Algae Scrubber Basics

[azjohnny]

Karim

The light brown algae is the 1 stage and than mine started to grow Cyno on both the netting and inside the sump. I have been removing the Cyno and the algae started turning black ( I think I had a lot of phosphate in the DT) After 3 weeks I noticed green patches starting on the netting

 

[karimwassef]

I don't think it's algae.. it doesn't stick to any surface. It's like a brown powder and not diatoms. more like a residue.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/D65AF21A-8FAB-4765-A58B-5D955D40DDB3_zps9eglgmo7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/D65AF21A-8FAB-4765-A58B-5D955D40DDB3_zps9eglgmo7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo D65AF21A-8FAB-4765-A58B-5D955D40DDB3_zps9eglgmo7.jpg"/></a>

it has no bubbles and blows away like sand.

I turned off the blue light to take a better picture of the screen:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E6E569C1-679F-4738-B679-50AED63C70A0_zpsqdyocmp4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E6E569C1-679F-4738-B679-50AED63C70A0_zpsqdyocmp4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E6E569C1-679F-4738-B679-50AED63C70A0_zpsqdyocmp4.jpg"/></a>

It's getting to be a very dark brown

 

[Apotack]

If I remember your sump is in the garage? Could if be something like pollen blowing in from outside?

 

[karimwassef]

it is in my garage ... If it was pollen, I'd expect it on my wife's car or on my workdesk in the garage, etc...

This is how I measure the insect invasion as it waxes and wanes

 

[crocogator106]

I've got something similar that settles on top of my ATS pump which is in an area with the skimmer. I just figured it was debris from the overflow. Like yours, mine is almost like sand but its not hard.

 

[karimwassef]

I don't know if it's hard... I haven't touched it.. it could be soft particles. if it's organic detritus from the dying cyano, it would be soft.

 

[crocogator106]

Mine is soft like its organic. I do have some cyno die off since my tank is newly cycled.

 

[karimwassef]

Need to decide... take it down and clean it off (assuming it's dirt) or let it be and see if it it turns green (assuming it's a base for algae).

 

[karimwassef]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R_uIFPhbqKk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[azjohnny]

Go with it, your netting looks like how mine did in the beginning

 

[karimwassef]

ok.. laziness and one vote wins it... I would like to redo the stitching, but that can wait for the next cleaning cycle I guess.

 

[azjohnny]

I have redone my design at least 5x. Its typical of reefers to be a bit OCD

 

[karimwassef]

not like this is a hobby for the completely sane anyhow...

 

[SantaMonica]

Weekend growth pics...

 

[karimwassef]

Awesome SM. How many days?

 

[karimwassef]

red LED sheet is done too... PAR readings later today I think. I should be able to mount it and start running it on the back side tonight.
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_6168_zpsax1cy6no.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_6168_zpsax1cy6no.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_6168_zpsax1cy6no.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_6169_zpshqm9efls.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_6169_zpshqm9efls.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_6169_zpshqm9efls.jpg"/></a>

 

[SantaMonica]

They are all different people, so the time varies.

 

[hkgar]

Today's harvest

Today's harvest

Seven day growth and harvested 3.7 OZ (104 grams)

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I have redone my design at least 5x. Its typical of reefers to be a bit OCD

not like this is a hobby for the completely sane anyhow...

You're not a REAL hobbyist unless you've completely re-plumbed your system because of one small thing that was annoying you.

 

[karimwassef]

so true!