Algae Scrubber Basics

[SantaMonica]

Weekend growth pics:

[Wally.B]

Originally Posted by Wally.B

I agree. But there is enough no-coralline areas on screen to start up.
I'll replace/clean the one or more screens later, once I get scrubber going.

I think I figured things out.
I did a review of all my Logs.
Posted Tank Log Review details at the end of my Tank thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...636608&page=14
Summary:
-> Various Improvements to Tank lowered my N&P to much lower levels (over time). P especially
-> Scrubber Slowed down significantly (as it should)
-> Corwie and Snails cleaned Screen to Like New.
-> Screen can't start up since they keep it too clean.
-> I removed Snails. Will remove Cowrie.
-> I have to restart the screen like I started in the beginning. (15 hours, Full Power)
-> I have small head start with some algae on there.

Does my theory make sense?

What is better for restart. (High Power, Less Time) (Lower Power, More time). (Doesn't matter?).

Quick Update: (Scrubber Started and Speeding up)

I set PhotoPeriod for 20 hours, Intensity 90%. Yesterday I noticed the screens were getting greener (Non Corraline Areas), and hints of thick Macro Type Algae nodes forming.
On the Coralline areas, there were nodes of brownish, slime type algae.
The virgin screen (Small piece I added) two days ago was pretty well white.

Today I see as below, a Hair Like Algae attaced to the Airline, and the two Screens are being linked by Macro Like Algae Strands.
And the virgin screen is showing brownish color change.



Can't say cause was 100%, but maybe the snail and Cowrie was too much screen grazing when ATS slowed down (due to significant P drop).

[wertoiuy]

Do you all have huge, heavily stocked tanks or something? I thought our tanks were fairly heavily stocked, but we only feed an equivalent of 1 cube a week, not one a day. That seems like a crazy amount of nutrient inflow, and that is the baseline for sizing a screen.

[karimwassef]

I do

I feed solid food too - bananas are nice, and cheaper than seaweed per ounce

[SantaMonica]

1 cube a week is starvation

With strong export, you can try to match natural reef feeding levels. One study used nets to capture food particles on a reef and measured 1 pound of particles per day, per square meter. That's about 150 cubes per day in a 150g tank.

[karimwassef]

1 cube per gallon? Are you sure?

[karimwassef]

So 6.5grams per x 380gal = 2.5kg. I feed two bananas at 375grams ~ 15%

Eh... got more feeding to do... need my fish making 2.5kg of poop!!

[z3speed4me]

Been researching these units for a while; after going through hundreds of pages I have seen some negative stories about LPS, where SPS tend to thrive.

Having a mixed tank of with a bunch of euphyllia and acros; is using one of these potentially not the best option for me due to the potential that the water becomes "too clean" for my torches and hammers?

[karimwassef]

That's up to you. The algal biomass sequesters inorganics, not organic food. If you feed well, your LPS should thrive in that system.

I have an explosion of torches that split heads faster than I can carve them out... it's silly.

[Scrubber_steve]

Originally Posted by wertoiuy

Do you all have huge, heavily stocked tanks or something? I thought our tanks were fairly heavily stocked, but we only feed an equivalent of 1 cube a week, not one a day. That seems like a crazy amount of nutrient inflow, and that is the baseline for sizing a screen.

I feed about 4 cubes a day on my 45 gallon (170litre) tank.

I have a big & happy Vlamingi tang, two blue tangs, a yellow tang, a flame angle, a copperband & a chromis.

[homer1475]

Originally Posted by Twinfallz

I feed about 4 cubes a day on my 45 gallon (170litre) tank.

I have a big & happy Vlamingi tang, two blue tangs, a yellow tang, a flame angle, a copperband & a chromis.

All those tangs in a 45 gallon tank? I wouldn't put 1 of them in a 45 let alone 4.

[Scrubber_steve]

Originally Posted by homer1475

All those tangs in a 45 gallon tank? I wouldn't put 1 of them in a 45 let alone 4.

Their all very happy. The system handles it no worries.

[homer1475]

Originally Posted by Twinfallz

Their all very happy. The system handles it no worries.

Not the thread nor the correct forum to discuss tank sizes, but you may want to search minimum tank sizes for those tangs. Your heading for troubles with all those tangs and such a tiny tank.

[Scrubber_steve]

Originally Posted by homer1475

Not the thread nor the correct forum to discuss tank sizes, but you may want to search minimum tank sizes for those tangs. Your heading for troubles with all those tangs and such a tiny tank.

They have been very happy for almost 4 years, thanks.

[homer1475]

I setup my ATS about a month ago now with a 6x6 screen and 2 20W plant spotlight grow lights. All I'm getting is some slimy brown algae, and I most certainly have plenty of algae in my DT. I've pulled the screen and wiped it off, but I get no real algae growing on it.

I run my lights on an 8 hour schedule. Front light on for 8 hours, back light on for 8 hours, and off for 8.

[SantaMonica]

Are you rocks cycling?

[homer1475]

No my tank has been up for over a year now. Started with dry pukani and I'm still battling GHA.

Nitrates are 2.5 and phosphates are 0.00 according to hanna, but with the amount of GHA I have I know thats not right.

I pulled the screen today to get an idea of what it looked like, and I do have some algae growing, but not much. I'll post a pic from tapatalk in the next post.

Edit to add:

Since changing the lighting I seem to be getting a little growth. I was running them both at 16 hours on and 8 off

[homer1475]

Front and back of screen.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[z3speed4me]

Originally Posted by karimwassef

That's up to you. The algal biomass sequesters inorganics, not organic food. If you feed well, your LPS should thrive in that system.

I have an explosion of torches that split heads faster than I can carve them out... it's silly.

Thanks! I plan on actually feeding even heavier than I do now once this thing is broken in. If they start to show signs of decline, I can always turn it off for a few days right?!

[SantaMonica]

I run my lights on an 8 hour schedule. Front light on for 8 hours, back light on for 8 hours, and off for 8

That's the problem. Did not see it before. Run both sides at the same time, 18 hours on.

[homer1475]

Originally Posted by homer1475

Since changing the lighting I seem to be getting a little growth. I was running them both at 16 hours on and 8 off

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

That's the problem. Did not see it before. Run both sides at the same time, 18 hours on.

Guess you missed this part in my post also?

When I was running them both at 16 hours all I was getting was brown slimy algae. After switching to the above lighting schedule is when I started getting actual algae growth.

I think my lights might be too strong to start with, so running them like I am it's kind of like being able to dim them as floyd mentions.

[Mrs. Music]

I would like to know if setting up the ATS screen with the water from the DT flowing right over the screen is undesirable for some reason?
I am redoing my entire tank with a complete breakdown, and I am considering an ATS.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

That's the problem. Did not see it before. Run both sides at the same time, 18 hours on.

Not when using LEDs on a brand new screen

Originally Posted by homer1475

Guess you missed this part in my post also?

When I was running them both at 16 hours all I was getting was brown slimy algae. After switching to the above lighting schedule is when I started getting actual algae growth.

I think my lights might be too strong to start with, so running them like I am it's kind of like being able to dim them as floyd mentions.

Staggering the cycle between the 2 sides seems to have helped, but it's almost like something else is going on here...strange that your screen is starting up so slowly. You might go to the extreme here on the light cycle and alternate sides with shorter bursts and a dark period inbetween. If you have one of those Hamilton timers with the tabs that allow you to control in 15 minute increments, try this: side A on 30 minutes, then off 45, repeat. Side B the same, but try to adjust the dial so that the 30 minutes of "on" falls in the middle of the side A's 45 minutes off. Then run that such that each side gets ~6 hours.

Originally Posted by Mrs. Music

I would like to know if setting up the ATS screen with the water from the DT flowing right over the screen is undesirable for some reason?
I am redoing my entire tank with a complete breakdown, and I am considering an ATS.

Are you referring to plumbing the drain from the DT to the sump such that it directly feeds the scrubber (instead of using a dedicated pump or tapping off the return supply line)?

[Scrubber_steve]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Music

I would like to know if setting up the ATS screen with the water from the DT flowing right over the screen is undesirable for some reason?
I am redoing my entire tank with a complete breakdown, and I am considering an ATS.

Thats how i do it. The tank overflow to the sump, through the scrubber.
As long as the flow rate is correct for your screen width - 25 to 50 gallons per hour per inch of screen width.

[Mrs. Music]

Originally Posted by Floyd R Turbo

Not when using LEDs on a brand new screen

Staggering the cycle between the 2 sides seems to have helped, but it's almost like something else is going on here...strange that your screen is starting up so slowly. You might go to the extreme here on the light cycle and alternate sides with shorter bursts and a dark period inbetween. If you have one of those Hamilton timers with the tabs that allow you to control in 15 minute increments, try this: side A on 30 minutes, then off 45, repeat. Side B the same, but try to adjust the dial so that the 30 minutes of "on" falls in the middle of the side A's 45 minutes off. Then run that such that each side gets ~6 hours.



Are you referring to plumbing the drain from the DT to the sump such that it directly feeds the scrubber (instead of using a dedicated pump or tapping off the return supply line)?

yes sir I am.