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chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 1:40 pm
by _crafty
I've been running chaeto in my refugium for a few months now, but my corals don't seem to be thriving. Anyone else had this issue? My tank's a 40-gallon with a 10-gallon sump, running two AI Prime HDs. Nitrates are around 5 ppm, phosphates at 0.03. Chaeto's growing like crazy, but my Zoanthids and Acans aren't opening up like they used to.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 2:48 pm
by wave_crest
Chaeto can be a bit of a nutrient hog, dude. If it's growing too fast, it might be stripping the water too clean. Corals need some nitrates and phosphates to thrive. Try cutting back the light cycle on your refugium to 8 hours instead of 12. Also, what's your alkalinity at? Low alk can mess with coral health even if other params look good.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 3:46 pm
by cargobear
I had the same problem last year. My chaeto was outcompeting my corals for nutrients. I started dosing a tiny bit of neonitro and neophos to keep levels stable. It's a balancing act, but my corals perked up after a few weeks. Tank's a 75-gallon with a 20-gallon sump, running a Radion XR15.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:17 pm
by onyxed
wave_crest wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 2:48 pm
Chaeto can be a bit of a nutrient hog, dude. If it's growing too fast, it might be stripping the water too clean. Corals need some nitrates and phosphates to thrive. Try cutting back the light cycle on your refugium to 8 hours instead of 12. Also, what's your alkalinity at? Low alk can mess with coral health even if other params look good.
Agreed. Alk is key. I run my chaeto light reverse cycle to the display tank, 6 hours on, and my alk stays steady at 8.5 dKH. Corals are happy, and chaeto still grows enough to harvest monthly.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 5:16 pm
by Lunaea
What's your magnesium level? Low mag can cause chaeto to grow too aggressively and throw off nutrient balance. I keep mine at 1350 ppm, and it's been a game-changer. Also, consider adding some live rock rubble to the refugium. It helps diversify the microfauna, which can buffer nutrient swings.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 5:49 pm
by _crafty
Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll check my alk and mag tonight. I've been running the refugium light 24/7, so that might be the issue. Gonna cut it back to 8 hours and see how things go.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 6:38 pm
by beachy
I've had good luck with a mix of chaeto and dragons breath in my refugium. The dragons breath seems to be less aggressive with nutrient uptake, and the red color adds a nice contrast. My tank's a 50-gallon with a 15-gallon sump, running a Kessil A360X. Nitrates stay around 10 ppm, and my Acans are loving it.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 8:15 pm
by Shadowg
Chaeto's a beast, man. If it's growing too fast, try harvesting smaller amounts more often. I pull out a baseball-sized chunk every week instead of waiting for it to fill the refugium. Keeps nutrients more stable. Also, what's your flow like in the refugium? Too much or too little can mess with chaeto's efficiency.
Re: chaeto in refugium for corals
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 8:35 pm
by route4
Shadowg wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 8:15 pm
Chaeto's a beast, man. If it's growing too fast, try harvesting smaller amounts more often. I pull out a baseball-sized chunk every week instead of waiting for it to fill the refugium. Keeps nutrients more stable. Also, what's your flow like in the refugium? Too much or too little can mess with chaeto's efficiency.
Yep, flow's huge. I run a small powerhead in my refugium to keep the chaeto tumbling gently. Too little flow and it clumps up, too much and it breaks apart. Found the sweet spot at about 200 gph in my 10-gallon refugium.