Would you run Cheato in this Situation?

[intricate_reefer]

So I am having a little problem with nuisance algae in my 11 month old tank and I am considering trying chaeto. I am not sure what kind it is but it keeps returning. Does anyone know the type? I am also getting a little bit of hair algae and bryopsis mostly on my frag plugs. I have pulled all the plugs and racks out and scrubbed/picked the algae off but it just returns. My nitrates always stay stable at 2-3ppm but my phosphates kinds of goes up and down. They get to about 0.12-0.2 twice a week then I dose them down to 0.03 with phosphate E. I have tried GFO and chaeto in the past. The GFO just kept getting depleted within less then a week and I was getting getting sick of changing it, I was only running it in a media bag. The chaeto I tried before but worked too well and I had zero nitrates and phosphates. The tank was still pretty new when I was growing it so I took it off line. The thing I am worried about if I try chaeto again is my nitrates bottoming out since they are all ready in the desired range. Now if that happens I have adecent amount of marine pure in the back I could remove which might let it rise a bit or I have nitrate to dose. Also I get almost zero algae growing on the glass and am running a UV sterilizer.

What would you guys do? Try chaeto again, try GFO again but get a reactor, or just try and dose phosphate E everyday to to keep the phosphate level lower and more stable? Chaeto seems like the least maintenance option but again worried with the nitrates going to zero.

 

[reef lover]

Add your chaeto and keep eye on trates..if they get too low trim chaeto and feed a lil heavier.

 

[intricate_reefer]

Add your chaeto and keep eye on trates..if they get too low trim chaeto and feed a lil heavier.

Thanks! It turned out my nitrate test kit was bad. Got a new one in and they were like 20. Added the chaeto and things are starting to come down. I’m keeping a close eye on the numbers and the algae is improving.

 

[X-37B]

I would use vibrant. It should knock that back easily. But I am not a cheato or gfo fan. Once I knocked the algae back the coralline took off. Only used vibrant for 6 weeks. Tanks only 6 months old.

 

[intricate_reefer]

I would use vibrant. It should knock that back easily. But I am not a cheato or gfo fan. Once I knocked the algae back the coralline took off. Only used vibrant for 6 weeks. Tanks only 6 months old.

I have used it in the past and it worked for me but this last time around it didn't seem to be as effective. I have also noticed when using it my ALK consumption drops, corals lose color, and coralline goes away. If I have a major outbreak I may give it a third try but for the little bit I have its not really worth it. I think now that I know my nitrates were the problem ill be able to get it under control.

 

[X-37B]

I have used it in the past and it worked for me but this last time around it didn't seem to be as effective. I have also noticed when using it my ALK consumption drops, corals lose color, and coralline goes away. If I have a major outbreak I may give it a third try but for the little bit I have its not really worth it. I think now that I know my nitrates were the problem ill be able to get it under control.

For what its worth I used it at half the recommend dose with no alk issues or others. It just takes longer.

 

[Neoalchemist]

I found the same with vibrant, does it's job, but the tank doesn't seem to like it.
Looks like you got a handle on this, but I was going to suggest.
Running cheato along with filter socks.
I use my filter socks as a bit of a gas pedal when it comes to nitrate.
When my nitrate tests lower than 5 I just leave the dirty filter socks in for a couple of days longer and like magic the no3 rises.

 

[intricate_reefer]

I found the same with vibrant, does it's job, but the tank doesn't seem to like it.
Looks like you got a handle on this, but I was going to suggest.
Running cheato along with filter socks.
I use my filter socks as a bit of a gas pedal when it comes to nitrate.
When my nitrate tests lower than 5 I just leave the dirty filter socks in for a couple of days longer and like magic the no3 rises.

That's a great suggestion, thanks. I have an all in one so I just run poly-fi. I leave it in for 5 days but I could leave it in longer when they need a bump. Also want to maybe try to dial in how long the fuge light stays on.