Nitrate and phosphate yo-yo

[Asm481]

I can't seem to keep my nutrients at a consistent level. Numbers were climbing and I added cheato to my sump lit 8 hours at night. Numbers dropped to low and started a dino outbreak, removed cheato now Numbers are climbing again. I don't overfeed, only feed frozen. Right now my nitrates are 26.1 and phosphates .25 with hanna testers. Two weeks ago was 3 nitrates and .02 phosphates. I seem to keep a proper ratio just can't seem to stay steady. I was trimming the cheato but removal seemed to be the only fix but now the rise!

 

[Miami Reef]

Use cheato, but reduce the number of hours the light is on to control the rate it grows. That’s how you dial it in.

 

[sixty_reefer]

There is several options you can use to try and balance the export of pollutants.
1. Reduce the photoperiod to the macro algae
2. Add a food with a higher carbohydrate content to the current frozen food
3. Try and rinse your current food before feeding
4. Look at your mechanical filtration in a way to improve excess food and waste export
5. Ensure your protein skimmer is working properly
6. Balance the current food with a combination of protein skimmer and Organic Carbon.