Heloo Guys:
I started with algae scrubbing two months ago, however I changed lots of things on my scrubber and I can say it really started working well 2 weeks ago, I optimized the size, the flow, the light and the power consumption, the mesh (or net) is very near the light source, leds are dimmerized and I got very little consumption and great algae growing, and when I say great I mean GREAT!
My TANK is:
180L net water
2 small damsel fishes and 1 medium Zebrasoma Flavescens
Like 10 small coral frags, 2 LPS and the rest all sps.
NO3 = 0.2 (Salifert)
PO4 = 0.00 (Hanna)
Salt = 1.025
Kh = 7.5 very stable (Hanna)
Calcium = 415 Stable (Salifert)
Skimmer Deltec AF600 = Rated for 700L modified with a Red Dragon pump for more air intake
Scrubber:
Mesh = 16x20cm (one sided, but it gets full of algae on both because of the proximity to the light source)
Water pumping = 700L/h
17 hours light (660nm osram, 660nm Cree, full spect. and 430nm Semiled leds)
My tank was always 0.2 Nitrates and 0 Phosphates, and corals were good, I started feeding a lot since I turned on my scrubber, and NO3 and PO4 never went up.
Exactly 2 weeks ago, when I fixed/optimized it, the few algae growing in the display went away, but color on some corals faded away too, a few days back I almost lost my monti CAP, it was completely white and no PE, so I turned off my skimmer and the scrubber for 2 days and now it seeeeems like the cap is going back to life..very slowly, at least I can see PE now, zoas don't grow at all, and my only LPS favites started to bleaching on one side and lost the red color, Acros are doing fantastic!
I believe the scrubber is too much for my tank, it is growing too much algae (I harvest it once a week and take like half cup of strong green and brown algae), I am feeding a LOT, however my NO3 were always stucked in 0.2, after these 3 days of no skimm nor scrubbing (and keep the heavy feeding) the NO3 went up to 0.5 ppm.
I want to tune this up, and be able to use the scrubber, able to have a display free of algae and have the coral colors back, the question is:
-Should I cut some hours to the scrubber light?
-Should I leave it like that and start dosing NO3? (like Potassium Nitrate?)
-Should I buy more fish and leave the scrubber like it is today?
May be some one of you had this issue/problem before and can help me or guide me where to start?
Thank you guys in advance!