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View Full Version : Refuge lighting period with chaeto


globaldesigns
01-25-2012, 02:15 AM
I personally light my refuge in a reverse cycle to my DT

Is 24/7 lighting beneficial with chaeto? I know this method is necessary with some macro algae to keep it from going asexual, but is there a benefit with chaeto. Do you get more nutrient export?

Just wondering

DiverDude
01-25-2012, 02:23 AM
Asexual chaeto !?

Isn't that a punk band ?

globaldesigns
01-25-2012, 05:35 PM
Hmmm, no comments or personal experience with 24/7 lighting of chaeto?

SeaHorse_Fanatic
01-25-2012, 05:42 PM
My refugium lights are usually on 24/7. However, right now, my sump is usually so full of extra cured live rock that there's no room for chaeto.

Coleus
01-25-2012, 06:29 PM
I personally light my refuge in a reverse cycle to my DT

Is 24/7 lighting beneficial with chaeto? I know this method is necessary with some macro algae to keep it from going asexual, but is there a benefit with chaeto. Do you get more nutrient export?

Just wondering

Base on my experience, i never though chaeto can go asexual. I never see any difference when i go 24/7 vs 18/7 on my chaeto in term of nitrate reduction. But i notice some of chaeto brown out after a while if i go 24/7

megs_clark
01-25-2012, 06:35 PM
I have mine on the reverse cycle as well. My Chaeto grows like crazy.

Delphinus
01-25-2012, 07:48 PM
FWIW, when I had a caulerpa farm, running the lighting 24/7 never stopped it from sporulating (aka "going sexual").

In answer to your question though I sort of doubt there would be a noticeable difference in nutrient export going 24/7 vs not. I think what would make a telling difference is the size of the chaeto growing area so that there's more of it, but otherwise probably it's only a few percentage points different. That's my completely uneducated guess anyhow. :p

globaldesigns
01-25-2012, 08:17 PM
Thanks folks, will leave mine on a reverse cycle to the DT.

Lampshade
01-25-2012, 08:20 PM
I use reverse as well for help with PH. my refugium lights have been toast the past couple days, and I've had a noticeable PH drop at night. used to be .3-.4, now it's .5-.6.

lastlight
01-25-2012, 09:19 PM
I don't recall where I read this but someone had determined that 16 hours was a magic number for chaeto and that 24/7 reduced export somewhat. I'll see if I can find the 'study'...

lastlight
01-25-2012, 09:25 PM
Btw this is how the pros roll:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0swLeG-NsLg

I nearly choked laughing when I saw that thing!

Lampshade
01-25-2012, 10:22 PM
Btw this is how the pros roll:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0swLeG-NsLg

I nearly choked laughing when I saw that thing!

Wow, i've heard to keep your cheato rolling (mine doesn't). This takes that to the next level. Probably great for nitrate reduction though.

mark
01-25-2012, 10:30 PM
24/7 for the Chaeto in my fuge. Not worried about going asexual or pH swings, maybe too simple but thinking was increased photo-period = increased growth = increased nutrient export.