Dude you just started this tank, you cant expect to have everything running beautifully and as efficiently as you think it ought to be. Weall have high standards, but they should be relaxed on a 1 month old tank. That is anwful lot of fish to have at such an early stage IMO, but thats a whole other issue. Your set up looks well done.
It looks to me like you are getting the nice, fine bubbles in a thick profusion. IME it takes a while for a skimmer to get tuned in. You need to mess with the settings, like water level over pump, how high the water is pumped up the tube. Lower height that the bubbles are shot up. It will take you longer to get froth, but you will get a darker froth. Though i say your fish load is too high, its because the tank is so young and i just as a rule dont put fish in a tank that young except fish i dont want to keep, but you do your thing, however, for a 150 g tank the proteins are so diluted in that large amount of water you cant expect to get too much broth. Go get a large eel, puffer and trigger and then you will get a dark froth.
Just be patient, your tank is young, experiment with the water level and the height of the bubbles. There isnt anything wrong with it, it seems or looks to be working fine. The skimmer, however, may be alittle small for your tank. Go look into a larger skimmer, you want to OVERSKIM.
Also, about the nitrates thing. How much live rock do you have and obviously even if you have enough it isnt mature. The best way to alleviate nitrates is through live rock and large water changes weekly. A skimmer is just part of it. Be easy on your feedings. Also, have you tested for Ammonia and nitrite? Sounds like your tank is still cycling. Nitrates becoming a byproduct of the new tank trying to become established.
i am rambling i have so many thoughts ill come back and see what you think after reading this
