Chaeto
Open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm · Sun 1pm–6pm. Usually ready the same day.
- Kept in our system until you collect
Overview
Chaeto (Chaetomorpha) is the workhorse macroalgae of the reef hobby - a tangled, fibrous green algae that's become the standard choice for refugium-based nutrient export.
It doesn't have roots or an anchor point, simply growing as a loose mass that tumbles gently in the flow, making it easy to add to an existing refugium or nutrient export setup.
Role in the tank
Chaeto pulls nitrate and phosphate directly out of the water column as it grows, acting as a natural, ongoing filter that competes with nuisance algae for the same nutrients. It also creates dense habitat for copepods and amphipods, which in turn become a natural food source for fish and coral in the display.
Care
Chaeto doesn't need drip acclimation the way animals do, but it should be given a rinse in tank water before adding it to remove any transport residue. It thrives with full-spectrum lighting on a refugium-style reverse photoperiod to that of the main tank, and needs a reasonable level of nutrients in the water to actually grow - it won't thrive in an already ultra-low-nutrient system.
Compatibility
- Completely safe with all fish, corals and invertebrates
- Best kept in a refugium or dedicated growing area rather than the main display, since herbivorous fish and inverts may otherwise graze on it
Care tips
- Harvest regularly once it fills its growing space, leaving a baseball-sized portion behind to keep regrowing
- Provide strong, full-spectrum lighting for solid growth
- Keep it gently tumbling in flow rather than pinned in one spot, so all of it gets even light exposure
- If growth stalls, check that nutrient levels in the refugium are high enough to actually feed it
How collection works
Order & pay online
Check out and pay securely. We set it aside and hold it ready for you.
We get it ready
It stays in our system until you come in — usually ready the same day.
Collect in store
Drop in to 280 North Road, Eastwood, and pick it up.
