Chaeto is Shrinking, not enough Nutrients?

So, I had no idea where else to add this question than the algea forums lol sorry if I'm in the wrong spot. My tank is a 10gal with no sump/fuge and no skimmer. Just a Fluval 205 canister and of course LR for filtration. I keep the canister super clean, usually cleaning it out once to twice a week. I also do about a 2 gallon water change once a week because I have no sump or skimmer. I also put cheato in my display tank to keep the nutrient levels down. the cheato when I first got it about a week ago was a huge clump but now it has kind of shrunk down some. The "weave" of the cheato isn't as wide looking as it was before and it all looks really tight. I know it gets enough light and it is getting enough flow. Does my tank maybe not have enough nutrients to support the cheato. I would test my water but my test kit expired and is giving me wacky readings that just doesn't make sence. I'll get a new kit and test later. Do I possibly not have enough nitrate and phosphate to support cheato?

2 clownfish
skunk cleaner shrimp
5 hermits
7 margarita snails
coco worm
purple/yellow feather duster
2 frogspawn
kenya tree
3 types of mushrooms
2 types of zoas
anthelia
devil's hand

 

I'm no expert but if your parameters are perfect you might be starving the chaeto.

 

Yea, that's what I'm thinking... I just wanted a second opinion from people who have more experience thanI do.

 

Chaeto is algae and algae loves nutrients your tanks to clean lol

 

Oh, well I guess that's a good sign! pretty good for having no skimmer, sump or fuge hu? hehe

 

why don't ya throw some phosphate in there?

 

Actually with your great husbandry I wouldn't worry about having chaeto

 

Seriously? Are you actually suggesting possibly crashing my tank with algea because of adding phosphate to keep cheap Cheato alive? I don't think so, sorry. I'm not going to risk killing my coral with an algea outbreak just because very inexpensice Cheato may be dying. Sorry, but that was a very bad suggestion.

 

You can relax I believe they were joking nobody would seriously suggest you crash your tank.

 

the lack of phosphates or ntrates could be your problem but hard to say without the test results.