No thick growth

[spamer80]

Since we decided that the red one LEDs is a crap, I had no choise and changed it to original cool white (6500k). The result will be published tomorrow, but I can see that the lower part of scrubber now is covered with bubbles too and grows some greener stuff at the lower part. Actually, i`m not running biopellets anymore because after 2x50w flood lights were added (07.10.2016) I don`t have enough space for reactor.
After I`ve removed biopellets, nitrates went from 20ppm to 40ppm, but now after a week it`s down back to 20ppm, so I can definetely say that scrubber is working. Still obviously no changes in tank, it`s all covered with GHA.

[spamer80]

Still only 200g today but less slimy.

[spamer80]

I`ve decided to try skimmerless now to get some space for puffer.

[SantaMonica]

Well at least the nutrients will be low in the water, because of all that algae.

[spamer80]

I've started a small phytofilter/refugium instead with mangrove and chaeto. Also, I'll measure nitrates level every day, so if something will go wrong, I still can return the skimmer any time.

[spamer80]

Also, something strange is going here.
I have 3 No3 tests. Salifert, API and cheap NILPA (produced here). All was bought new and unopened from different places and far from expiration. In past 3 days I did 3 water changes in a row, 40 liters each.
API always shows No3 160ppm, no matter how hard I shake the bottle #2 and vial. And always 0 in freshly mixed saltwater. Actually, API shows about 100 NO3 in my 300lt discus tank, where 3 discus pairs lays eggs every 2 weeks like crazy.
Salifert always shows 50 to 100 No3 and 0 in freshly mixed saltwater.
And only NILPA showed 20ppm No3 before water changes and about 5 after in tank. And surely 0 in freshly mixed saltwater.

WTF?! I`m really bored with it.

[SantaMonica]

I'm sure the Salifert is fairly close. Phosphate would be more important anyway.

[spamer80]

Ok, I`ll try to continue daily water changes and look what`s will happen. I`ve also found the cassete for my Juwel filter with phosphate removing media (Phorax). It`s pretty small but I hope it help too.
I`ve seen a guy in the Internet who`s selling modified to reactors for different media Juwel Bioflow filters, but can`t find it again.

[spamer80]

Today harvest. 260g of algae and some green where the grow LEDs are. 6500k on the lower part of the screen. Every day 40l water changes after feeding but still absolutely no effect on nitrates I`ve only have salt for 2 water changes left.

[SantaMonica]

You will do better by increasing the light, than by water changing.