Algae in an Algae Scrubber

travis32 · 02/19/2019, 01:01 PM

So, my Turbo Aquatics Algae scrubber (L4) has been operational now for 2 weeks. Icleaned the screen for the first time, not over zealous on the algae removal. I smeared some of the algae paste back on the screen to be careful not to remove it all.

The strangeness of it was that after 13-14 days of being operational, it had a thick almost 1/4" thick past of algae covering both sides. When I pulled it off it came off not as a slime algae but more of a thick semi hard pasty algae. It was green in color for the most part (light green). Smelled horrible. And I thought, slime algae would go down the drain, but this clogged the drain, was all hard chunks that just plugged up the sink drain. I was able to pull it all out of the drain and throw it away, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting.

Is this normal for a scrubber to grow this weird semi hard pasty algae?

I'm not running a skimmer currently, and have roughly 400 gallon water volume. I have around 11-12 fish total, a good sized rabbit fish and an adult - 4 year old black tang about 6-8 Inches in size. I generally feed 2 cubes of frozen mysis, or 1 sheet of Nori and 1 cube of Mysis.

So, not a huge bioload, but enough to keep cyano in the display. I've noticed though, since cleaning the screen, there's been a slight decrease in Cyano. I suspect it'll take time, but the tank is only operational for 4 months.

I just wanted to confirm that algae paste is normal for a scrubber? (is there a normal?)

reeftivo · 02/19/2019, 01:42 PM

Contact bud at turbosaquatics

he's the master and will know what's going on

Floyd R Turbo · 02/20/2019, 10:36 PM

Is the algae kind of gel-like and tubular shaped, like little conical nubs or "fingers"?

mcgyvr · 02/21/2019, 05:32 AM

Pictures would make this process easier..

travis32 · 02/21/2019, 01:01 PM

I should have taken some pictures when I scraped it off the first time. It's going on another week of non cleaning and it's thickened some so, I'll see what I get the next time I clean it and grab pictures.

02/19/2019, 01:01 PM	#1
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	Algae in an Algae Scrubber So, my Turbo Aquatics Algae scrubber (L4) has been operational now for 2 weeks. Icleaned the screen for the first time, not over zealous on the algae removal. I smeared some of the algae paste back on the screen to be careful not to remove it all. The strangeness of it was that after 13-14 days of being operational, it had a thick almost 1/4" thick past of algae covering both sides. When I pulled it off it came off not as a slime algae but more of a thick semi hard pasty algae. It was green in color for the most part (light green). Smelled horrible. And I thought, slime algae would go down the drain, but this clogged the drain, was all hard chunks that just plugged up the sink drain. I was able to pull it all out of the drain and throw it away, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Is this normal for a scrubber to grow this weird semi hard pasty algae? I'm not running a skimmer currently, and have roughly 400 gallon water volume. I have around 11-12 fish total, a good sized rabbit fish and an adult - 4 year old black tang about 6-8 Inches in size. I generally feed 2 cubes of frozen mysis, or 1 sheet of Nori and 1 cube of Mysis. So, not a huge bioload, but enough to keep cyano in the display. I've noticed though, since cleaning the screen, there's been a slight decrease in Cyano. I suspect it'll take time, but the tank is only operational for 4 months. I just wanted to confirm that algae paste is normal for a scrubber? (is there a normal?)

02/19/2019, 01:42 PM	#2
reeftivo Skim junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: chino, CA Posts: 3,417	Contact bud at turbosaquatics he's the master and will know what's going on __________________ I told you not to be stupid you moron!(Stern) Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube/20g tideline sump-mixed reef, Aquamaxx c-tech Ca Rx, Akula 160 skimmer, paxbellum N18, mitras LX7 lighting with T-5s, apex controller

02/20/2019, 10:36 PM	#3
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	Is the algae kind of gel-like and tubular shaped, like little conical nubs or "fingers"? __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

02/21/2019, 05:32 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Pictures would make this process easier.. __________________ Who me?

02/21/2019, 01:01 PM	#5
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	I should have taken some pictures when I scraped it off the first time. It's going on another week of non cleaning and it's thickened some so, I'll see what I get the next time I clean it and grab pictures.