Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
I have thought about using one temporarily if thinks other than N or P get out of whack. Scrubbers scale up and back down pretty quickly when you dump too much food in the tank or add a lot of fish at ones.
On the other hand, I thought about pulling my old one out of the garage when I got a very large order of sponges from a diver. I had so many that I had to throw some away. Sponges are reputed to go into chemical warfare when under stress, like after shipping. I don't know if a skimmer would have helped but that was my thought.
On the other hand, I thought about pulling my old one out of the garage when I got a very large order of sponges from a diver. I had so many that I had to throw some away. Sponges are reputed to go into chemical warfare when under stress, like after shipping. I don't know if a skimmer would have helped but that was my thought.
speedo2wet
Sharks!!!!
Floyd: Progress update
Dec 10th, Lights are running for 10hrs, 8pm-6am
Tell me what you think?
Dec 10th, Lights are running for 10hrs, 8pm-6am
Tell me what you think?
SantaMonica
Well-known member
First waterfall scrubber in 2008, if anyone is interested:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1424843
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1424843
lokii_37
New member
Floyd: Progress update
Dec 10th, Lights are running for 10hrs, 8pm-6am
Tell me what you think?
I'm not Floyd but to me it looks like you are getting good growth. Is that 1weeks growth? The only thing I notice is the way the algae growth tapers towards the center on the left. I'm wondering if you have enough flow. I would make sure you are getting good glow all the way to the edges all the way down the screen.
My .02
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
12/5
I think this is good progress for 5 days. You might take the screen out and very lightly scrape the screen by raking your fingernails backwards across the screen. Then give the screen a good shake in a shallow pan of tank water, and put it back in and let it grow for a week
I've held off on cleaning the screen until you had a look at it. This has been up for just over a week.
Floyd: Progress update
Dec 10th, Lights are running for 10hrs, 8pm-6am
Tell me what you think?
I think this is good progress for 5 days. You might take the screen out and very lightly scrape the screen by raking your fingernails backwards across the screen. Then give the screen a good shake in a shallow pan of tank water, and put it back in and let it grow for a week
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I think it would green it up. @Brummie did an experiment where he was adding CO2 to the input, he would be able to answer this one best
Brummie
Member
I certainly got heavier (mass) growth, but it didn't seem to turbo charge nutrient uptake. I think it may actually mess about with the (C)arbon to N & P ratios, literally just making it heavier. The actual volume of harvest remained the same as just aerating the screen with skimmer sized bubbles. I also got a lot of heterotrophic white slime in the slot pipe which played havoc with the flow, having to clean it every day or two, when using CO2. I don't think a calcium reactor effluent will be any where near as harsh as my test, and I didn't see any amazing improvements (apart from doubling of mass). On the upside, if the white slime doesn't develope then I see no down sides to trying it.
Brummie
Member
I think that's where the extra carbon uptake comes into play. Increased pH. I wish there was a biological chemist here to tell us if our observation are crock!
I'm also hoping to capitalize on this seldom mentioned aspect of ATS. I'm in a Florida block home with chronic high indoor CO2 during most months of the year (except now, viva winter!!!).
Even if I cannot pull down the measurable inorganic N and P to zero, or move all my hair algae from the DT rocks to the roughed up mesh lit up in the back of my AIO sump area; at least the reverse daylight scheme will help deplete CO2 at night and possibly provide some pH and alkalinity stabilization.
Set up a simple waterfall scrubber using a spare HOB. Surface area is about 3.5 in X 6 in, single sided, lit for about 12 hours / day. Been going for about two weeks, starting to get some robust growth on the screen. Scraping the screen weekly. I've noticed less growth on the glass in the DT, so far.
Brummie
Member
Set up a simple waterfall scrubber using a spare HOB. Surface area is about 3.5 in X 6 in, single sided, lit for about 12 hours / day. Been going for about two weeks, starting to get some robust growth on the screen. Scraping the screen weekly. I've noticed less growth on the glass in the DT, so far.
What lighting you got for it?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Nice simple setup. The black screen is probably OK for your setup, but it doesn't look roughed up?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
You will get growth, but on a smooth screen it will detach when it gets to a decent amount. It might eventually encrust something to the screen, but it will take a long time. I would just replace it with a clear & roughed up screen. Rough up with a wire brush first to get the 'shine' off, then a hole saw or regular saw blade to get it prickly.
The LED you have will probably grow algae just fine, maybe not the more efficient, but you would have to switch to a growth-spectrum LED (660nm red) for that.
The LED you have will probably grow algae just fine, maybe not the more efficient, but you would have to switch to a growth-spectrum LED (660nm red) for that.
