I realised this morning that I hadn't emptied my skimmer cup for 2 weeks... I've been manic busy and haven't had much time for the tank at all save for feeding and cleaning the glass. I opened the cabinet to find the skimmer had stopped producing bubbles. There was only about half an inch of skimmate in the cup so I'm guessing it only ran for a day or so after my last maintenance day about 3 weeks ago.
Immediately I ran po4 and no3 tests, expecting them to be off the chart... nope. Lower than when I last tested 3 weeks ago!! No3 at about 5ppm and po4 undetectable. Both salifert tests. No3 was hovering about 15ppm and po4 was always detectable but only just. These are the same test kits and both well within date...
I meant to top up the biopellet reactor also 3 weeks ago and still haven't. I noticed the last few pellets have gone now, so wasn't the carbon / bacteria mopping up the excess and I haven't noticed a bacterial bloom from the skimmer not working either.
I'm at a loss as to what's happening? I haven't fixed the skimmer or added any more biopellets, thought I might just leave it to see what happens.
All corals look good, inverts fine etc. In fact, if anything my montis in particular seem to have more growth than normal, which I'm putting down to the lower po4.
My only theory is that with the skimmer stopping; bacteria in the LR have multiplied to take advantage of a nute spike and have been so efficient they've got the levels lower than with a skimmer.
Other than o2 exchange, I can't see any downside to not running a skimmer... on the assumption my nutes don't now hit the roof!
Anyone not run a skimmer or had anything like this before? I kinda want to know why my nutes are lower despite the export being apparently much lower.
Just to add, there's been no WCs or anything else to lower nutes in that time and the fuge appears almost empty, whereas before there was shed loads of Caulerpa and chaeto.
Immediately I ran po4 and no3 tests, expecting them to be off the chart... nope. Lower than when I last tested 3 weeks ago!! No3 at about 5ppm and po4 undetectable. Both salifert tests. No3 was hovering about 15ppm and po4 was always detectable but only just. These are the same test kits and both well within date...
I meant to top up the biopellet reactor also 3 weeks ago and still haven't. I noticed the last few pellets have gone now, so wasn't the carbon / bacteria mopping up the excess and I haven't noticed a bacterial bloom from the skimmer not working either.
I'm at a loss as to what's happening? I haven't fixed the skimmer or added any more biopellets, thought I might just leave it to see what happens.
All corals look good, inverts fine etc. In fact, if anything my montis in particular seem to have more growth than normal, which I'm putting down to the lower po4.
My only theory is that with the skimmer stopping; bacteria in the LR have multiplied to take advantage of a nute spike and have been so efficient they've got the levels lower than with a skimmer.
Other than o2 exchange, I can't see any downside to not running a skimmer... on the assumption my nutes don't now hit the roof!
Anyone not run a skimmer or had anything like this before? I kinda want to know why my nutes are lower despite the export being apparently much lower.
Just to add, there's been no WCs or anything else to lower nutes in that time and the fuge appears almost empty, whereas before there was shed loads of Caulerpa and chaeto.
