Chaeto not growing ?!

[alienhybridx]

I have chaeto in my main tank for various reasons one of them being I don't have the money for a fuge atm. Anyway I've had it in the tank for about half a year now and it's about the same size give or take i've had to trim it down 2 times maybe and its growing VERY slow. I don't have the lights on in the tank for maybe more than a few hours during the week but during the day theres some light that's passing to the tank cause of where it is. Is there anything I can do to promote growth ? Also I have not seen much change in nitrates they seem to be hovering at 40 ppm or maybe the test has gone bad on me lol.

 

[shrimpy brains]

Chaeto is a slow grower, it is one of the reasons that it is good for this use. It doesn't invade your whole tank. Also, you say you have trimmed it twice, so evidently it is growing.
Maybe you could offer it some more light!
The best way to reduce nitrates= water changes!

 

[beaslbob]

what's the possibility it is getting eaten.
With nutrients it should double or triple in size every week.

 

[alienhybridx]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3223850

Chaeto is a slow grower, it is one of the reasons that it is good for this use. It doesn't invade your whole tank. Also, you say you have trimmed it twice, so evidently it is growing.
Maybe you could offer it some more light!
The best way to reduce nitrates= water changes!

yea i hear you on that i dont think anything is really eating it just seems to be slowing VERY VERY slowly but it does keep the nitrates in check however the 2 things on my mind are 1) would iron dosing help it grow ? 2) would leaving the lights on longer during the day help ?

 

[beaslbob]

Originally Posted by AlienHybridX
http:///forum/post/3224423
yea i hear you on that i dont think anything is really eating it just seems to be slowing VERY VERY slowly but it does keep the nitrates in check however the 2 things on my mind are 1) would iron dosing help it grow ? 2) would leaving the lights on longer during the day help ?
It is possible for macros to be iron limited. I bought ferris gluconate (spelling) from the local walgreens (100

[hr]
~$6 or so) and dissolve one in a 10oz soda bottle. Then add a capfull each week. That level is so low it should not hurt anything but will help macros that are iron lmited.
Your lighting should be on long enough to get good growth but you can cut back if cyano or hair algae appears on the chaeto. Or you could take the chaeto out and shake out the hair algae also. But that might shake out pods as well.
On my tanks the lights ar on 24/7 in the refugium. But others use more normal hours with a lot running the refugium lights opposite the display.
my .02