Algae Scrubber Basics

[Floyd R Turbo]

Rarely do you actually see GHA in 10 days from a new screen, that's a pretty decent start. You can clean that lightly at this point - take it out, swipe you palm across each side, and rinse in room temp tap water

 

[sensei]

Floyd,

I already cleaned the screen.
I measures my PO4 today:
ten days ago I had 0.12ppm measured with hanna low range and today it tested 0!
I was surpriced so I tested again and had 0 again.
my NO3 is around 10ppm and is the same as 10 days ago but PO4 decreased to cero.
I have not done any other change than adding the ATS to the tank.
any comments??

thanks

 

[karimwassef]

Ok. My "weir overflow scrubber" has been up for three weeks. Here's my post when assembling it: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=24096506&postcount=7127

It was hard to keep it locked down because of my surge causing the water level to fluctuate by 4" or more and the material floats. I use a large she'll to hold one end down.

Here are the pics:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/39B34D63-0DEB-455F-8CE9-06A25BE9BE38_zpsvibbewtu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/39B34D63-0DEB-455F-8CE9-06A25BE9BE38_zpsvibbewtu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 39B34D63-0DEB-455F-8CE9-06A25BE9BE38_zpsvibbewtu.jpg"/></a>

The black grate on the left is to keep animals out. The grungy strip on the right is the scrubber.

Closer look:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/F921215E-78AF-4156-B520-85E89C84DE0F_zpsb2ikxl3k.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/F921215E-78AF-4156-B520-85E89C84DE0F_zpsb2ikxl3k.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo F921215E-78AF-4156-B520-85E89C84DE0F_zpsb2ikxl3k.jpg"/></a>

The overflow rock and glass are still holding mats of GHA where fish and other animals can't easily gain access. During a surge, my sailfin runs some wild acrobatics to swim up and sideways to access these areas. Like a fighter pilot.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/D15BF661-4202-435A-B6BB-732CD8238101_zpsjy1cktll.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/D15BF661-4202-435A-B6BB-732CD8238101_zpsjy1cktll.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo D15BF661-4202-435A-B6BB-732CD8238101_zpsjy1cktll.jpg"/></a>

Here's a view showing the GHA on both at the same time:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/347DA61B-2749-48E4-8E3A-C516056FA222_zpsnpkdgmoo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/347DA61B-2749-48E4-8E3A-C516056FA222_zpsnpkdgmoo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 347DA61B-2749-48E4-8E3A-C516056FA222_zpsnpkdgmoo.jpg"/></a>

Rocks closeup:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/0EF8C9C6-F242-4CC4-8AED-888741322F4A_zpsidg9r3x3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/0EF8C9C6-F242-4CC4-8AED-888741322F4A_zpsidg9r3x3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0EF8C9C6-F242-4CC4-8AED-888741322F4A_zpsidg9r3x3.jpg"/></a>

I also have an interesting hitchhiker: Xenia

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/C2449A73-2399-41C8-B2E3-349935AEBCBC_zps0l4jsgqx.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/C2449A73-2399-41C8-B2E3-349935AEBCBC_zps0l4jsgqx.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo C2449A73-2399-41C8-B2E3-349935AEBCBC_zps0l4jsgqx.jpg"/></a>

This little cluster of 6 polyps he been floating around the tank. It broke off from the colony that's decided to grow right up to the water surface at the overflow:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/6854E859-F7FB-415A-B11E-B58B924D79D9_zpssuv8k6xt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/6854E859-F7FB-415A-B11E-B58B924D79D9_zpssuv8k6xt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6854E859-F7FB-415A-B11E-B58B924D79D9_zpssuv8k6xt.jpg"/></a>

Wondering if a Xenia filter is the next level in scrubbing

Anyway- this is powered by the offshoot light from my MHs and uses the natural overflow region behind my weir..

Experts-How does it compare? Ideas on making it more effective?

 

[karimwassef]

no feedback on whether this is is a good amount of growth for 21 days?

 

[knukles55]

Would a upflow scrubber 4 1/2× 4 1/2 screen single side lit work on my 30 gallon I feed frozen probably twice a week but want this to help with my green hair algae invasion I have going on.

 

[jason2459]

no feedback on whether this is is a good amount of growth for 21 days?

For first 21 days I'd say any growth is good growth. Once it starts to take hold its good.

And xenia are great filter feeders. Some people have xenia fuges for that reason. My 20g long mantis tank survives on Xenia and water changes alone.

 

[karimwassef]

For first 21 days I'd say any growth is good growth. Once it starts to take hold its good.

And xenia are great filter feeders. Some people have xenia fuges for that reason. My 20g long mantis tank survives on Xenia and water changes alone.

Xenia fuges?? I was just making that up... that's a real thing?

Ok. I'll update as I get more growth. I think the GHA is going to kill the Xenia.

 

[jason2459]

Nope. Not kidding. Some people use aiptaisia. My sump is an aiptaisia fuge. I like them. I've always let them flourish there.

 

[sensei]

Floyd,
here is a photo of my screen after 5 days of the 1st cleaning.
I have read the forum and the recomendation is to clean it each week, so I guess I should wait for another 2 days??
I tested my PO4 today and it tested 0 (cero), 15 days ago I had 0.12ppm so the ATS is already working since I have not done any other change than adding the ATS and I am feeding the same. I do not want to have cero PO4 because sps need some P for color, thus I would like to have 0.03-0.05ppm of PO4. I have lights on for 18 hours a day in the ATS now, I am thinking of lowering the light period to 12 hours. What do you think? or should I leave them 18 hours for the break in period of the screen??
waiting for your reply

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Cleaning is really based only generally on every 7-14 days but that is when your screen is fully mature and growing well.

For a starter screen, you want to go longer between cleanings so that GHA has a chance to get firmly attached. Cleanings are different because you are only clearing off the slime growth to make way for the GHA.

The color/look of your screen tells me that you should just let it keep growing, because it isn't thick enough to "hide the pattern" of the screen, meaning that growth won't block light, so you can let it grow longer. Like 10-14 days, then just swipe your palm across each side and rinse.

As for PO4, unless you have a lab grade Hanna or Hach meter, you probably have plenty of PO4 in the tank, but if it makes you feel better, you can back off to 15 hours/day and you'll probably be ok

 

[sensei]

I use low range Hanna digital tester, I guess 1 hour less of light wont make a difference, so I will leave it 18 hours that is the recomended time of operation.

Thanks

 

[sensei]

Floyd,
another question:
how can it be possible that my ATS already started filtering PO4 if I am only having brown slime in the screen?
is the brown slime some kind of algae that absorves nutrients??

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

pretty much any algae growth will absorb nutrients.

 

[sensei]

Floyd,
here is a photo after 7 days of the 1st cleaning.
some of the pattern of the screen is blocked now, should I clean today or leave it 2 or 3 more days?

 

[kegogut]

View attachment 334698

Floyd,
here is a photo after 7 days of the 1st cleaning.
some of the pattern of the screen is blocked now, should I clean today or leave it 2 or 3 more days?

I would let that grow out for another week or so,thats just me.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

The algae looks pretty dark though so a hand-swipe & rinse cleaning would be what I would do, otherwise you might start getting some detachment, or enough shading to prevent GHA from attaching.

I think your light is not quite strong enough either

 

[sensei]

I read that slime grows black in high nutrient systems, the slime in my screen is not black but yes it is dark, does it mean something?
I ask because your comment draws my attention:"algae looks pretty dark"

When rinsing the screen is it fine to do it with tap water??

I have two CFL bulbs 11W flood lights in each side ( 22 W total each side), but in the picture I only captured one bulb. I only feed 4cubes
why do you think it is not strong enough?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

If you go by the feeding guidelines, and have 4 cubes/day feeding, you would want a 48 sq in screen lit with a minimum of 48W total, so you're close at 44W.

So in that case I would say that you are looking at the starting stages still, the screen is still maturing so GHA should start in pretty soon I would thing, but depending on your tank conditions this might take a bit of time

When you clean, don't do it vigorously yet. You can use tap water, that is usually fine when you are getting some growth. I usually flip over to the saltwater rinsing technique when you are not getting any growth, or spotty growth (problems getting it going).

If you have any thick/chunky areas of brown growth, you can scrape at that a bit with your fingernails or a scraper in those areas so that you expose a bit more of the screen material, but don't scrub with a brush quite yet. you just want to clear any slime growth off the screen and you should be able to do this with your fingers

 

[SantaMonica]

Would a upflow scrubber 4 1/2× 4 1/2 screen single side lit work on my 30 gallon

With strong bubbles, and two strong 3-watts red LEDs, it will help a lot.

Xenia fuges?? I was just making that up... that's a real thing?

Yes a lot of people have tried a lot of things for a macro sump.

I read that slime grows black in high nutrient systems

A little more accurate is: Growth is black when nutrients are high compared to the light. However if the light is also high (very very strong), then you can get green growth in high nutrients.

 

[SantaMonica]

Coming in 2016:
Waterfall algae scrubber
Version 2

After I invented the waterfall scrubber in 2008, it's great that so many people got to DIY it, and it's also great that lots of builders/sellers used it as their design up until the current day. It's had over 7 years to gather hobbyists.

2012 was a good year though, when I introduced the upflow scrubber. It's only had 3 years to gather hobbyists, but offers them what they did not have before: a compact place where they can put a scrubber that does not spill over when it fills up.

Now that the upflows are established, it's time to do some more work on the waterfalls. They've been unchanged since 2008, and almost every part of them can be improved. So over the next year or two I'll post up the improvements piece by piece. Hopefully the improvements will be useful to all.