Need advice/suggestions on my fuge.

[R33F FeTiSh]

I have a 29g biocube with a fuge in chamber 2. I had a lot of cheato back there and suddenly it started withering away. Then it started coming back and has stayed about the size of a soft ball. I bought 2 mangroves and have them suspended in ch. 2 with Styrofoam. I was thinking of putting a Micron filter filled with macro mud around them. Good idea or epic fail? Next question...should I lose the cheato all together and get 3 or 4 more mangroves instead? I read they really eat up the nitrates and phosphate.

 

[Affordable Aquatic]

The chaeto works better than the mangroves. The likely reason for it withering is that your lighting is insufficient. What are you using for lighting- what is the color temp, wattage and photo period?
You should get a 5600K cfl and run it around 9-10 hrs per day, preferably at night.

 

[R33F FeTiSh]

I'm using a 8000k cfl now. Just set it up. I was using nanoglows. I keep the nanos on all the time. The cfl is on 8 hours.

 

[Affordable Aquatic]

How long have you been using the cfl? Can you get a 5600K instead. Dont forget that plants need a dark period as well as light. Constant light can be detrimental to growth.

 

[R33F FeTiSh]

Only a few days. I just fixed it. I was using the nano glow for a year or so. I will try and find one at my lfs tomorrow. And no, I didn't know they needed darkness. I thought cheato was like a weed. Virtually impossible to kill. I proved that wrong. Is there a particular brand I should look for?