Fuge Flow

[Scott]

Ok, we were talking about flow in a fuge for cheato over in the skimmer vs skimmer vs skimmer thread...so I thought I'd move my questions over to this thread instead.

I'm wondering if I should move my cheato from the center section over to the left section where the display drains into the sump/fuge and where the skimmer powerhead is. I placed a small piece of cheato in the left section just to see the flow. Otherwise, should I add a small powerhead to the center section to add some more flow for my cheato? I don't want it to wither away and die.

Here's a pic of my sump/fuge.



and here is a link to a 21 sec video I took with my camera if you are curious to see just how much the little piece of cheato tumbles in the left section. (vid is an AVI and around 6.5MB)

fuge.avi

I also just put a 60 watt plant light on the sump, found it in one of my cabinets from when I had a plant.

[RazerCorals]

IMHO Chaeto is really hard to kill from lack of flow. Usually too much flow becomes an issue. Ideally you want between 150-300gph moving through a refugium.

[Scott]

I guess that is what I have for flow...as my CPR overflow is only rated up to 300gph.

I was just concerned after reading another post saying that cheato shouldn't stay in one spot as the bottom side could waste away.

Obviously the flow in the fuge is only across the surface, although some does go down the wall and circulate in that section as I can see some pods drifting around. Just never enough to move any cheato...even the very small pieces.

[Jimm]

Take this with a grain of salt because I don't have a refugium but I've never heard of anyone having a problem with Cheato suffering from lack of flow. I have heard people complain because it grows fast.

[Reefbaby]

I think if Cheato doesn't have enough flow it can start to deteriorate. From what I've heard, it's better if it's tumbling around....

[pham411]

i think your fine as long as water flows through the center part of your tank. what type of lighting do you have over the algae and is it growing so far?

[Scott]

I just had a zoo med reefsun 50/50 bulb, 15watt. But I ran across a 60watt incadecent plant light that I put over it as well (yesterday). It's a GE "house garden" plant light, 630 lumens.

As for growing...I have no idea. neither the large ball or small ball look like they have grown. I'm keeping an eye on them to see if anything happens since I added the plant light.

[JustDavidP]

The real deal with Chaeto is that because it is so dense, much like a brillo pad, it can get waste deposits stuck in it, and then begins to show growth of other alga as the foods/waste breaks down. At that point, you get areas of the 'colony' that begin to break down. This can start to get messy. The same thing happens if areas of the 'clump' are not properly lit, they begin to deteriorate.

Chaeto will most definately adjust to differing light...as long as it is evenly exposed to that light. I've seen colonies that are very dark green under some lighting turn lighter green and adjust to differing lighting. In my experience, areas that are shaded, begin to break down.

Most folks tumble a ball of chaeto macro in a fast area of the sump or refugium. This area can be lit with differing lighting as again, the macro is exposed to the lighting in an even manner. If you simply have a "mat" of macro, the lower flow, and lower lit areas tend to break down.

Again, this is based only on observations of Chaeto in my tanks and in the sumps of others that I know use this 'weed'. Your milage may vary. Do let me know if you find otherwise.

D

[JustDavidP]

My take... put one ball in the left where the overflow keeps it tumbling, as long as it is properly lit..and put another in the fuge area...and see who 'wins'. Instant contolled experiment

D

[Scott]

LOL....will try that. Granted one ball is about 1/4 the size of the other.

But I'll let it go for a week or two and see what happens.