Chaeto in fuge. Top layer probs

[gnatp2]

How do you guys have the chaeto in your fuge? I have a problem with the top layer being exposed to the surface and not seeming so healthy. I assume parts of it may be dying and decaying into my system. I figure the best thing it to keep it completely under water at all times, but wondered what others are doing.
Nate

 

[Deanos]

Chaetomorpha

Excerpt: It should ideally be tumbled in an algae filter.

 

[gnatp2]

What is an algae filter?

 

[thepudge]

I have the same issue, i try to turn my cheato every week or so, cause i dont have enough space or enough flow to get it to spin. But the layer on top doesnt seem to hurt anything.

 

[inline6]

A couple times a week I manually turn over my cheato, also I noticed that if you have a small powerhead going you need to do it less often.

 

[bigbris1]

Nate, what I did was Tee off my return pump back to the fuge area via 3/4 hose where I keep the cheato, the I put an elbow on the end which can be swiveled. Then the flow (from underneath, spins the ball of cheato around).

You may also wish to try a small powerhead, or if your sump is acylic, you can experiment with a redirectional baffle of sorts to direct the flow so as to tumble the cheato.

The easy way is to just manually turn it daily. The stuff you see is actually detritus, which will lead to nitrate issues & maybe the detriment of the algae. I was hoping the addition of pods to my fuge would alleviate this (thinking they would eat the detritus) but I haven't been able to source pods for the experiment.

 

[Mario]

How do you guys have the chaeto in your fuge? I have a problem with the top layer being exposed to the surface and not seeming so healthy. I assume parts of it may be dying and decaying into my system. I figure the best thing it to keep it completely under water at all times, but wondered what others are doing.
Nate

I noticed the same thing with my chaeto. Infact, it turns a lighter shade of green and the bottom part of the chaeto is dark green. Also, I notice the algae grows so fast that the top light green part comes out of the water. I rinse the entire ball (after dividing and discarding half) in my water change water that I just removed from the display tank.