what count of plastic cavas to use?

[dirk_brijs]

7 count?
14 count?
what is the best size holes to have in your screen or doesnt matter?

[Floyd R Turbo]

I'm 99% sure I use the #7. Out of town for a few days, otherwise I'd check....

[Ace25]

I use 7 Mesh.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4758354392_5bff952f28.jpg

[dirk_brijs]

are the 14 mesh too small holes?

[Ace25]

I picked 7 because that was all I saw at the store. I just looked at what 14 Mesh looks like on google and I see no reason why it wouldn't work just as well... just guessing though since I have never seen it in person. After you rough up the 7 mesh with a hole saw it pretty much looks like a prickly 14 mesh screen anyway.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Perhaps SM will chime in here. I think the #7 has holes that are not too large, not too small, which I have found allows the algae to form a mat inside the squares that holds very well and lets the screen grow out pretty fast after cleaning. Much smaller, and you're cutting that mat space down, much larger and it may not hold. Although, that is only theory, but it makes sense.

[dirk_brijs]

my concern would be after roughening up a 14 many holes would be clogged up?
or not?

[SantaMonica]

I've never used 14 so I don't know.

[dirk_brijs]

so what mesh you use?
7?

[SantaMonica]

Yes

[Rumpy Pumpy]

I'd have thought the smaller the holes the better as it'd give more surface area for algae to attach to?

[SantaMonica]

That's not the issue. The issue is that as it grows, algae shades the screen, no matter how much surface area there is. So the goal is to grow as much as possible before the roots die. Once the roots are shaded you only have a few days before they let go.

[dirk_brijs]

so have said that would a 14 count work?

[SantaMonica]

Probably