How to: dedicated chaeto growing tank?

[davidinga]

I need to find a way to grow chaeto faster and was wondering if it is possible to toss a clump in a dedicated tank (say a 20g), run some cfl bulbs, small powerhead, heater and then a food source for growth....?

On a stand alone setup would I need to do water changes or will constantly harvesting keep the water quality sufficient for chaeto health?

What kind of supplements (iron?) and food source would make it grow fast?

I have chaeto growing in my 75gal sump on from my DT but it can't keep up with my sales so I was thinking about a dedicated setup.

Thoughts, suggestions, advice?

 

[ringo®]

I would think just tossing your water change water in it would do the trick. Maybe empty the skimmer cup into it as well.

 

[davidinga]

Ringo®;954872 wrote: I would think just tossing your water change water in it would do the trick. Maybe empty the skimmer cup into it as well.

Hmm...never thought of dumping some skimate into the grow tank.

 

[ringo®]

I'm definitely not the authority on macro. Just figured plants love fish poop........so why not.

 

[mikesmith34]

Makes great fertilizer. An iron boost may help as well. On reef central there is a forum dedicated to macros only

 

[declanisadog]

Ringo[emoji768 wrote: ;954872]I would think just tossing your water change water in it would do the trick. Maybe empty the skimmer cup into it as well.

This is exactly what I would do

 

[morganatlanta]

Upflow algae scrubbers use air to help supply CO2 to the algae. Maybe putting a couple airstones in would help.

 

[sewer urchin]

I agree with what everyone has suggested so far. Find what what is limiting the growth and supply that. Some things that may help growth may include:
1- Bright light ( in the right spectrum)
2- CO2 ( air stone, fermentation bottle ( yeast and sugar) or CO2 tank)
3- Macro nutrients and then micro nutrients

SeaChem makes a few products ( Exel and there is a fertilizer forgot the name of) for freshwater planted tank might be worth it to reach out to them ( they are a Sponsor). I don't know if they would work or not I would do some research before you do anything.

Do you sell the Cheato? I thinking that a lot reefers just shared what they had, kinda like "help a brother out" or "pass it forward" thing

Good luck!

 

[davidinga]

Ya I give some away but sell a crap ton of it....

 

[sewer urchin]

Here is a link to a quick and dirty ( and cheap ) CO2 reactor:

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-CO2-Reactor-for-a-Planted-Aquarium/">http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-CO2-Reactor-for-a-Planted-Aquarium/</a>
and I thought this was cool:

[IMG]http://www.ebay.com/itm/171135927431?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649">http://www.ebay.com/itm/171135927431?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649</a>

 

[davidinga]

Would dosing Iron be real helpful???

 

[fishlips]

I have found for me, using a older cf bulb, one that has several hrs on it.Some thing close to 55 k.Mine grows like crazy. But when I change to a new bulb, the growth slows down.Then after a few months, its back to grow ing fast.Just something I stumbled across. I get mine at lowes.

 

[davidinga]

Fishlips;956908 wrote: I have found for me, using a older cf bulb, one that has several hrs on it.Some thing close to 55 k.Mine grows like crazy. But when I change to a new bulb, the growth slows down.Then after a few months, its back to grow ing fast.Just something I stumbled across. I get mine at lowes.

K.

I think my CFL bulbs are 5000k. I couldn't find anything higher in daylight for some reason...

 

[fishlips]

That will work.I always just try to get whats closest to 55k

 

[bcavalli]

Check out the reefbreeders.com fuge 24 watt led light. I couldn't get my Chaeto to grow more than a few inches a month no matter what light spectrum, change of flow, supplementation ect. I tried. Within the first week of using this Led light I started harvesting about a baseball size a week. As before I continued supplementing Magnesium & Iron. The reefbreeders led was the only change.