cheato shrinkage

Recently saw the ball of cheato in my fuge atrophy and shrink even though water had nitrates at 10ppm, strong flow and plenty of light. I've seen it do this before. Anyone else seen their cheato shrink for no apparent reason? Does cheato naturally go through cycles where it grows and shrinks regardless of light, flow and nutrients? if not what made my cheato shrink? (It's growing back now in my fuge even though my nitrates are way down.)

 

Is it too balled up?

 

Agree,
It does better by pulling it apart and turning it every few days.

IMEO- contrary to popular belief- chaeto does not need nitrates, it definitely needs light though.
It does also lower nitrates and phosphates- I've heard listening to one pro via a YouTube that it uses that in a 16:1 ratio also, nitrateshosphates.

As you have posted, even though the nitrates are low, if there's light, some water, it should grow-it's a plant.

Do you have it on a lighting schedule, or on 24/7?

My chaeto mass is massive IMO, it would easily fill a 30g+.

 

viagra for cheato?

 

What is your phosphate level?

 

That's water for you...."I was in the pool"- George Costanza

 

Nitrates are below 5ppm and phosphates are almost zero
Yes, I have a lighting schedule. It gets about 12 hours a day