Powerhead for Chaeto?

[nmhs2]

I tried two of my powerheads for the cheato in the sump. The powerheads are far to strong and whiping the cheato/sand everywhere making a mess. Its in a 20 gallon long sump. Intake-Refuguim-Return Pump. Is there a very weak powerhead or option I can take to make the chaeto tumble? I can start to see it turning white

[drillsar]

Why dont you plumb your overflow on where the chaeto is, I did this and what a difference.

[nmhs2]

Well this is my setup though Intake/refugium/return. You mean split the overflow to both intake and refugium?

[drillsar]

I mean this, I just finished it:



basicaly the water from your oveflow goes to your fuge and skimmer section, you use ball valve to increase or decreas flow to fuge. Depending on your pump you should double your output, Example a Mag 7 uses 1/2 inlet so you should use 1" pipe. Really important to figure out head loss, theres a calculator for this on home page.

[m2434]

I just turn it every few days by hand... works fine.

[drillsar]

YEs you can do that but If Im reading this correctly he is putting his overflow where the skimmer goes thats wrong, it should first go where the chaeto is, this is the best way for getting nutrients and skimming properly for the return.

[nmhs2]

Could that be why its losing all its color and turning white?

[nmhs2]

Can anyone tell me why my chaeto is turning white and losing color. just got it in the mail 3 days ago now it looks horrible.

[snorvich]

I don't know. I have my overflow go directly to the skimmer area, my refugium area is fed from far away (it is a separate unit) and my chaeto grows like crazy (harvest every other week). And my bubble king skimmer takes out a lot of stuff. From the refugium, the water passes over a deep sand bed for additional denitration.

[drillsar]

If it's turning white either not enough light or not enough nutrients. Well I'm just saying the best way to do it is to put you overflow drain to fuge then pipe to skimmer, Skimming will take some nutrients away from chaeto, I have to harvest my chaeto every week.

[drillsar]

Where did you buy it from? was it white when you got it? what kind of light you using and for how long?