Algae Scrubber Basics - Page 408

biecacka · 04/29/2019, 09:54 AM

Floyd, how long do you suspect it could take to get growth back on my screen after my mishap?

Corey

Floyd R Turbo · 04/29/2019, 10:43 AM

since you've been running a scrubber for a while, I would think that you should start to see decent growth in a couple of weeks, but it's hard to say for sure. Coating the screen with a fresh coat of mortar might accelerate that, but that will take about 5-7 days to get it cured up and ready, so it's a bit of a toss up.

SantaMonica · 04/29/2019, 06:03 PM

Whatever lights you use, don't use these:

Floyd R Turbo · 04/29/2019, 06:06 PM

Funny how when someone comes out with a new scrubber design and BRS starts carrying it how you just jump right on that in a roundabout way.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sammy789 · 05/10/2019, 01:17 AM

This post is good and informative and gains my knowledge.

salty55 · 05/12/2019, 11:10 AM

Ok, ATS gurus. I’m in the building process of a plywood tank that’s appx. 450 gallons. It’s going to be heavily stocked. I’m going to impliment both means of nutrient control on my tank with a skimmer (probably undersized) and a ATS scrubber. I suck at math and calculations. Can someone tell me what would be the appropriate size screen to run on my waterfall ATS? Example 2’ x 4’ etc....

hkgar · 05/12/2019, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salty55

Ok, ATS gurus. I’m in the building process of a plywood tank that’s appx. 450 gallons. It’s going to be heavily stocked. I’m going to impliment both means of nutrient control on my tank with a skimmer (probably undersized) and a ATS scrubber. I suck at math and calculations. Can someone tell me what would be the appropriate size screen to run on my waterfall ATS? Example 2’ x 4’ etc....

Fill in the blanks.
https://docs.zoho.com/sheet/publishe...b2b670ae00412b

salty55 · 05/12/2019, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Fill in the blanks.
https://docs.zoho.com/sheet/publishe...b2b670ae00412b

very handy calculator! thanks!

SantaMonica · 05/12/2019, 03:25 PM

I thought that calculator had broken; maybe this is the fixed version.

ali1 · 05/28/2019, 05:53 AM

Does one have to harvest the algae to see 0 nitrates? Meaning should I see a difference in nitrate test case before scrubbing the algae off and afterwards?

Floyd R Turbo · 05/28/2019, 08:29 AM

Harvesting the algae only exports what nutrients have already been absorbed by the algae. You will not see an immediate reading difference right after harvest.

The algae growing removes nutrients from the system as it grows. Just because the algae is there and contains nutrients does not mean those nutrients will show up as present in the water column when you test, that would be impossible.

SantaMonica · 05/28/2019, 01:37 PM

Fun slime pic. Dark slime has the most nutrients concentrated in it, taken out of the water. Just clean it often (with a brush, in your sink) before it lets go.

Floyd R Turbo · 05/28/2019, 02:50 PM

So much fun!

mr9iron · 05/30/2019, 08:39 PM

I just got my Santa Monica Rain2 this week and cannot wait to install it when I get back home.

Any tips or tricks that I should know before I begin. This will go on a 93 gallon cube that is cycled and curing rock.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SantaMonica · 06/03/2019, 12:45 PM

Start with just one light plugged in, until most of the screen holes are filled in.

Growth on scrubbers during cycling will be a light brown coating.

mr9iron · 06/14/2019, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

Start with just one light plugged in, until most of the screen holes are filled in.

Growth on scrubbers during cycling will be a light brown coating.

Thank you for this. I just got my scrubber up and running yesterday. I excited to see how it works out.

On a side not do you see any significant rise in PH due to the depletion of CO2 as algae grows? Or is the effect insignificant?

I ask as my home is sealed very well and with 4 people and a dog we have high CO2 levels which keep my PH lower than I like.

I know not to chase numbers but would like to get in a range where I could achieve optimal growth within my system.

Living in Missouri doesn’t allow a lot of days to keep my windows open as much as I would like.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SantaMonica · 06/14/2019, 12:10 PM

Usually you can get a 0.1 or 0.2 increase if your scrubber is full and is still growing. Once you clean it, the increase will drop until it fills up again. Cleaning half, or having two screens/units and cleaning one, will minimize the fluctuations.

mr9iron · 06/14/2019, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

Usually you can get a 0.1 or 0.2 increase if your scrubber is full and is still growing. Once you clean it, the increase will drop until it fills up again. Cleaning half, or having two screens/units and cleaning one, will minimize the fluctuations.

Thank you for that.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mr9iron · 06/14/2019, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

Usually you can get a 0.1 or 0.2 increase if your scrubber is full and is still growing. Once you clean it, the increase will drop until it fills up again. Cleaning half, or having two screens/units and cleaning one, will minimize the fluctuations.

@SantaMonica

Does this appear to be the proper amount of flow for my Rain2?

https://youtu.be/sTKrG7SkkPc

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SantaMonica · 06/14/2019, 05:45 PM

Flow looks fine. Just use 1 light though... looks like at least 2 are on.

mr9iron · 06/14/2019, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

Flow looks fine. Just use 1 light though... looks like at least 2 are on.

I got and am only using 1 light. It must have been a reflection. Thank you for the advice and I cannot wait to see how this works.

I’ve been in the hobby for 25 years and this is my first ATS and the first time I’ve ran without a skimmer.

I’ve watched a lot of videos about your products and spoke with other who have great things to say.

This will be a fun journey.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

biecacka · 06/20/2019, 04:33 PM

Floyd,
Here is what my latest growth looked like....any thoughts. I’ve never had this growth or texture before. It wasn’t like normal hair algae, it was this weird color and came off in sheets....almost like it was not attached very well to the screen.

T

Corey

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Floyd R Turbo · 06/20/2019, 05:28 PM

That kind of looks like it grew out and then something blocked the flow and the light bleached out the algae. When you harvest, do you scrape/scrub the tips of the light blockers and scrub out the slot?

biecacka · 06/20/2019, 06:23 PM

I clean the slot. Run my fingers up/down the sides and pull any excess off. I’ll give it one more good rub.

Corey

Floyd R Turbo · 06/21/2019, 07:23 AM

Did you end up soaking the screen in vinegar after the mishap & starting it over? I don't recall

04/29/2019, 10:43 AM	#10177
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	since you've been running a scrubber for a while, I would think that you should start to see decent growth in a couple of weeks, but it's hard to say for sure. Coating the screen with a fresh coat of mortar might accelerate that, but that will take about 5-7 days to get it cured up and ready, so it's a bit of a toss up. __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

04/29/2019, 06:06 PM	#10179
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	Funny how when someone comes out with a new scrubber design and BRS starts carrying it how you just jump right on that in a roundabout way. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

05/12/2019, 11:10 AM	#10181
salty55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: where the wind comes sweeping down the plains Posts: 509	Ok, ATS gurus. I’m in the building process of a plywood tank that’s appx. 450 gallons. It’s going to be heavily stocked. I’m going to impliment both means of nutrient control on my tank with a skimmer (probably undersized) and a ATS scrubber. I suck at math and calculations. Can someone tell me what would be the appropriate size screen to run on my waterfall ATS? Example 2’ x 4’ etc.... __________________ sent from my laptop while sitting on the couch! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 20 gallon sump, 20 gallon display fuge, vertex IN100 skimmer, apex, tunze 6055x2, tlc kalkreactor/phosreactor, APEX controlled LED

05/12/2019, 03:25 PM	#10184
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	I thought that calculator had broken; maybe this is the fixed version. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

05/28/2019, 05:53 AM	#10185
ali1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 997	Does one have to harvest the algae to see 0 nitrates? Meaning should I see a difference in nitrate test case before scrubbing the algae off and afterwards? __________________ Originally Posted by Gogandantess "I'm totally frustrated by this disease. My display has been fallow for 2 months now. If ich happened to mysteriously appear again, I'm giving up and going back to African Cichilds."

04/29/2019, 09:54 AM	#10176
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Floyd, how long do you suspect it could take to get growth back on my screen after my mishap? Corey

05/10/2019, 01:17 AM	#10180
Sammy789 In Memoriam Join Date: May 2019 Location: United Arab Emirates Posts: 4	This post is good and informative and gains my knowledge.

05/28/2019, 08:29 AM	#10186
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	Harvesting the algae only exports what nutrients have already been absorbed by the algae. You will not see an immediate reading difference right after harvest. The algae growing removes nutrients from the system as it grows. Just because the algae is there and contains nutrients does not mean those nutrients will show up as present in the water column when you test, that would be impossible. __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

05/28/2019, 02:50 PM	#10188
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	So much fun! __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

05/30/2019, 08:39 PM	#10189
mr9iron 15& Over Club Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,552 Blog Entries: 1	I just got my Santa Monica Rain2 this week and cannot wait to install it when I get back home. Any tips or tricks that I should know before I begin. This will go on a 93 gallon cube that is cycled and curing rock. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Vince ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Frag tank at the moment, planning another

06/03/2019, 12:45 PM	#10190
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Start with just one light plugged in, until most of the screen holes are filled in. Growth on scrubbers during cycling will be a light brown coating. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

06/14/2019, 12:10 PM	#10192
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Usually you can get a 0.1 or 0.2 increase if your scrubber is full and is still growing. Once you clean it, the increase will drop until it fills up again. Cleaning half, or having two screens/units and cleaning one, will minimize the fluctuations. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

06/14/2019, 05:45 PM	#10195
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Flow looks fine. Just use 1 light though... looks like at least 2 are on. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

06/20/2019, 04:33 PM	#10197
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Floyd, Here is what my latest growth looked like....any thoughts. I’ve never had this growth or texture before. It wasn’t like normal hair algae, it was this weird color and came off in sheets....almost like it was not attached very well to the screen. T Corey Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

06/20/2019, 05:28 PM	#10198
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	That kind of looks like it grew out and then something blocked the flow and the light bleached out the algae. When you harvest, do you scrape/scrub the tips of the light blockers and scrub out the slot? __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

06/20/2019, 06:23 PM	#10199
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	I clean the slot. Run my fingers up/down the sides and pull any excess off. I’ll give it one more good rub. Corey

06/21/2019, 07:23 AM	#10200
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	Did you end up soaking the screen in vinegar after the mishap & starting it over? I don't recall __________________ Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729

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