Disappearing Chaeto?

[MizTanks]

My chaeto is disappearing in my fuge. Slowly but steadily. What may be happening here?

[slapshot]

You need to add iron. I use a capful every week. Without it, it will fade away.

[MizTanks]

You need to add iron. I use a capful every week. Without it, it will fade away.

What kind?

[slapshot]

Doesn't matter.

[MizTanks]

Doesn't matter.

Just add it to the whole tank?

[slapshot]

Yep, I put it in my fuge but it doesn't matter. It's amazing how fast it turns around

[dsmith3512]

I've also had cheato fade away, but I run GFO in a reactor wouldn't that add iron?

[tazzy695]

also look at your lighting in the fuge as it might not be sufficient

the cheato I kept would grow and shrink depending on how clean I was keeping the tank if there wasn't enough nutrients in the water for it it would shrink till the nutrient level came up then it would grow

the nutrient issue will fix the nutrient level but not a lack of lighting or the wrong lighting

[jimsflies]

I've also had cheato fade away, but I run GFO in a reactor wouldn't that add iron?

You have an interesting point. I believe the issue is that the iron in GFO is insoluble (at normal pH) and just settles somewhere else in the tank or is removed by your skimmer. The iron additive slapshot referring to is actually iron chelate which is a soluble complex of iron, sodium and a chelating agent which makes the iron soluble in water (i.e., available for plants to use).

Perhaps one of our resident chemists or biologists can weigh in with more info on this topic.

[MizTanks]

Well the water going into my fuge is coming directly from the DT's surface. Where all the surface protein accumulates. So it should be high in nutrients. As for lighting I have a 18w 13" cf on a 3.6g fuge.

[slapshot]

It's not about nutrients. It needs the iron to grow. I don't know what it does chemically but I do know a large number of people over the years who have had the same issue all solved by the addition of a water soluble ( thanks Jim) iron product.