fishquaria
New member
A few years ago, I made an accidental discovery. My tank had a small glass tray at the back of it, which was designed to hold a small light fixture. The water level of the aquarium is about half an inch below this tray. This tank was designed for freshwater fish, but was later converted to a saltwater fish only with live rock tank. The small glass tray became redundant. At the time, I was very young and so poor. I decided to use a small pump to move water from the aquarium to the tray. In the tray was the activated carbon and some pieces of foam. This was designed to hold bacteria to aid in bio filtration.
One of the light bulbs was very close to the tray. After about five to seven days, I noticed nuisance algae growing on the foam. This did not bother me and I let it continue. But amazingly, I noticed a reduction in the growth of nuisance algae in the tank. On an impulse I installed a separate flourescent tube (one of those freshwater plant growth accelerating ones) over the tray. After a week I noticed large increases in algal (nuisance) growth on the tray. And the low levels of nitrates in my tank dropped even lower. Then comes the interesting part. Gradually, the amount of nuisance algae in the tank started dropping and dropping. Finally, I decided to run the tank without any lights for about four days. Only the light above the tray would be left on. This resulted in a massive decrease in algal growth in the tank and a huge increase of algal growth in the tray. After about three weeks, there was hardly any algae in the tank at all. But massive amounts in the tray.
I started cleaning out one piece of foam every two to three weeks and this resulted in my tank having almost zero nitrates. This tank thrived until I left for three days on business and someone switched off the filters with the lights.
Having the information I gathered I went on to experiment with this 'tray system' and had success everytime. After much research, I think it is because algae prefer fast water movement and intense lighting. So more algae grew in the tray and not in the tank. Periodic cleaning of it caused nitrates to be exported.
It is sort of like a fuge, and in addition the tray increases the surface area available for gas exchange. Please let me have your comments. I'll be happy to supply drawings and pictures to anyone who is interested.
One of the light bulbs was very close to the tray. After about five to seven days, I noticed nuisance algae growing on the foam. This did not bother me and I let it continue. But amazingly, I noticed a reduction in the growth of nuisance algae in the tank. On an impulse I installed a separate flourescent tube (one of those freshwater plant growth accelerating ones) over the tray. After a week I noticed large increases in algal (nuisance) growth on the tray. And the low levels of nitrates in my tank dropped even lower. Then comes the interesting part. Gradually, the amount of nuisance algae in the tank started dropping and dropping. Finally, I decided to run the tank without any lights for about four days. Only the light above the tray would be left on. This resulted in a massive decrease in algal growth in the tank and a huge increase of algal growth in the tray. After about three weeks, there was hardly any algae in the tank at all. But massive amounts in the tray.
I started cleaning out one piece of foam every two to three weeks and this resulted in my tank having almost zero nitrates. This tank thrived until I left for three days on business and someone switched off the filters with the lights.
Having the information I gathered I went on to experiment with this 'tray system' and had success everytime. After much research, I think it is because algae prefer fast water movement and intense lighting. So more algae grew in the tray and not in the tank. Periodic cleaning of it caused nitrates to be exported.
It is sort of like a fuge, and in addition the tray increases the surface area available for gas exchange. Please let me have your comments. I'll be happy to supply drawings and pictures to anyone who is interested.
