all help and tip, happy reefing...

 

You should have a 6500K bulb for macroalgae. Also, do you have any livestock in your tank? If not, then you don't have any nutrients for the chaeto to feed on.

 

Sounds like the Chaeto is dying off from a lack of nitrate or phosphate in your system.

 

I have clownfish and a tang. And clean up crew. I couldn't find any 6500k.at home depot, I will try at lowe. Thank

 

Can I used any dozed for it? Yea I don't want it to die off. Thank

 

With a month-old tank, you're not going to see a lot of growth yet. Your nitrogen cycle isn't event completed.

Jeff


Text mangled by iPhone spell check...

 

are you doing reverse lighting? ..that is, when your display lights are off...your lights for your Chaeto should be on....needs to be up and awake while display is dark.

 

I

Yes, should I change to 6500k light bulbs? Will 1 6500k bulb and 1 plant bulb be more effective?

 

Walmart ironically enough was the only place I could find a 6500k bulb. The guy at HomeDepot told me they can make bulbs that high "because it would melt the entire light bulb housing" LOL Went directly across the street to Walmart and got a 3 pack for 9 bucks.

 

I have to agree with Jeff...which also makes agreement to the others...not enough going on yet..thus no feed...
just a month? Is that including cycle time?
before I picked up my little 18 inch Hood light at a yard sale..then put in a 10k...I was using a 100 Watt bulb with clip on reflector with exceptional results....go figure.