Chaetomorpha Algae Lighting

[helpme74]

Chaetomorpha Algae lighting i'm running my lights at 12 on 12off but i'm trying to get my cheato to grow will it be better to leave my lighting on 24/7.
I just can't get this stuff to grow for the life of me.

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by helpme74
Chaetomorpha Algae lighting i'm running my lights at 12 on 12off but i'm trying to get my cheato to grow will it be better to leave my lighting on 24/7.
I just can't get this stuff to grow for the life of me.
I run my lights 24/7 over my sump and haven't had any problems. As far as not seeing any growth that might be a good sign that your water is pretty clean. Do you have any other algae growing?

 

[chipmaker]

Its been proven chaeto does better with a rest period. 8 to 10 hours of lights on is more than enough.

 

[helpme74]

not to much other algae growing

 

[hot883]

My refugium lights are on an opposite cycle of the main tank lights. Mine grows good. I use 15w cheapo aquarium light strip.

 

[jerthunter]

Originally Posted by helpme74
not to much other algae growing
I wouldn't worry then, I only grow the chaeto so that it minimizes other algae by competing for the nitrates and phosphates. So slow growing chaeto isn't necessarily bad in my opinion, it would just seem to mean that you don't have a lot of nitrates and phosphates in your water.
edit-
Oh yeah, and I use a household pc light that you can get anywhere, it has a lower K rating which the chaeto seems to like better