Refugium Light

Chaetomorpha algae, commonly known as chaeto, is a macroalgae that is widely used in saltwater aquariums to purify water and provide a natural habitat for beneficial bacteria and other organisms that help break down waste products in the aquarium. Chaeto is also known as green hair algae or spaghetti algae due to its shape. It grows only in saltwater and is classified as one of the most used macroalgae to purify water in the reef tank.

Chaeto works as a natural filter to remove excess nitrates and phosphates from the tank water. It feeds and grows on phosphates and nitrates of the tank water, thus keeping those elements in check and maintaining a healthy tank. Chaeto needs a good amount of light because it goes under photosynthesis to absorb the required amount of nutrients from the water. Its cell structure is formed by this process. The more nutrients it takes from the water, the bigger and faster it grows. However, when it grows too much, you have to trim and remove some parts of it.

Chaeto can be grown in a refugium or in the main display tank. It grows very fast in favorable conditions and is hardy in nature. A bunch of Chaeto of a tennis ball size is perfect enough to begin with. To ensure that they grow faster, you need to just make sure that you have kept them under bright lighting along with the moderate flow of water.