Basket in refugium for Chaetomorpha?

[njbillyv]

Just got my DIY refugium up and running, so far so good. I've got Mineral Mud in there with a live sand "cap", and a bunch of chaeto. My LFS guy told me to keep the chaeto in a basket in the refugium so it doesn't get all over the place, which I did. So now the basket is in there with the chaeto in it.
Is this a good idea or should the chaeto be on the sand or a rock so it can anchor itself, now it's kind of floating?

 

[mr. limpid]

Chaeto, needs to tumble so having it in a basket isn't really a good idea. I'm not sure what your set up looks like, but you can put a piece of mesh over the return flow area to stop chunks of chaeto from getting up into your DT. But if you have tangs they will enjoy the treat.
Also just to let you know, if you didn't all ready that miracle mud need to be replenished ever so often. It new so no worry for now.

 

[slice]

Chaeto doesn't HAVE to tumble, my HOB refugium is so narrow that my chaeto can't tumble, but it is nice if it can so the entire ball can be lit evenly. It is also good if the chaeto ball has room to grow into a larger ball instead of a denser ball as mine does.
My only point is that chaeto CAN do a great job of nutrient bioaccumulation without tumbling, its just better if it can tumble.

 

[florida joe]

FYI chaeto is a form of single rowed unbranched strands of algae that forms dense mats it does not attach its self to anything but rather free floats in the water column

 

[njbillyv]

Thanks!
Okay so the basket goes. Do you think eggcrate will keep the chaeto from going into the overflow area or do I need filter floss? Also, does it sit of the sand or float?

 

[slice]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBillyV http:///t/390782/basket-in-refugium-for-chaetomorpha#post_3462322
Thanks!
Okay so the basket goes. Do you think eggcrate will keep the chaeto from going into the overflow area or do I need filter floss? Also, does it sit of the sand or float?
Chaeto does not need sand, as Florida Joe said above, it free floats; does not attach. I can't offer an opinion on the eggcrate question without more information of how you intend to mount your 'fuge. I can tell you that my chaeto frequently breaks off in short strands that get into the DT and makes an unsightly mess on my powerhead intakes.

 

[njbillyv]

I was posting at the same time as Joe and hadn't seen his answer yet, my bad. I think I'm going to go with a sponge in the overlfow to make sure it stays put in the refugium.
Thanks again.

 

[slice]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBillyV http:///t/390782/basket-in-refugium-for-chaetomorpha#post_3462345
I was posting at the same time as Joe and hadn't seen his answer yet, my bad. I think I'm going to go with a sponge in the overlfow to make sure it stays put in the refugium.
Thanks again.
That is exactly what I do.

 

[deton8it]

I have a sponge on my return pump and it works great. The Chaeto is in a different "compartment" of my fuge but some of it still manages to make its way over to the pump where it is blocked by the sponge so it doesn't end up in the DT. Once every few weeks I turn off the pump, remove the sponge, and wash it out thoroughly.