I setup a new 180 gal reef tank in October after having a 55 gal reef for several years. I built a scrubber in the sump with a 20"X24" screen. Not being a total convert yet I also built a 4' tall 6" diameter skimmer, and a sulfur denitrator. Initially the skimmer produced little or no skimate, as expected. After about a month, the skimmer started producing about a half cup of dark skimate per day. Only in the last few weeks has the turf algae started to grow well on the screen of the scrubber. Now that the algae is growing well, I'm getting no skimate from the skimmer. Is this expected ?
I have little or no visible algae in the DT. I do have a bit of Cayno in 2 areas of low flow and some diatoms visible on the sand bed. Normal ?