Any equivalent to chaeto for fresh water

[bigchris87]

As the title states is there any plant that I can put in my filtration system there is no light at the min would prefer if there was anything that wouldn't require a light?

 

[m.j.gomez]

As the title states is there any plant that I can put in my filtration system there is no light at the min would prefer if there was anything that wouldn't require a light?

Hello, peace lilly can grow in low to brite indirect in direct sun light. Just know that the lower the light the slower the growth. Here's a link that covers how to utilize this plant in aquarium. Hopefully this helps!!!!!

 

[Colin_T]

What is cheeto?

All plants need light. Many can grow in low light but if there isn't enough light to create a shadow, the plant won't be able to photosynthesise and will eventually die.

 

[Aiken Drum]

What is cheeto?

All plants need light. Many can grow in low light but if there isn't enough light to create a shadow, the plant won't be able to photosynthesise and will eventually die.

Chaeto is an algae that grows like a moss. SW guys grow it in refugiums or lit "reactors" to filter the water of nitrate and phosphate.

 

[Colin_T]

Thanks Aiken

 

[bigchris87]

Yes is there anything equivalent for freshwater ? That anyone knows of

 

[Aiken Drum]

Youve got that fluval evo repurposed to FW? It reads as though you want to put something in the sump filtration on the side?

The only way i could see something like that working on your set up would be to keep plants sat on the hood and somehow get the plant roots down in the water. Whatever you did would need lighting, chaeto needs lighting. Just dumping a load of java moss or similar into one of the chambers of the tanks filtration chambers wont work because those chambers arent lit and any plant would just die.

If you want to set up a sump and circulate the water through your display tank and sump, you could keep nutrient intensive plants and use the sump as a refugium, but thats going to be tricky to set up with the Evo. You would probably have to cut through or lose the lid and have an overflow box and return pump.

Ive done a bit of reading if anyone has tried to use a chaeto reactor on FW and cant find anyone that has. I would have thought someone would have done if it worked. Also im not sure how you would set up a reactor on your Evo.

 

[Aiken Drum]

There are plenty of examples of a freshwater refugium. This thread for example.

https://www.aquariumadvice.com/foru...efugium-combo-for-400-gallon-tank-212267.html

Just google "freshwater refugium".

I cant find anything where someone has repurposed a chaeto reactor to work with FW plants. If you can get one set up try it with java moss and let us know how it goes.

I simply cant see a way of keeping any plantlife alive in one of your tanks integral sump chambers without removing the lid.

 

[bigchris87]

I've already got a self.made lid on it an would a uv light do the trick for plants in a chamber or not sufficient would you think like you stated its the lighting that is an issue also keeping them all contained thought about a potato on top trying to get it to root down in chamber then loose the spud an leave the roots but would they just rot ?

 

[bigchris87]

That's the lid not the best but works

 

[Aiken Drum]

Im torn on the benefits of UV light for plants.

My wife uses UV plant lights on a couple of our house plants and her friend grows rare plants as a semi-commercial hobby and recommends UV. But it seems to be universally not recommended when it comes to aquatic plants.

Aquarium UV tends to be sealed units to kill off bacteria and parasites, and i would tend to agree that having fish exposed to UV would be risky. But if you had a plant only tank or refugium i cant see why UV wouldnt promote fast growth of plants. Ive read speculation that UV causes genetic defects in plants, but without evidence. Plants grow outside with plenty of UV and no issues, and as said someone that specialises in rare plants recommends its use. As far as im aware UV promotes fast growth, which is what you are after to consume nutrients.

Im fairly sure that ive read that specialist planted aquarium lights give out some UV, but probably not as much as a UV light.

 

[bigchris87]

The uv light would be in the center chamber in the filtration system so the fish would not be exposed to it so I may possibly explore this option

 

[Aiken Drum]

The only thing id be concerned about is that submersible UV which is designed for killing off bacteria and parasites might be too strong or not have sufficient non UV light for healthy plant growth. Also is the chamber big enough to accommodate a UV lamp and sufficient space to have space for a decent amount of plants?

Your idea about potato wouldnt work with UV in the chamber as you want the light up top on the plant and not on the submerged roots. You would want to use some kind of moss in the chamber.