My DIY Chaeto tumbler

[ctreptow]

I just took a salt bucket and hooked it to a Mag 5. I used a 3/4 inch line from the Mag 5 pointed down in the bucket, then 2 x 3/4 outlets back to the sump. Throw a drop light on top with a 15W florescent light and you done. My ball of Chaeto is just spinning away inside the bucket. I will let you know how it grows.

 

 

My little ball of chaeto spinning around.

 

 

Chris

[reefmontalvo]

Nice setup but don't you think that drop light might be a fire hazard resting on top of the bucket?

[ctreptow]

The CF Light gives off very little heat. The reflector is cold where it meets the bucket. the light is also clamped to a safety rope so if it falls off it will not fall into the sump.

 

Chris

[jason the filter freak]

Whats the idea/purpose behind tumbling cheato? Seems like you're adding a lot of heat and some unnecessary power draw by using the MAG 5 why not use the drain from your tank to accomplish the same thing? Or is it already routed to a skimmer

[ctreptow]

Whats the idea/purpose behind tumbling cheato? Seems like you're adding a lot of heat and some unnecessary power draw by using the MAG 5 why not use the drain from your tank to accomplish the same thing? Or is it already routed to a skimmer

 

It was my understanding that tumbling chaeto grows more dense and is more productive since all sides are getting light. I had chaeto in my old fuge and the bottom would always yellow and capture vast amounts of junk from the water. Tumbling solves both these issues. I was planing to try and keep a softball size tumbling all the time.

 

I used the Mag 5 because it's the one I had laying around and the return from the tanks go to the skimmer 1st.

 

Chris

[flowerseller]

It might grow more dense but cheato is not that smart to begin with, plus the darn pods get dizzy as heck.

[reefmontalvo]

I kept mine right below the tank return. I noticed it grew fast with lots of water flow. And the hermits loved snacking on the stuff. I enjoyed watching it as well since there were lots of little creatures you could find in there at night.

[ctreptow]

LOL!! Dizzy pods are easier for the fish to catch.

 

The Chaeto is now golf ball sized I want to see how long it takes to get soccer ball sized.

 

Chris

[Smoothtriqueter]

Any progress?