How to Set up a Simple Chaeto Holding Grow-out Tank

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Chaetomorpha or also known as Chaeto in the reefing community is a type of algae that can have many benefits to a successful reef tank. Chaeto is most often grown in a refugium within a reef tank system. Chaeto grows rapidly by consuming waste in the tank in the form of nitrates and phosphates. As Chaeto grows and consumes waste it should be trimmed back on occasion and in doing so you are directly exporting nitrate and phosphate from the system in a natural way. 

If you provide the right environment for Chaeto to flourish in the refugium, it will continuously grow in the refugium while keeping algae growth at bay in the display tank. In a refugium, Chaeto also provides a suitable safe environment for microfauna like copepods that can serve as both a food source for tank inhabitants while also serving as members of the cleanup crew.   

When starting a new tank I always will look to plan a refugium with Chaeto. I found much more success and stability with the inclusion of a refugium. My typical cadence for trimming Chaeto in my tanks is about every 2-3 weeks where I trim back approximately half an uncompressed 5-gallon buck full out of my 210-gallon reef tank and 75-gallon reef tank.  

Why I Set up a separate Chaeto Holding Tank?

Initially, I was trimming my Chaeto back about every 2-3 weeks and just tossing out extra Chaeto. After discussing with a few of my fellow reefers and my LFS I found that there is a market for Chaeto and many reefers starting, replenishing, or re-doing their fuge need Chaeto. Rather than tossing out the Chaeto, I found that I could sell it to other reefers or trade it for frags, fish, and equipment. Even my local fish stores would take it in. At some point, I found the need to trim my Chaeto and hold it until it could be sold, traded, or donated. This led me to set up a simple Chaeto grow-out holding tank. 

Chaeto is super hardy and I’ve kept Chaeto in this setup for months on end.  

My Chaeto Holding Growout Tank   

Tank – 10 Gallon PetCo Aquarium: I had one of these laying around that I got at one of PetCo’s dollar per gallon sales for $10. Depending on the amount of Chaeto you have to hold you can use any type of tank, any size, or any other water-holding storage container for this purpose. 10 gallons is currently good for me and the amount of Chaeto that I harvest.  

Light – Indoor Full Spectrum Led Grow bulb: Chaeto is a plant and requires light to maintain health and growth. A full spectrum light is recommended to keep your Chaeto healthy and growing. I prefer Led to cut back on energy usage while providing the right spectrum for plants.

Light Fixture – Home store clamp light with socket:  You can find these at any home retail store like Lowes and Home Depot. They are simple and securely holds the light bulb. I have mine attached to a hanging kit directly over the tank. The clamp can also be used to attach the light to the tank directly.        

Heater – Aqueon 50w heater:  I’m using a simple cheap heater just big enough to heat the tank. No need for anything fancy here. I think that even if the heater were to malfunction in the on position it would just be lost Chaeto.  

Screen top – Metal Screen top: Another item I had lying around from a previous reptile tank. Netting screen is probably better as the saltwater will eventually rust the metal top I’m using. You actually don’t need to use a top since you don’t have to worry about fish jumping out, but I like to use one for safety purposes.  

Outlet Timer:  An outlet timer can be used to put your light on a schedule. I typically run my light on for 16 hours and off for 8 hours.  

Optional Items

Powerhead – A small powerhead can provide some flow in the tank if you wish. I’ve not found it necessary to have flow in my holding tank. There are many videos and articles online that show increased Chaeto growth by providing flow and having the Chaeto tumble under the light. This makes sense as more of the Chaeto surface area is being exposed to light. I think if growth in the holding tank is your goal, it is something to try. For me holding is the main priority so I do not currently run a powerhead or pump in the tank. 

Black Paint:  Painting is another strategy you can employ to optimize growth in your holding grow-out tank. Painting the bottom, back, and sides can help prevent light spillage from the tank. I usually use Rustoleum latex black paint when painting tanks. Again with my Chaeto tank, it’s more about holding versus growing so I did not paint the tank.  

Feeding the Chaeto in the Growout Holding Tank

Feeding Chaeto is pretty simple. Chaeto is a plant and requires light to conduct photosynthesis and convert nutrient-rich or dirty water into cells. Light is taken care of with the grow bulb, fixture, and timer. Without having flow or a tumbling Chaeto ball, I simply flip the Chaeto structure over every few days to get light to all of the Chaeto.  

So how do I get nutrients to the Chaeto? Simple, with water changes from my main tank. I conduct weekly water changes on my main display tank. When I do the weekly water change, I simply save 10 gallons from the main tank, drain the Chaeto holding tank, and refill the holding tank with the nutrient-rich main tank water. This process seems to keep Chaeto a healthy dark green and growing.  

Giving Chaeto to Others

Once you are ready to transfer some of your Chaeto to others you can simply take out the amount you are giving away and place it in a watertight container. I use scissors to cut the Chaeto and then place them in double ziplock bags for transportation. 

Place the Chaeto in your container and add some water. Depending on how long it is going to be out of water will depend on how much water you will need to use. Keeping it moist is essential and if it going to be more than 24 hours before it gets into a system, you should put in enough water to fully submerge the Chaeto. If it is a short trip, a minimal amount of water to keep it damp should suffice. When I receive Chaeto I typically just float the bag to get it up to temperature before adding it to the system.  

A Word of Caution on Giving and Receiving Chaeto

As beneficial as Chaeto is there is the potential for unwanted hitchhikers to go along with Chaeto transfers. If you know you have bubble algae, red bugs, aiptasia, or other pests and parasites you should not give others your dirty Chaeto as it would risk infecting their tank. In my tank, I take precautions to quarantine coral and fish before they go into the main system. I also keep different wrasses and a filefish to eradicate anything that gets past quarantine. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

Complete Guide to Getting Rid of Aiptasia in Your Reef Tank

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