What makes Chaetomorpha algae a good natural filter? Chaetomorpha algae, commonly known by its nickname, Chaeto, is a type of macroalgae that grows only in saltwater. It's also known as spaghetti algae or green algae because it looks like a ball of twisted green spaghetti. Chaeto is the top choice for many aquarists when it comes to natural filtration for several reasons. 1) It's a simple and inexpensive way to remove nitrates and phosphates. Chaeto is an excellent form of natural filtration. It feeds on nitrates and phosphates from the water, keeping parameters under control. Chemically speaking, it uses light for photosynthesis to absorb nutrients from the water into its cellular structure. The more it absorbs, the more it grows. You'll need to prune your Chaetomorpha occasionally or remove handfuls of it from your aquarium. By removing its parts, you also remove all the compounds that have been absorbed into them. Simply put, give your Chaetomorpha some “bad” water and plenty of light, and it should grow happily, absorbing the bad stuff from the water. When it comes to filtration, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything simpler and cheaper than this algae. 2) It's easy to care for: It thrives in dirty water. Caring for Chaetomorpha algae is simple. Provide decent light and some dirty water, and it will thrive. If your chaeto continues to receive the light and nutrients it needs, it will continue to grow. The upside is that you can easily trim it when it gets too large. 3) It can be home to a variety of microfauna that you can use as food for your fish and corals. Most fish don't eat chaetomorpha, so you won't be able to "recycle" your algae for that purpose after it gets too big. However, it is often home to various amphipods, copods, worms, and zooplankton, which many marine inhabitants (including corals) will enjoy.
