Algae Scrubber Basics

[ento-reefer]

On the contrary, you're likely cleaning too often. Think of it as "harvesting" instead. rub/rinse, that you can do more often, but the point is only to remove very loosely attached growth or slime. Don't "clean".

Then, just let it grow. It's possible that you are over-cleaning, the lights are strong enough to penetrate through thick growth, so just let it grow out. If you feel the need to thin it out (partial harvest) then limit that to about 25% (maybe just pick at it with your fingers) and then a rinse



room temp tap water, I would avoid using warm/hot



that growth isn't likely doing any harm, but you can clear it off if you want.

Thank you!!

I will follow your advice and see how things go.

 

[SantaMonica]

Looks like there might be detachment as shown by the missing growth patches, and also by the glob on the tray. Give everything a good brush in your sink, tray and slot included.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Looks like there might be detachment as shown by the missing growth patches, and also by the glob on the tray. Give everything a good brush in your sink, tray and slot included.

Are you looking at the same pictures??

 

[SantaMonica]

Example of not harvesting a waterfall soon enough

Example of not harvesting a waterfall soon enough

It's not known how long this one went.

 

[SantaMonica]

Fun freshwater growth pics. This is not mud!

 

[Johnic]

Has anyone experience Bryopsis growing in their ATS..I have a small fern of it now growing in mine...uggggg

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Has anyone experience Bryopsis growing in their ATS..I have a small fern of it now growing in mine...uggggg

Photo

 

[Johnic]

Photo

I'll try. It's in a tough spot to photo. I can def tell ya it's bryopsis as I've had it in the tank before

 

[BCool]

My scrubber was going good and then I bleached it with UV light. Now it is not much green, just orange/red/yellow of what seems like bacteria. Any advice of how to get it going good again?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I'll try. It's in a tough spot to photo. I can def tell ya it's bryopsis as I've had it in the tank before

So its growing on the screen & in the ats housing as well, you mean?

 

[Forgiven1973]

SanraMonica, Turbo and others:

I'm new to ATS and to be honest with 10,000+ posts on this it can be overwhelming. I have a 60g cube with 20g 2 chamber sump underneath. The tank cycled about 3-4 weeks ago and only thing in it besides rock n sand is snails and two bubble tips but adding some coral and a couple clowns next Saturday. Anyway what does everyone think of this scrubber as a low cost scrubber?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/283352387178


I appreciate any help as the funds are not available currently to add the higher end scrubbers.

Thank u

 

[SantaMonica]

I have two of them sitting here in a box. The misleading part of that listing is that he does not say it needs air bubbles to operate. The water just flows out of the upper pipe, but since the whole box is full of water, you get no waterfall. So to get growth, you need an air bubbler at the bottom.

 

[Forgiven1973]

Thanks for the reply. Actually I had just went and bought the Rain2 scrubber. Can't wait till it arrives and I get it hooked up. Will a 300gph pump be sufficient or should I get a 400gph. Have a 300 now.

I have two of them sitting here in a box. The misleading part of that listing is that he does not say it needs air bubbles to operate. The water just flows out of the upper pipe, but since the whole box is full of water, you get no waterfall. So to get growth, you need an air bubbler at the bottom.

 

[hottuna]

Santa monica : that is what you need to come up with next a HANG ON THE BACK algae scrubber....put your creative juices in motion , bro !

 

[SantaMonica]

300 is good, 400 usually needed reducing a bit.

Yes I already have a hang on model, designed in 2011; see figure 6A here:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US9115008

 

[hottuna]

santa : figure 6b ? is it being made by you ???

 

[biecacka]

I just lengthend my photo period from 16 hours to 18 hours. I need to test my N03 and P04 to see where they stand and either change it again or increase my feedings. A few of my vortechs have a little green hair algae looking fur in them but some of my corals are not coloring up like I expected and I wonder if it's from no nutrients. Might actuality need to cut the unit hours back or fees more!

Corey


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Johnic]

So my Clearwater scrubber has some tuffs if green algae but it also has some yellow/green slime on it.
My photo period is 24/7
My phos and nitrate are now 0 and I feed my fish and corals a decent amount.
What's the green/yellow slime ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Did you just start the scrubber?

 

[Johnic]

Did you just start the scrubber?

About 2 months ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk