Why is my Cheato dying?

[reeferaddict]

I have a 34g solana and wanted to have a little mini fuge to get the pod population up- so I added a 2-3" ball of cheato and some pods into a clear acrylic 3"x5" well vented box and put in the far corner.
Well- I have had 0 growth in 2 weeks... actually it's about 1/2 the size it was originally-- some small pieces blow out of the holes as it does have decent flow- Possibly it's bc it's in my main tank and has 2 150w Kessils over it?
I've read you cant really over light cheato?

Also my nitrates and Phos are pretty low, they're not detectable by my red sea kit-- could it just starve? I put it in for a pod breeding area but hoped for it to serve a dual purpose--

I have a very light diatom dusting but no real algae other than coralline and some film on the glass.....

Other parameters
temp 77.5
PH 7.9-8.2
alk 9-10
calc- 450+
SG 1.025

 

[reeferaddict]

there is some bleaching... just appears to be withering away

All fish and corals are doing well-- LPS ad SPS w a softy or 2 and zoo's all doing well

I know that there has to be some nitrates and phosphates... The tank was moved about 6 weeks ago and never had a recycle... it got alot of new water and the LR flushed out w new sand----

Possibly the bacteria present just out competing for nutrients?

I have no clue whats up..... Not running a skimmer--- doing 20% changes bi-weekly

I feed lightly each time but spot feed a mandarin and several corals 3 times a day

I wanted to throw the cheato in the "sump" and add an LED to the back for a lil fuge but this lack of growth is discouraging

On the positive side my pods are exploding-- I have lil white dots all over the glass and see bugs in the sand and on the rocks now

 

[rathos]

Pods could be eating it faster than it grows. I had that issue when I had a lot of pods and not a lot of excess nutrients.