Chaeto Question and then some...

[leakyfaucet]

Hey everyone. I finally got my system set up!! Wooo! But today's question is what to do with my Chaeto that my friend gave me. He used to have it in his refugium, which I don't have, so I placed it directly in my tank. This is ok, right? (My tank is like a ghost town with the chaeto rolling around like tumbleweed. Its quite fascinating to watch...I stare at my tank for hours despite the fact that all it has is rock, sand, and water... oh and that green ball rolling around everywhere.)

Anyhow, the real question is... do you know of a place where i can go look up more information on chaeto? I'd like to learn more about it, e.g. what it is, its benefits, etc. I Googled it, but all I can find are sites offering it for sale.

By the way, I've had the rocks in for 2 days now. The sand and water has been in for slightly over a week. I have the light on 12 hours a day (is this too much?) When would be a good time to start introducing snails and crabs to get things going?

As always, much thanks for all your help/guidance.

 

[EDGRAY]

Welcome to nanotank and also weeeeehhiiiiii you have a tank know the fun beggins...

1. What i know and people told me is that chaeto is good cause in some way it feeds on nitrates and phosphate so is good for your tank and doesnt need that much light... but with good light it grows really fast.. thats all i know.

2.what kind of thank you have if is nano cube put it on the second chamber but you will have to do a DIY fuge light.

or same on a hang out filter here is the link for a refugium for the chaeto....

http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1307
http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1768

3. you will introduce your cleaning crew when cycle is done you should check on your water parameters... you have to control the swings of them and then when nitrate,nitrite and amonia are zero you can introduce your cleaning crew to clean your diatom (brown algea) and hairy green algea that grows during your cycle.... reed my signature i think does snails and hermits are the best....

4.you should lower your hours on the light (cause is not needed cause you dont have corals so try few hours so chaeto gets a little light too) is tooooo much put a timer on it and the less hours of light less problems of diatoms are hairy algea try just 7 hours or alittle bit less just mean while cycle is done then modified the time when you start adding corals.... but will be great if you can wait for a month or so and then slowly introduce live stock.... HTH

eddy :cool1:

 

[mikeguerrero]

Edgray,

You tackle all his questions really well, you have really learned a lot so quickly... Good job....

Mike G

 

[EDGRAY]

thx for saying thats too much but experience and all you guys have taught me sooooo much ... more of all sadye and you mike... thx again

eddy :cool1:

 

[Jennie]

Very well put Ed! :cool1:

 

[sadielynn]

I agree Ed very good advice and well said :mrgreen: Be proud of your self you are learning and very quickly

 

[leakyfaucet]

Thanks Ed. Is a refugium absolutely necessary? I don't think I mind having the "tumbleweed" rolling around for now. Perhaps later on, I might attempt a DIY mod of a HOB filter (that link was awesome, btw, thanks!).

I'm planning ahead as to how i want to setup my biodiversity in the coming weeks. My tank is currently lit with two 20 Watt 10,000K/Actinic 50/50 PC bulbs. I'm guessing my lighting parameters won't support much of a biological diversity per se as it applies to my future corraline population. I was wondering if anyone, particularly any fellow nano-tankers or even pico-tankers with similar lighting parameters has had success with coralline diversity, and if so, what types have you been able to support given your lighting and tank size constraints? Furthermore, what types of additives are you adding to your water? Would it be wise to invest in Iodine and Strontium/Molybdium supplements in addition to a calcium supplement? Or would that be overkill and just let calcium suffice?

Thanks!

 

[drty811]

as long as you do regular water changes(twice a month or so), you shouldnt have to suppliment anything. i do three-four water changes a month, two 2 gallon and one or two 1.5gallon. i test regularly and none of my levels are ever low.

refugium isnt absolutly necessary, but it can really benefit your system.

HTH

 

[reefman23]

Many people feel that the "rolling" action is highly beneficial to cheato. Obviously this action can only be achieved in an area that is large enough. Lighting is usually one watt per liter for cheato...depending on the depth. If this is going on a nanocube, the best way to light it is by scraping off the black paint that covers the back and attaching a light directly to the back. This is better than lighting it from above because of surface area. Cheato likes a high flow... anyways, here is a link to a great article by a man named Anthony Calfo...very well known in the reefing community. http://www.reefland.com/rho/0105/main2.php

HTH,

Jesse

 

[EDGRAY]

you see after all i dont know alot .... mmm if that sooo... ill take out my fuge light of my nano and do one as you say jesse, sounds logical ... instead only on top in the rear too mmm maybe bouth...

ohh also thx for correcting me ....and to give even me more info. about chaeto :rsml:

eddy :cool1:

 

[leakyfaucet]

Here's some pics of my tank. I'm still building it, i'm looking to add more rocks soon. I saw this somewhere... Rome was not built in one day... neither should a reef tank. Wise words, considering what can happen in a crash, eh?

Btw. the pics aren't the greatest. But i'll post nicer ones when i get my glass cleaned, and learn how to take nicer images :cool1:

 

[leakyfaucet]

ah. it didn't work.... hmmm