Light over chaeto

[minkin]

Is it possible for my light to be close to the chaeto?

My chaeto is submerged like an inch, and my light is above the water by about an inch too.

 

[minkin]

So a couple of strands of chaeto have started going a pale green/white color.

I think this might be because I had the light too close?

I have moved it further away now.

 

[Mebbid]

It depends, how powerful is the light that you have shining on it right now?

 

[minkin]

I have a LED light that is 3w, 5700k

 

[Mebbid]

How many of them? It would have to be quite a few if it's going to be strong enough to kill the chaeto.

How much flow do you have going through it?

 

[minkin]

I have just the one but it is fairly close. I have it about 2 inch above the water. The chaeto is submerged in one of my back chambers in a DIY egg crate box.

I think the flow is good because if I pull a little strand off the chaeto ball, it gets sucked up over the little wall and down into the next chamber into my pump.

 

[Kristy3693]

Is it possible that your water is very clean, and the chaeto isn't getting enough nutrients? I really don't know, just a thought.

 

[minkin]

My nitrates are at about 30-35.

 

[Dav3]

What about phosphates?

 

[minkin]

I don't have a test kit for phosphates right now. I ordered one last week and it will be here later on today.

 

[minkin]

So my test kits just arrived.

I tested for phosphates and it is 0.25

 

[Ljfdfireboy]

I have two 10w 5600K about 4-5in off the surface and my chaeto is growing like crazy. My nitrates and phosphates are reading zero now. Is it possible you don't have enough light? 3w seems a little low on power. But what works for one person may not work for all.