chaeto falling apart

[AcidRayn]

i did a search and could not find the answer so here goes.
went to clean the skimmer cup and noticed my once nice ball of chaeto is looking sad
kinda mushy, still green but falling apart.
was nice and coarse and tight.

heres what i do
light, CF 6500k 12 on 12 off, opposite the tank lights
in a 29 gal refuge, bare bottom, low flow
did a 15 gal water change on monday, used reef crystal for the first time
nitrates are less then 5, and that is where they normally are

i was tumbling it up till 2 weeks ago as i had to trim it, turned off the power head
and never trimmed as i went to oregon on a service call and forgot, just got back monday

any help let me know

 

[wienerdog]

how old is your bulb? do you have some salt creep on the bulb? I was having the same issue, I replaced my bulb.

 

[AcidRayn]

Bulb is about 2 months old
I don't get salt creep anywhere. No bubbles or splashing = no creep

I'm wondering gif it will come back or should I remove it?

 

[wienerdog]

if it does start to deteriorate it may increase ur phosphates. If it doesnt get better over the next day or so, Id remove it. I have heard, often too, that once they are clipped some die. Good luck