Algae Scrubber Basics

[fppf]

Look up 3 posts

I don't really know how loud mine is, its in the basement so I don't care.

Make sure your screen is submerged a little at the bottom and the flow is even on both sides. You may just be blasting the water down the screen.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Are you talking about the noise from the water falling off the screen into the sump, or are you getting a squirting noise? Do not make the slot bigger - this will add other problems. You want a straight, even 1/8" slot.

If you are getting uneven flow, you have to give it a little time. The water will tend to channel and stream until your screen 'slimes up' a bit. This will also slow the rate of fall of the water slightly.

Making sure the screen is in contact with the water at the bottom will silence it. If that means you have to re-do the screen to make it longer, there's no problem with that. You would just end up with an oversized screen and then you would only care about lighting the part you are currently lighting. If you don't want to re-do the screen, just tie an additional section on the bottom with fishing line to give the water a path to cascade quietly down into the water.

 

[skyshrimp]

Thanks ill try it in the morning and see how it goes. Just trying to get the green algae to grow instead of the brown stuff by uncreasing flow to the ats.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

skyshrimp, I thought this was worth repeating (from post # 151). Your brown algae may be normal. What are you water parameters?

Again same document, explaining intro growth...

Growth: When new screens start out, they almost always just have a light brown coating of slimy algae (diatoms). After the first cleaning, and into the second week, it usually gets darker, and by the fourth week and forth cleaning it, can get pretty thick. It’s important to realize that all algae remove nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) from your tank, so any algae that grows on your screen is algae that can’t grow in your tank. As the nutrients in your tank come down, the type of growth on the screen will change. Here are some different types of growth you might experience:

Light Brown Slime: New screens, and sometimes older screens the day after they are cleaned. Perfectly normal.

Black Oil/Tar: Very high nutrients in tank. Screen must be cleaned every 3 days until growth is not so dark. Stronger lights will fix it faster.

Green Spaghetti/Confetti: This is the best type of growth, because the light-green color and open structure allow light and water to penetrate through all parts of the algae.
Also, it is more firm and compact, like a sponge or chaeto, and will not let-go and clog drains easily.

Long Thin Green Hair: This types occurs mostly in freshwater, and filters a lot because the light and flow go throughout the algae. But depending on how you build your scrubber, the strands may get so long they break off or slow down the drain. Adding a bit of Mono Potassium Phosphate to the water, to increase the phosphate, may help fix this and make it growth thicker.

Yellow Rubber or Yellow Slime: Your flow is too low, and is not delivering enough iron to the algae. If you can’t increase the flow, then run the bulbs a few hours less each day. You can also try adding iron to the water, such as Kent’s Iron + Manganese.

Cyano: Your light is too weak.

Big Bald Spot In Middle: Your flow is too low near the light, or you used spotlights instead of spiral bulbs and big reflectors. If you can’t increase the flow, then run the bulbs a few hours less each day. Adding iron may help here too.

Mysteriously Appearing Small Bald Spots: If the growth is thick, but new irregularly shaped bald spots appear each day, then the algae is letting go from the screen. Your screen needs to be rougher. If you can’t do this, then either reduce the flow, or clean more often, so it does not get so thick and heavy.

 

[skyshrimp]

Params:
salinity-1.025
Ph-8.2
Ammonia- undetectable
Nitirte- undetectable
Kh-10
Calcium-460 ppm
Nitrate- 10ppm (was higher but ats is working)
Mag-1420 ppm

Growth is slimy brown on inner part if screen, the outer edges have dark green tufts of algae. Recenlty getting growth after 2 1/2 months. Lighting is 1, 40w=150w spiral bulb on each side w/ 8 in reflectors. Flow is 1 maxijet 1200 pumping into ats from one side and drain feeding ats from other side. So it is being feed from both sides.

 

[salty joe]

Thanks for that picture fppf. Nice little modification.

 

[srusso]

Params:
salinity-1.025
Ph-8.2
Ammonia- undetectable
Nitirte- undetectable
Kh-10
Calcium-460 ppm
Nitrate- 10ppm (was higher but ats is working)
Mag-1420 ppm

Growth is slimy brown on inner part if screen, the outer edges have dark green tufts of algae. Recenlty getting growth after 2 1/2 months. Lighting is 1, 40w=150w spiral bulb on each side w/ 8 in reflectors. Flow is 1 maxijet 1200 pumping into ats from one side and drain feeding ats from other side. So it is being feed from both sides.

I would leave the flow alone, use the post Floyd mentioned.

 

[jeremy-40]

Does anyone with an in sump scrubber have problems with cyano in the sump. It's not on the screen, just on the sump walls, floor, live rock, and pumps. Not in the display at all.

 

[srusso]

Does anyone with an in sump scrubber have problems with cyano in the sump. It's not on the screen, just on the sump walls, floor, live rock, and pumps. Not in the display at all.

I have an in sump scrubber, and have no problems with cyano.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Yes, I had that issue with my original box, which had no black acrylic. It let a lot of light bleed into the sump and I got cyano growth. I blocked the light from reaching the sump in my newer design and the cyano went away. I still get a lot of coralline growth however. Kind of odd.

 

[bucks448]

I had cyano really take off in my sump when I started my scrubber, also on my screen. It's been losing traction and dying off as my scrubber matures. It's only been running 3 weeks now.

 

[jeremy-40]

I am on my 4th week now. It's not in the display so I will just wait and see if the scrubber will out compete it. Thanks

 

[L33t Reefer]

Just wondering if anyone has ever used a sheet velcro instead of the recommended plastic canvas. Its really rough and I thought it might work well. Thoughts?

 

[fppf]

Might work, give it a try.

I replaced my 23 watt bulbs with 19 watt ones. We will see if that helps the center of the screen fill in.

 

[srusso]

Just wondering if anyone has ever used a sheet velcro instead of the recommended plastic canvas. Its really rough and I thought it might work well. Thoughts?

I have wanted to try this for a long time. If you do test it, could you please post your results? Good luck!

 

[skyshrimp]

Thanks for all the help with me and my turf scrubbdr folks I will continue with my scrubber and see what benefits it brings me. I did it originally to increase the fauna in my system and now I notice more pods, worms and such. Thanks folks.

 

[King_Richard]

I thought I had read somewhere that velcro has been tried already and it didn't work out as well. I looked through a couple threads but couldn't find where it was said.

The problem I see with velcro is that it still needs to be roughened up. Yes all of those little spikes seem like they would be awesome, but the spikes themselves are still smooth. Unless you use the other side of the velcro, the part that gets stuck to. That might work, but is that material safe to use, would it promote mold since it's more of a fabric? Similar to using carpet I suppose, don't think that would smell to good after a while. Just my guess.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I think it was a combination of the 'hooks' still being smooth, and the material not being translucent. The major benefit of the plastic canvas screen is that light can get through it from both sides, which means that the light penetrates to the root of the algae where it attaches, where the most strength is needed. I think this matters most in an immature screen. Once your screen is several months old, the algae encrusts the screen and holds much better, and recovers faster after cleaning. This is one of the reasons why mature screens are so much more effective than new screens, even if they're a few months old.

 

[fppf]

Well smaller bulbs, growth in the center.

So there is a such thing as to much light!

I like having smaller bulbs, less electric.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

It could also have to do with several other factors, such as orientation of the lamp, proximity, and type of reflector. Good to hear that you're getting good results!