Cheato causing phosates?

[Tonblogna]

I generally have had no problems with phosphates in the 4 months I have had my tank. Recently I added cheato to my sump to help with evil NITRATES. A 10 gallon sump with an 11 watt 5600 k compact flouresant bulb. Since adding the cheato my phospate has gone up to .50. Two different kinds of cheato. One leafy, which seems to growing, I can see little yellow sprouts. The brilo pad kind doesn't seem as if its dying or anything, but I can't really tell that it is growing either. Its been in the tank about 3 weeks now. I was running the bulb 24/7 the first two weeks and have now switched to 16 hours a day. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[demonsp]

Water source?
Whats used for water movement?
How often is water changed and amount?
Amount of LR and LS?

 

[FBNitro]

Leafy Cheato?

 

[Tonblogna]

RO/DI for water source. Two Via Aqua 1300 return pumps to tank from sump and Koralia 1 for movement. 10% water change per week. Approximately 40 lbs of LR and 50 lbs of LS including sump on both. As I said though, no problems with phos until the "plants" were added. Nothing else has changed other than additional fish. I'm not sure exactly what the leafy stuff is, but it was sold to me as cheato. It was a tangled up in a big ball with brilo pad. Good news I guess is that nitrates are remaining around 20.

 

[SaltyDr]

Double check with a new test kit or take water to LFS.

 

[Tonblogna]

I will take a sample to LFS, but I have to say I am pretty confident with my test kit. Bump for the afternoon newbee feeding frenzy.

 

[Tonblogna]

I can never seem to get many replies on here. Anyone out there with any advice? More watts, less exposure. If more watts, any suggestions for a clamp on?

 

[Sk8r]

That leafy stuff will be caulerpa.

PHosphate and nitrate both are fertilizer for algae growth. When you have algae die, both are released into the water column and become 'testable'. They can't be tested-for while they are bound in the algae's structure. So the rise in phosphate is because you have some algae dying.
The growing algae in your fuge should sop up both and increase in growth, removing both from your system. Light it 24/7---especially with that caulerpa in there: never decrease the lighting pattern on caulerpa: it releases toxins if you do. When it masses enough, pull the ball apart and sell half of it: most lfs's will give you credit.
My bulb is 13w but I run it constantly.

 

[celano]

I've found that if I don't rinse my cheato every couple of weeks the detritus gets trapped in it and builds up causing my nitrates and phosphates to rise.
Your bulb sounds like it should be ok. I use one thats very similar and it works good. If your having trouble getting the "brillo" type cheato to grow you might consider trimming it. I've found with mine that once it reaches the edges of the fuge it stops growing.
Almost like a plant in a flower pot. Once the roots fill the pot theres nowhere else for them to go so in turn the plant stops growing and doesn't get any bigger. Make sense? Cheato is the same way. Try trimming it back a little to seem if that helps.
Anyway these are just a few things I've found that help in my tank. gl

 

[Tonblogna]

Thanks for help. If my tests are accurate, the phosphates have started to come back down. Tested .25 today.