Algae Scrubber Basics

[sensei]

here the pic of the 2 cube after cleaning


I am not sure with the pics did not come out in my first post so I posted them again
Thanks

 

[SantaMonica]

What is a 3D box?

 

[Fuel Doodle]

So I'm trying a different lighting cycle. I turn on the left lamp 5 minutes after the display light goes off at 7:05pm, then I turn on the right lamp at 11pm, then I turn off of the left lamp at 5 am, then I turn off the right lamp 5 minutes before the display light turns on at 10:55. Has anyone ever tried mimicking the sun like this? I'm getting dark brown algae doing this, but my tank is brand new and I don't have any fish inside yet. Also,$ believe I have the wrong kelvin lamps at 6500k and need to change those over.

Thanks!


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[SantaMonica]

Dark just means not enough light for the amount of nutrients in the water. If the tank is new, you probably have nutrients in the rock.

And yes 6500k could be a lot lower like 2700k or red 600nm LED.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

What is a 3D box?

Strange question...since you invented it? Not being snarky, IIRC you are the one that put a containment box around a waterfall screen and showed that this causes the 3D growth to occur as long as the box width is appropriate, which was essentially the precursor to the UAS concept.

 

[Fuel Doodle]

Strange question...since you invented it? Not being snarky, IIRC you are the one that put a containment box around a waterfall screen and showed that this causes the 3D growth to occur as long as the box width is appropriate, which was essentially the precursor to the UAS concept.

When you say 3D growth, is that a good thing?


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[Fuel Doodle]

Dark just means not enough light for the amount of nutrients in the water. If the tank is new, you probably have nutrients in the rock.

And yes 6500k could be a lot lower like 2700k or red 600nm LED.

So "more light" means I need brighter bulbs or the correct kelvin lighting?

What do you think of my light cycle?


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[Floyd R Turbo]

When you say 3D growth, is that a good thing?

Yes. 3D growth (on a waterfall) is where the screen is in an enclosure (with a closed bottom with drains usually) where once the growth gets thick enough, it traps water and slightly suspends, enough to where light can reach the base of growth (screen) and this helps to keep that area both lit and receiving adequate flow so that it doesn't die off = you can let the scrubber grow longer inbetween harvests. The longer you can let it grow (without partial die-off) the better, because when you have more algae present your growth increases at a more exponential rate (within reasonable limits)

 

[ravi197699]

Here is my 40 dollars algae scrubber that is wroking beautifully, Heavy harverst every 2 weeks, Made out of Wood and wood sealed with epoxy resin, size is 12" x 26" high and it is lit by 4 plant grow SMD light fixtures. Fixtures were upgraded 2 weeks before and growth has been better and even faster..

 

[SantaMonica]

Nice one. If you have the room and don't mind the light and water, they work good.

 

[karimwassef]

I'm still growing my ATS out of control, but I'm starting to recycle my turf... I know it's not export, but I see no ill effects. I just feed less and the corals are still growing out of control..

please don't judge

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

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

My wife thought I was watching something inappropriate just now...bow chica wow wow...she has a dirty mind, which is why I love her

 

[Fuel Doodle]

Better lights?

Current growth with old lights

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[vikinglord13]

I'm still growing my ATS out of control, but I'm starting to recycle my turf... I know it's not export, but I see no ill effects. I just feed less and the corals are still growing out of control..

please don't judge

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

The fish can be fed either Nori or ATS growth. Either way, nutrients are going in the tank, might as well save $$$

 

[SFish]

ATS seems a bit loud any suggestions? Is the drain pipe to big? The feed is 3/4 and the drain is 1". The screen is 5x5 with a flow rate of 175gph.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Better lights?

yup

ATS seems a bit loud any suggestions? Is the drain pipe to big? The feed is 3/4 and the drain is 1". The screen is 5x5 with a flow rate of 175gph.

1) remove all but 2 zip ties, you don't need that many - just the 2

2) the only way to silence a drain is to put a valve on it. Ball valve is fine, just a bit trickier to adjust. If you can get a single-union 1" valve that will do, or a dual-union one from Lowes (American valve) which usually allows you to loosen the nut that tightens down on the ball, adjust to sweet spot, then tighten nut. Or a gate valve. Tuning the drain like this will also actually increase the max flow rate, but at the rate you are running it this isn't an issue, you just want to 'back up' the drain enough to cause it to fill up and run as a siphon. Also you need to make sure the pipe ends below the waterline or it won't siphon/go silent

 

[SFish]

Thanks Floyd

As always you been a big help

 

[DamonG]

One question.. Increasing flow over the scrubber, what effect does that have? I'm asking because I was going to run my uv, but the bulb blew. In order to run the size I have,I had to upgrade from a 500gph pump to a 1100gph pump.. I plumbed the scrubber in after the uv. But the bulb blew, and I was just going to keep the scrubber and pump attached, because it eliminates the need for two pumps.. On top of that, I may end up buying a new bulb. So I'm just wondering what the affect may be?

Thanks

From note 5.. rip note 7

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

It seems that in many cases there is a point of diminishing returns after about 50GPH/in, or thereabouts. Trying to stay in the 30-35 GPH/in, maybe +/- 5 GPH is good. Higher flow can benefit if your scrubber is undersized for your bioload, but it doesn't always work better to just crank up the flow. Depends on the design. Sometimes water will just go over the top of the growth and not really benefit anything. If it's in a growth chamber and the algae is going 3D, then higher flow must go through the growth, it can't go over it (it can go around it to an extent though) so that is better for higher flow, generally.

 

[DamonG]

It seems that in many cases there is a point of diminishing returns after about 50GPH/in, or thereabouts. Trying to stay in the 30-35 GPH/in, maybe +/- 5 GPH is good. Higher flow can benefit if your scrubber is undersized for your bioload, but it doesn't always work better to just crank up the flow. Depends on the design. Sometimes water will just go over the top of the growth and not really benefit anything. If it's in a growth chamber and the algae is going 3D, then higher flow must go through the growth, it can't go over it (it can go around it to an extent though) so that is better for higher flow, generally.

Ok understood.. Let me see how it goes over the next couple days. That should tell me exactly what it is going to do..

From note 5.. rip note 7