Trouble growing chaeto

[Jon]

About six weeks ago I converted my sump into a refugium. I added ten pounds of miracle mud, A few pounds of some dry rubble rock, some chaeto and I have an 18 watt rose colored led bulb.

At first I ran the light 24 hours a day and found that I was growing more green hair algae than anything else. The chaeto was doing ok though. So I dialed back the timer on my light to eight hours a day, keeping it on when my tank lights were off and began picking out the hair algae once a week. When I did my weekly water change this week and cleaned up the hair algae I found that I have no more chaeto in the sump. It was underneath some of the rock to keep it in place.

Any ideas on why it would die off so easily? I’ve grown it I’m the past with no problem at all. Is there something else that I should try to grow to help keep my tank healthy?

Thanks

 

[MadReefer]

I was always told not enough nutrients when trying to grow Chaeto. I assume your HA consumed it starving the Chaeto.

 

[Jon]

HA? What’s that stand for?

 

[Wilson]

HA? What’s that stand for?

HA = hair algae

 

[amado]

Any time I had a hard time growing cheato
My iodine was low. I would do a icp and see what’s going on.
if you want to grow cheato you can use this
To get it started.
i also use this $30 amazon light it grows cheato with no problem and it’s water proof.

COB LED Grow Light 150w Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Kolem Full Spectrum Plant Lights, Waterproof Grow Panel Light, Veg, Seedling for Plants Tent, Greenhouse, Garden, Hydroponic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S186LNL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_JIJDFbMW5CM8C

Search results for: '' - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.marinedepot.com

 

[Goodair]

Can you post us a pic of the fug?

 

[Jon]

This is the best that I can do. My sump is right underneath my tank.

 

[Goodair]

Was it getting flow or did u see any gha growing on the chaeto? If you said it was tucked in some rock, that could be 1 of numerous factors, lol.

 

[Jon]

It gets a small amount of flow. When I first dropped it in the sump it tried to go over the baffle But my sponge filter prevented it from doing so. This is why I tucked it under a small piece of rock.

 

[Jon]

Thanks for the comments. I think I’m going to let the current hair algae die out, by not giving it any light and when that happens I will buy some more chaeto and will feed my tank some of the nutrients that amado recommended.