cheato won't grow in my reactor

[Eddie7144]

hello everyone. so I setup an algae reactor, using a TLF reactor and red/ blue led grow lights from amazon. I set it up three weeks ago this Sunday. I run the light 16 hours a day. I check the cheato every day and no growth, I have kids in it already as I can see them swimming around but no growth, is this normal ? last time I checked my nutrients my nitrates were undetectable, my phosphates are at .25 . what am I doing wrong ?

 

[CNDReef]

It needs nutrients

 

[andrew james]

Turn the flow way down and the lights only like 8 hours max

 

[Eddie7144]

ok I will try that, I do have the flow totally open now.

 

[melev]

hello everyone. so I setup an algae reactor, using a TLF reactor and red/ blue led grow lights from amazon. I set it up three weeks ago this Sunday. I run the light 16 hours a day. I check the cheato every day and no growth, I have kids in it already as I can see them swimming around but no growth, is this normal ? last time I checked my nutrients my nitrates were undetectable, my phosphates are at .25 . what am I doing wrong ?

You are recreating a product on the market, using things you can get your hands on that cost far less and are overall less efficient. It will be challenging, but that doesn't mean it won't work. Perhaps those lights are too weak? Or you lack nutrients? Or too much flow as some have mentioned? Or the display is too new?

Let's see what you've got going on, post some pictures of the setup and the reactor you made. And let's see these tiny kids in your reactor. ;)