Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
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Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
Ok then, what spectrum of light is used to get easy fast freshwater algae growth?
homer1475
New member
I always see SantaMonica posting these growth shots of nice thick lush GHA. My scrubber never gets nice and green or lush and thick. It's always slimy and very dark green.
While I'm certainly not complaining, it does keep the DT algae free, just seems odd I can never grow the thick GHA I see in these growth shots.
While I'm certainly not complaining, it does keep the DT algae free, just seems odd I can never grow the thick GHA I see in these growth shots.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Red 660nm
And remember that dark green slime removes more nutrients from the water, per gram, than GHA. You just need to use a brush for cleaning, and do it more often.
And remember that dark green slime removes more nutrients from the water, per gram, than GHA. You just need to use a brush for cleaning, and do it more often.
homer1475
New member
Good to know, thanks Santamonica!
I do clean my screen about once a week, any longer and it starts to block the water flow through the slot pipe.
I scrape the screen with an old credit card. Should I not be cleaning it so well? I do have some GHA that has actually stuck to the screen, but the center where it's mostly light green and really slimy cleans off back to a clean screen.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
A pic would help but the outer areas are probably filling the holes with slime, which don't pull out; they need brushing.
Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
When you say GHA are you meaning ulva?
homer1475
New member
Pics as promised. sorry for the extra post, it's just much easier to post photos from tapatalk.
Setup is just a black acrylic box with a gate valve in the outlet and a gate on the inlet to adjust flow, and 2 20W grow spot lights on separate timers.
Screen after a few days. The bottom part is where the nice thick algae resides and does not scrub off. You can see where the screen is white is where I don't get any growth that actually attaches.
Inside of the box with screen running.
Like I said I'm not super worried as I have no algae in my DT, just curious why mine is not lush and green like most pics you post. All I get is this slimy snotty algae. About a half cup once a week in an 85G total system volume where I feed roughly 1 cube a day.
Lol don't pick on my fabrication, it's the first time I ever worked with weldon and acrylic.
Setup is just a black acrylic box with a gate valve in the outlet and a gate on the inlet to adjust flow, and 2 20W grow spot lights on separate timers.
Screen after a few days. The bottom part is where the nice thick algae resides and does not scrub off. You can see where the screen is white is where I don't get any growth that actually attaches.
Inside of the box with screen running.
Like I said I'm not super worried as I have no algae in my DT, just curious why mine is not lush and green like most pics you post. All I get is this slimy snotty algae. About a half cup once a week in an 85G total system volume where I feed roughly 1 cube a day.
Lol don't pick on my fabrication, it's the first time I ever worked with weldon and acrylic.
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homer1475
New member
Ulva, GHA, whatever, it's algae and looks like hair to me. lol I don't care what type it is, as long as it grows on my screen and not in my display.
metasyntactic
New member
I've been building a waterfall scrubber and looking to seed it. Would you recommend Ulva over other types of algae? I have some tangs that would go wild over fresh lettuce algae every week. I know Ulva typically grows on rocks where it's constantly washed by the surf so it seems ideal for a waterfall scrubber.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
I do, yes.
Yep very high nutrients, sucking up lots out of the water, but forming dark slime quickly which is letting go. Increase light wattage, and hours up to 24, and brush clean more often. Also if you can paint the inside white it will make the light much stronger.
Actually, do you mind if I use your photo for an LED safety article? I want to show how "not" to DIY
No need; it will grow based on conditions.
Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
The ulva that typically grows on a scrubberscreen is stringy, not the lettuce type. Good to seed if you can - get quicker establishment - maturity.
I wouldn't refer to ulva as GHA. Pretty sure the GHA that grows in displays isn't ulva, & certainly not anything like what grows on my screen.
metasyntactic
New member
Is it a different species and if so, do you know what type? The only ulva I've found is the lettuce macro like liveaquaria sells.
Also, I was wondering if you (or anyone else) had thoughts on using these as lighting. They say they're waterproof but I wanted to double check they're safe to use for this application.
homer1475
New member
Actually, do you mind if I use your photo for an LED safety article? I want to show how "not" to DIY
Not exactly sure whats wrong with my DIY, but sure. Go for it.
If you mean the lights and the black tape.... Those are actually soldered together with 3 pieces of shrink wrap on them, and the tape. Now they certainly are not waterproof, but will be fine for condensation. And the lights themselves are screwed into the box with nylon screws and wingnuts for easy removal.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Those will work, but are weak and non-reliable (so you need a lot of them), and may crack thin acrylic if touching it. But most importantly, they are safer than metal bolt-on lights, as long as you keep the power supply far way, and dry. And preferrably it's UL listed.
It's the metal bolt-on lights, which give a false security. I'll be posting in-depth info about it soon.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Hey everyone, so I just recently upgraded to a 120 gallon 4x2x2 tank with 40 gallon breeder sump that is a mixed reef but mostly SPS dominated reef, very minimalistic aquascap, maybe 80lb or so of live rock, plus or minus 10 pounds, about 80 pounds of live sand and it is heavily stocked with fish, and extremely heavy feeding.
Daily feeding is as follows throughout the day:
5ml oyster feast
5ml roti feast
5ml roe eggs
1 sheet of nori
1 cube of frozen food
1 gram PE pellets by Piscine Energetics
1 gram PE FLAKES by Piscine Energetics
Dry food is also soaked with Selcon concentrate a few times a week
I calculated that ill need about 90 sq inches of mesh screen lit from both sides? Does that sound about right? How long or tall should I go? How much flow and light will I need?
Daily feeding is as follows throughout the day:
5ml oyster feast
5ml roti feast
5ml roe eggs
1 sheet of nori
1 cube of frozen food
1 gram PE pellets by Piscine Energetics
1 gram PE FLAKES by Piscine Energetics
Dry food is also soaked with Selcon concentrate a few times a week
I calculated that ill need about 90 sq inches of mesh screen lit from both sides? Does that sound about right? How long or tall should I go? How much flow and light will I need?
hkgar
Active member
That's what I use on my tank. I also feed heavy.
Western_reefer
Reef keeper
Would it be a good idea to make a bigger scrubber than calculated/needed? Say instead if making a 10x9 sheet do a 12x12 screen or 16x16?
SantaMonica
Well-known member
May fav thing to hear.
As for food amounts, I never included liquid food into the totals because they varied so much. So now would be a good time for you to decant them and press them into cube sizes to see what they equal.
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