Algae Scrubber Advanced
- Thread starter maglofster
- Start date
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Just add the scrubber and let it grow. Tank will cycle because there is no way around that, whenever you move rocks or flow you will end up with a mini-cycle.
You can try seeding. It won't necessarily make a difference, other factors are likely more important.
Crusinjimbo
New member
I am in the process of dialing in a waterfall ATS and need some advice. How far into the water distribution slot should the screen extend. I am using 1/2" PVC for the plumbing with the slot being 1/8" wide and 8" long. Maybe it doesn't matter but I am trying to mitigate as many variables as possible in setting it up for best performance. It stared as an upflow but the algae didn't follow orders and greened up the sump glass more than the screen. Trying the waterfall type now. Thanks
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
You can do it however you like. If the screen extends into the slot so that it touches the inside of the top, then you can hold the screen in place with one tie/ring in the center of the screen. If you just want it sticking up into the slot say maybe 1 row of mesh or less even, or halfway, etc, then you will need 2 tie/ring points. That's really the only driving factor and there's no right or wrong way w/r to that.
IMO you should use 3/4" minimum though. 1/2" is flow restrictive, you will have a lot more head loss
IMO you should use 3/4" minimum though. 1/2" is flow restrictive, you will have a lot more head loss
Crusinjimbo
New member
Thanks Floyd. I have seen the comments on upping to 3/4" and I am redoing everything from the union down. I'll up it to 3/4".
JavyJaverson
New member
I have been using an ATS for a few months now and for the most part it has been working tremendously well at keeping my nutrients low, however recently after adding a section to my sump for frags, i have been growing a lot of hair algae on my frags. I believe it is fueled between cleanings of my ATS by taking advantage of the available nutrients when the algae is removed. Has anyone experienced this? i was thinking of creating another section for chaeto to combat this problem. Any suggestions
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
You can try cleaning one side of the screen at a time, or do a partial cleaning of both sides. Meaning that you scrape off the algae in a cross-hatched pattern, and on the other side you rotate that pattern by 45 degrees so that you remove most (75%) of the algae, but expose as much of the screen as possible at the same time.
When you clean your screen, you should not be removing the algae that is in the holes. That should be left in place. Usually removing this algae requires scrubbing with a stiff bristled brush, so just scraping the screen should not dislodge that growth. If it does, your screen might not be quite rough enough. I take a wire brush (crimp type on drill bit) and 'take the shine' off the entire screen before roughing it up with a saw, as the saw alone does not really rough up the recesses of the screen. if you were to do this now, it would probably tear up your screen though.
When you clean your screen, you should not be removing the algae that is in the holes. That should be left in place. Usually removing this algae requires scrubbing with a stiff bristled brush, so just scraping the screen should not dislodge that growth. If it does, your screen might not be quite rough enough. I take a wire brush (crimp type on drill bit) and 'take the shine' off the entire screen before roughing it up with a saw, as the saw alone does not really rough up the recesses of the screen. if you were to do this now, it would probably tear up your screen though.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
You might have phosphate coming out of the plugs.
Crusinjimbo
New member
Hey Floyd, I followed tour advise on upping my ATS piping to 3/4" and boom, the screen spread and algae volume increased noticeably in a week. I also upped the fow with a TAM 1100 pushing 18" of head. Thing is dead quiet. Thanks!
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
:thumbsup:
Brummie
Member
Just so any scrubber newbies are not misled, what does this mean? Are you saying algae only grows on things that leach Phos? If so, what about scrubber mesh? I've got an experimental scrubber on a copepod grower, and wherever the algae touches, the algae will grow, like a contagion
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I guess he is using the 'ignore' feature on you Garf er Brummie
Brummie
Member
He he. Probably wise of him. Next I was gonna ask why (in my copepod grower) I get the bubbles ripping filaments of algae off the substrate and circulating around the system (difficult to get on video[but it does occur, I can see it]). More to the point, do all bubble powered scrubbers have this effect? But I guess he's never actually done any such experiment.
Not sure what you are saying... are you looking for pics of peoples tanks? The presumed purpose to see if you can have a decent tank AND a scrubber? If so, here's a link to the last FTS I posted of my little reef. Been running a scrubber for a few years. The whole thread is here. But that first link takes you straight to post with an FTS, assuming that's what you are looking for...
Brummie
Member
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Advanced Aquarist Feature Article for December 2013: Coral Feeding: An Overview
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/12/aafeature
The picture in the article shows that in the 1000 litre test tank:
98% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 2 coral colonies
71% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 40 coral colonies
92% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 2 coral colonies, when skimming is cut in half
55% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 40 coral colonies, when skimming is cut in half
"This trade-off between food availability and water quality can be circumvented by using plankton-saving filtration systems, which include [...] algal turf scrubbers"
"Corals are able to feed on a wide range of particulate organic matter, which includes live organisms and their residues and excrements (detritus)."
"...bacteria [...] can be a major source of nitrogen."
"...when dry fish feeds or phytoplankton cultures are added to an aquarium, a part of this quickly ends up in the collection cup of the skimmer.
"...mechanical filters (which can include biofilters and sand filters) result in a significant waste of food."
"Detritus is a collective term for organic particles that arise from faeces, leftover food and decaying organisms. Detrital matter is common on coral reefs and in the aquarium, and slowly settles on the bottom as sediment. This sediment contains bacteria, protozoa, microscopic invertebrates, microalgae and organic material. These sedimentary sources can all serve as coral nutrients when suspended, especially for species growing in turbid waters. Experiments have revealed that many scleractinian corals can ingest and assimilate detritus which is trapped in coral mucus. Although stony corals may ingest detritus when it is available, several gorgonians have been found to primarily feed on suspended detritus."
"Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important food source for many corals. [...] scleractinian corals take up dissolved glucose from the water. More ecologically relevant, corals can also absorb amino acids and urea from the seawater"
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/12/aafeature
The picture in the article shows that in the 1000 litre test tank:
98% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 2 coral colonies
71% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 40 coral colonies
92% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 2 coral colonies, when skimming is cut in half
55% of the food particles go to the skimmer when there are 40 coral colonies, when skimming is cut in half
"This trade-off between food availability and water quality can be circumvented by using plankton-saving filtration systems, which include [...] algal turf scrubbers"
"Corals are able to feed on a wide range of particulate organic matter, which includes live organisms and their residues and excrements (detritus)."
"...bacteria [...] can be a major source of nitrogen."
"...when dry fish feeds or phytoplankton cultures are added to an aquarium, a part of this quickly ends up in the collection cup of the skimmer.
"...mechanical filters (which can include biofilters and sand filters) result in a significant waste of food."
"Detritus is a collective term for organic particles that arise from faeces, leftover food and decaying organisms. Detrital matter is common on coral reefs and in the aquarium, and slowly settles on the bottom as sediment. This sediment contains bacteria, protozoa, microscopic invertebrates, microalgae and organic material. These sedimentary sources can all serve as coral nutrients when suspended, especially for species growing in turbid waters. Experiments have revealed that many scleractinian corals can ingest and assimilate detritus which is trapped in coral mucus. Although stony corals may ingest detritus when it is available, several gorgonians have been found to primarily feed on suspended detritus."
"Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important food source for many corals. [...] scleractinian corals take up dissolved glucose from the water. More ecologically relevant, corals can also absorb amino acids and urea from the seawater"
salty joe
Active member
+1. Excellent article.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/12/aafeature
In the graph about halfway down that article, it shows what I think would be about 10 cm/sec as a good speed for water movement. But it has s to the negative power of 1. I don't get it. Anyone willing to explain time to a negative exponent?
And then there's cm with an exponent of negative 2.???
