Chaeto (Chaetomorpha sp.)
+ September 19, 2008
The chaeto seemed largely unaffected by the tank crash. It appears to have shrunk slightly though.
It it now in my
current system.
+ August 15, 2008
Chaetomorpha is typically housed by marine aquarists for it's rapid nutrient removing ability (specifically: nitrates and
phosphates). The algae pulls these nutrients out of the water in order to grow. When it is pruned back, these nutrients
are permanently removed from the system. Since micro-algae depend on these same nutrients, they are unable to grow.
Chaetomorpha is often preferred over caulerpa because it does not attach itself to the substrate (easy to remove) and will not
sexually reproduce in the aquarium. Sexual reproduction in macro-algaes often involves the release of large amounts of gametes
into the water, which can quickly pollute small, contained systems.
I have decided to give chaeto another try; it didn't grow at all in my last system.