Cheato Keeps turning white

jeeptp75 · #1 03/14/2006, 09:16 AM

My Cheato keeps turning white. I pulled it all out once but noticed this morning that its back. WHy is this happening? Is is bad? How can I keep it from happening?

theop · #2 03/14/2006, 09:46 AM

Too much light...

How many hours of light are you giving your fuge?

jeeptp75 · #3 03/17/2006, 08:47 AM

Its usually about 9 hours a day but I dont have a timer on it and do miss a day where it might be dark over 24 hours. Do you think maybe that many dark hours is killing it?

Blown 346 · #4 03/17/2006, 09:07 AM

No, I dpont think the dark is killing it, What type of lighting are you using?

wojo · #5 03/17/2006, 09:09 AM

i had the same problem and finally gave up on Cheato it just kept dying, what light does it like? i am running 50/50 16 watt PC bulb in my fuge.

jeeptp75 · #6 03/17/2006, 09:10 AM

Its a power compact light but I cant remember exactly how many watts. I do believe its a 50/50 set up.

WOJO, whawt did you switch to when you give up on Cheato?

wojo · #7 03/17/2006, 09:14 AM

jeeptp75, i am using Caulerpa right now... its a microalgee as well but it requires 24/7 light in your fuge.

wojo · #8 03/17/2006, 09:16 AM

since both of us are using 50/50s (please double check your bulb just to be sure) i have a feeling this might be our cause, but lets wait for experts

Blown 346 · #9 03/17/2006, 09:23 AM

I have a single 5,100 Kelvin daylight power compact over my fuge and it flurishes. Thelighting could be too intense or not intense enough.
Chaeto also likes water flow thru it.

Culerpa can also work but like said above, it needs to be lit at all times so it doesnt have the chance to go sexual and release toxins intot the tank. It also has to be trimmed on a regular basis so it doesnt go sexual.

jasper24 · #10 03/17/2006, 09:37 AM

I use a single Lights of America 5k (I believe) screw in type bulb from Walmart with a cheap metal dome reflector. I keep mine on 24/7. My Chateo (SP) thrives.

Blown 346 · #11 03/17/2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jasper24
I use a single Lights of America 5k (I believe) screw in type bulb from Walmart with a cheap metal dome reflector. I keep mine on 24/7. My Chateo (SP) thrives.

You found that bulb at Walmart? I had to special order mine from Home depot since no one carrried one with that kelvin rating.

wojo · #12 03/17/2006, 09:41 AM

can anyone confirm that Chateo does NOT like 50/50 PCs?

Blown 346 · #13 03/17/2006, 09:46 AM

I had 2 50/50 bulbs thatcame with my fuge setup and the chaeto took forever to grow, almost like it didnt.
After I swapped bulbs to a daylight 5100 Kelvin, the chaeto started take off, after a month's time it nearly doubled in size.

fittdog8848 · #14 03/17/2006, 09:57 AM

I had the same problem with Chaeto and Culerpa until iread this thread http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=3 I bought two of the bulbs recommended and my fug has never looked the same. No more expensive bulbs for me ever again. I ordered a case of these so I have extras.

SDguy · #15 03/17/2006, 10:42 AM

Is it white and brittle, or white and mushy/dead? I had mine turn whitish and brittle from excess kalk dumping onto it. JME.

theop · #16 03/17/2006, 10:43 AM

I'm not sure if they don't like 50/50 but plants definately prefer "daylight" type bulbs in the 5000-7000K range which are visibly more yellow than 10,000K or 50/50.

Dave

Red Serpent · #17 03/17/2006, 11:39 AM

I have a plain old flouresent bulb that is used on a cheap fresh water tank. My Chaeto grows like crazy. I run the light 24/7 no problems. Algea thrives in lots of light and cheap white light seems the best for most micro and macro algeas. Blue spectrum lights are not suppose to support algea growth.

FSOL · #18 03/17/2006, 12:02 PM

I thought Cheato turns white because it runs out of food to eat (phosphates/nitrates). Wouldn't that be a good thing?

As long as it's green and growing, it means it's feeding off of phosphates and nitrates in the tank.

Red Serpent · #19 03/17/2006, 12:27 PM

All algea uses both light and the nutrient found in the water they live in. The nutrient stripping quality helps them grow faster than just their use of light.

theop · #20 03/17/2006, 12:46 PM

I have also read some threads that suggest that chaeto likes to "tumble" in the water flow.

My "fuge" area in my sump is pretty narrow as it was originally designed for bio-balls. I turn my chaeto every week or so. If I go longer, I notice that the lighted side (which is also the fully submerged side since I light from the bottom) starts to turn white and gets a bit mushy.

Is it all turning white or only parts of it?