Cheato Damage Control

[jd]

Alright Team Ohio Reef, got a question.

I, like many of us, grow cheato in my sump.

My sump layout is as follows, (Intake chamber, with cheato) > (bubble trap) > (skimmer) > (return pump)

I just took my fuge out and I am noticed that I get a TON of cheato pieces stuck to the strainer on my skimmer pump and all jammed up in my return pump impeller. I was using fiberfil stuffed in my baffles for a while but would clog in a day or so and seemed to wasteful for me. What do you guys do to keep your cheato in place?

[jeremyt]

i have a little  eggcrate hang on wall holding mine back

[jd]

Does it help with small (~1in) strands?

[cyberwollf]

I have the same problem.

[jeremyt]

doesnt get those.....guess ive been lucky with my skimmer not much gets in it

Does it help with small (~1in) strands?

[Reefd Up]

JD, I've had a terrible time with those little 1" pieces.  Best thing I've found is to get a thin strip of sponge and place it in between the baffles at the top.  It'll keep the chaeto out (but you'll need to wash it a good bit to keep the detritus out as well.)

[jd]

Nikki, what kind of sponge do you use? I've been looking around for large cell sponges...

[chromiumlux]

Try the plastic mesh used for needlepoint. I use it when I get a ton of cheato out of my sump and suspend it in my 14 gallon for a few days to help reseed my pods. I keep it free floating in my fairly new and young frag tank. I just weigh it down with a piece of rock.

[slandis3]

I have a ton of needlepoint mesh so if you need some let me know

[Blown76mav]

Never ran into a problem with my cheato, but my layout goes
(refugium)>(Return)<(bubble Trap)<(Skimmer)

The refugium has slow moving water with cheato, and the skimmer returns skimmed water to the return section of the sump.

[Reefd Up]

Lowe's carries large cell sponges for ponds.

[TechGuy]

I had this problem with my old tank. I put a sponge on the intake of the pump, and eggcrate over both side of the baffle.

[xXTheWendigoXx]

Wish I had a sump to contain it all, I have to clean out my powerheads and pumps about once a week to keep the gunk out >_<

[jd]

That needlepoint mesh sounds like a good idea. Slandis, thanks for the offer, but the cost of gas is prolly more than me picking up some from hobby lobby down the street

[bkvreef]

I understand the reasoning for the cheato in the first section and then the skimmer.  However, I have my skimmer first and then the cheato.  I don't get as much turnover for the cheato but it still gets plenty of nutrients and the skimmer still works.

[Vinnbelle1]

For screening, you can use the plastic landscape screening from Lowes too.  I usually cut a hole, and ziptie it to the eggcrate.

[TechGuy]

Now I have this problem again lol. The wifes U-Tubes that connect her sumps, is sucking this crap up. Now I need to find a solution before the tubes get clogged, and it overflows.

[jd]

Andy, Mike: Great idea on the needlepoint mesh. This stuff is awesome. Its about $.50 at hobby lobby if anyone wants some. I just took a whole sheet, folded it in one corner of my sump and put the cheato in there.