Too much light for ATS?

[vpaul79]

Is it possible to provide too much light for an algae turf scrubber. I ask because I'm 8 weeks into my scrubber and have not developed any turf or even green hair algae. Instead I'm getting an olive colored film that looks like dusty algae of some form when scrapped off. I am using 2 DIY LED fixtures consisting of 9 deep red and 2 royal blues per fixture, all of which are 3 watt leds.

So is it possible to over blast an ATS with red LED's? What's even more interesting is the portion of the screen below the light is dark green but zero growth of any kind, it looks like the screen was just spray painted green, not a single filament of algae.

If you use an ATS with LED's, what is your light schedule? I am running it with 12 hours on, 12 off with about 50% power to the LED's. Being that the screen does grow something, but not the ideal turf algae, I'm not sure which direction to adjust. Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[Crusinjimbo]

What type of ATS, waterfall, upflow or other. For comparison, I use 27 each 1 watt LEDs (24 660 red and 3 440 blue) 3 inches off a 14"x5" screen and harvest between 90 and 110 grams of wet (squeezed) green algae weekly. So, I don't believe your light is your constraining factor. My experience anyway, thus far with ATS.

 

[vpaul79]

It's a typical pvc waterfall, screen is about 12x8, with lights on each side 4" away

 

[Tweaked]

What's your po4 and no3 levels?

 

[ca1ore]

I'd doubt the light is the problem either. My screen is approximately 12" x 10", lit with twelve 2 watt LEDs on each side and I have no growth problems. My nitrate and phosphate levels are not measurable so unlikely that'd be the constraint either.

Do you have algae growth anywhere in your system? Chaeto? What is the water flow rate over the screen? You're not feeding the screen from the output of a UV are you?

 

[vpaul79]

No NO3 detected on API, and about .07ppm PO4 with Hanna. I do have some cyano here and there and my glass every few days builds up an algae dust, but the rocks don't have any GHA. I gave up on cheato because cotton candy algae would always embed itself in it and then overtake it. I have good flow in the ATS, I don't have an exact measurement, but at least 30gph.

 

[vpaul79]

I guess I should add I have more of a phosphate issue than nitrate, I've constantly battled phosphate via cyano than nitrate via algae. I'm trying to avoid using GFO. I'm almost considering adding sodium nitrate to promote more algae growth to absorb the excess phosphate.

 

[dryworm]

go to algaescrubbing com and ask turbo. he will help you out

 

[slief]

I'm not sure if 30GPH is enough. You want a slow but constant even flow going over the entire screen. How large is your tank? That said, it could be that your system is just low on nutrients and because of that, there isn't enough to feed your scrubber well. How old is your system?

You want your ATS lighting running at least 12 hours or more a day and it should run opposite of your tank lighting to help maintain PH levels when the display lights are off.

 

[vpaul79]

I got a 150 with 30 more in the sump. It's about a year old. I definitely have some nutrients due to having spotty cyano outbreaks

 

[ca1ore]

Recommended flow is 30 gph per linear inch of screen width. So, for example, on my 12 inch wide screen I am flowing about 350 gph through the unit. One thing I do is dose iron, and I find it really helps to grow chaeto.

 

[elmatth1]

Definately need to increase your flow. I don't think the light is your problem, unless the LEDs are too far from the screen.

 

[Badlands25]

2 27 watt led par 38 bulbs. 18 hrs on 6 off. 35 gph per vertical inch. Growing algae like a boss. Feed your tank more and increase your light duration