Broodstock Scrubber

[seaweed88]

I am running a 20 gallon long with 2 pairs of Clownfish. The sump has bio balls and a skimmer. Last Sunday I set up a scrubber. 9 x 12 screen and 2 34 watt bulbs. I am running a Maxi jet 1200 to supply the scrubber. Any suggestions would be great. I am going to add 1 maybe 2 more 20s to this system. If and when I can figure out how to load my pictures I will be back. Seems I have a problem with file size...
Thanks
Mark

[kerry]

I go to the re-size function in the edit area (windows pic viewer or paint has this option) and put the pics to about 30%. This seems to work with the pics from my droid-x that is set to the max pic size. Its good you went with a large scrubber screen to cope with the two additional 20G's. Now you have your work cut out for yourself.

[seaweed88]

Here are some pictures. I hope they help...

[SantaMonica]

Just use the sizing guideline to see how much you can feed:

An example VERTICAL waterfall screen size is 3 X 4 inches = 12 square inches of screen (7.5 X 10 cm = 75 sq cm) with a total of 12 real watts (not equivalent) of fluorescent light for 18 hours a day. If all 12 watts are on one side, it is a 1-sided screen. If 6 watts are on each side, it is a 2-sided screen, but the total is still 12 watts for 18 hours a day. This screen size and wattage should be able to handle the following amounts of daily feeding:

1 frozen cube per day (2-sided screen)
1/2 frozen cube per day (1-sided screen)
10 pinches of flake food per day (2-sided screen)
5 pinches of flake food per day (1-sided screen)
10 square inches (50 sq cm) of nori per day (2-sided screen)
5 square inches (50 sq cm) of nori per day (1-sided screen)
0.1 dry ounce (2.8 grams) of pellet food per day (2-sided screen)
0.05 dry ounce (1.4 grams) of pellet food per day (1-sided screen)

High-wattage technique: Double the wattage, and cut the hours in half (to 9 per day). This will get brown screens to grow green much faster. Thus the example above would be 12 watts on each side, for a total of 24 watts, but for only 9 hours per day. If growth starts to turn YELLOW, then increase the flow, or add iron, or reduce the number of hours. And since the bulbs are operating for 9 hours instead of 18, they will last 6 months instead of 3 months.

Clean algae off of screen every 7 to 14 days, so that you can see the white screen material.

[seaweed88]

I cleaned the brown algae off the screen. This was from the first week. What should I expect to find on this screen next Sunday?
Thanks
mark

[kerry]

Its hard to say. I have had mine running for months and still only get a brownish/green mix, more brown the green. My nutrients are still in the zero-ish range so I am happy.

[seaweed88]

That is what has me worried about this system. I have some serious decisions to be made as the what I am going to use for filtration. I am setting up this brood tank system and getting ready as soon as this is done to set up roughly 400 gallon grow out .
Time will tell...
thanks for the reply
mark

[kerry]

Even though I do not get the bright green my nutrients are still zero-ish and I feed very heavy.

[seaweed88]

I am building the rack to hold the 2 20s and will put the scrubber in a 20 with the bio balls under the tanks. this will house 6 pairs of heavily fed clowns. I am going to pull the skimmer off the system at this time.
It should be a good test.

[kerry]

I even removed all my bio balls and bio material. So far its all going great with just the scrubber.

[seaweed88]

That is good the hear. Is there a way to seed several more screens so that when I have the other scrubbers built I will have a head start on the screen?
Mark

[kerry]

I have done that, I just take the grown screen out and rub in on the new roughed up screen on both sides and rub it in by hand then rinse it off. It grows just about as good as a seasoned screen that way.

[seaweed88]

How long have you had your scrubber up and how large is your bio load?

[kerry]

I have four scrubber tanks, My 40G has 4-clowns, 2-cardinals, 2-chromis, 1-coral beauty, 1-watchman, and a couple handfuls of corals plus the small worms, stars ect... My 150G freshwater has 6 Jack Dempsey's and a pleco and is my only scrubber that grows the green algae but has the highest nitrate results???? My 10G has 1-purple pseudochromis, 1-Green Mandarin, 1-green toadstool, and a bunch of bristol worms, tiny black starfish, tiny tan/brown starfish, feather dusters, tube worms, and coconut sponges. My other 10G is a holding tank for new SW purchases and the tank I grow pods in for the Mandarin, it has a two shrimp, two hermit crabs, and a turbo snail.

[seaweed88]

How big is your bio load?

[seaweed88]

sorry I did not see your reply....

[kerry]

Its all good!!! I forgot to say I have been running a scrubber for about 10 months or so.

[seaweed88]

the one I am running has been on for 2 weeks Sunday. I am seeing a little green and the brown is starting to get some length. If it is brown I should be cleaning both sides clean every 4 days ,is that correct?

[kerry]

I have tried cleaning mine every four days (ish) because its more brown then green with no success at making it green. My nutrients are always zero-ish so I am not disappointed with the scrubber at all, its just not GREEN?!?

[kentth]

Mine is the same way..It has some green but mainly brown
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1408&start=20 (http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1408&start=20)

Kent

[SantaMonica]

Try feeding more

[seaweed88]

If I add more nutrients will the green algae grow faster?

[SantaMonica]

Yes unless it's dark brown

[seaweed88]

It is dark brown around the screen with small dots of green through out the rest of the screen.

[SantaMonica]

Let it go 14 days and see what happens.

[seaweed88]

14 days it is... Thanks for the help
Mark

[kerry]

14 days it is... Thanks for the help
Mark
Let us know how it works, I have brown algae as well with spots of green.

[seaweed88]

I just went to a 2000 lumen bulb yesterday so that might help also.

[kerry]

I have a screen that is about 9x6 and run two 23 watt CFL's so i am lacking about 4 watts per side. I would not think thats the issue of almost all brown. I have two screens a bit larger on my FW and run three 23 Watt CFL's and have more green then you can keep up with on that tank, Its 150G FW. The first one is a 40G breeder (36").

[seaweed88]

I am getting more green algae around the edges of the screen. I had to take the screen off this week and widen the slot. I was getting places where the water was spraying from the slot.

[seaweed88]

It has been about a week and a half. The screen is covered with thick green algae. Do I clean both sides or just one?
Thanks Mark

[SantaMonica]

Both

[seaweed88]

I will clean both sides... Then I go to one side a week?

[SantaMonica]

If you want to divide the cleaning, you'll need to split the screen vertically down the middle. Otherwise, just clean the whole thing.

[seaweed88]

I scraped both sides of my screen on Sunday. I ended up with about a cup of green algae. My question now is ... how am I processing phosphate and nitrate with no algae on the screen?

[SantaMonica]

You aren't processing much, until it grows back. But it grows quick.

[seaweed88]

It has been almost a week since I cleaned both sides of the screen. It had grown for 2 weeks before I cleaned it last time.
Should I clean one side or both sides this week?
What happens if I run a uv sterilizer with the scrubber?
Thanks for the help
Mark

[SantaMonica]

UV does not affect it; it will only increase nutrients by killing small things.

Let it grow 14 days unless you get wheat looking spots underneath.

[seaweed88]

14 days it is... This is my broodtank system. I am starting on a growout system with around 250 gallons not counting the sump. I am going to use K1 media in place of Bio Balls in the growout. I am thinking about just using the K1 a scrubber and 50 to 75 lbs of liverock in the sump.
Any thoughts if this will process my water? I am thinking that the system will hold 2000 fish but I think 1000 will be a lot for the near future.

[SantaMonica]

Does not matter how many gallons or how many fish. Matters how much you feed:

New Scrubber Sizing Guideline (Sept 2011)

Scrubbers will now be sized according to feeding. Nutrients "in" (feeding) must equal nutrients "out" (scrubber growth), no matter how many gallons you have. So...

An example VERTICAL waterfall screen size is 3 X 4 inches = 12 square inches of screen (7.5 X 10 cm = 75 sq cm) with a total of 12 real watts (not equivalent) of fluorescent light for 18 hours a day. If all 12 watts are on one side, it is a 1-sided screen. If 6 watts are on each side, it is a 2-sided screen, but the total is still 12 watts for 18 hours a day. This screen size and wattage should be able to handle the following amounts of daily feeding:

1 frozen cube per day (2-sided screen), or
1/2 frozen cube per day (1-sided screen), or
10 pinches of flake food per day (2-sided screen), or
5 pinches of flake food per day (1-sided screen), or
10 square inches (50 sq cm) of nori per day (2-sided screen), or
5 square inches (50 sq cm) of nori per day (1-sided screen), or
0.1 dry ounce (2.8 grams) of pellet food per day (2-sided screen), or
0.05 dry ounce (1.4 grams) of pellet food per day (1-sided screen)

High-wattage technique: Double the wattage, and cut the hours in half (to 9 per day). This will get brown screens to grow green much faster. Thus the example above would be 12 watts on each side, for a total of 24 watts, but for only 9 hours per day. If growth starts to turn YELLOW, then increase the flow, or add iron, or reduce the number of hours. And since the bulbs are operating for 9 hours instead of 18, they will last 6 months instead of 3 months.

HORIZONTAL screens: Multiply the screen size by 4, and the wattage by 1.5

Flow is 24 hours, and is at least 35 gph per inch of width of screen [60 lph per cm], EVEN IF one sided or horizontal.

Very rough screen made of roughed-up-like-a-cactus plastic canvas.

Clean algae off of screen every 7 to 14 days, so that you can see the white screen material.

[seaweed88]

I do like the idea of 14 days before cleaning the screen. I am interested in the 24 x 4 scrubber with the 2 t5 double light fixtures. which post has the best information on this system?

[seaweed88]

I am adding 2, 20s and a new sump to the Broodstock system. This gives me a chance to add a slightly bigger screen to my scrubber. What is the best way to add a new screen or if I am happy with the one I am running now should I just let it be? I am only going to gain 2 or 3 inches over the 9 inch screen I am running now.

[SantaMonica]

Keep it the same for now.

[seaweed88]

Sounds like a plan. When I started this scrubber my NO3 was over 50ppm. I just checked today and I am less than 2.5 ppm with a new Salifert test. I am feeding lots!! The only thing besides the scrubber I am using is bio balls in a ammonia scrubber.
Thanks
Mark

[seaweed88]

Can I use carbon with a scrubber?

[SantaMonica]

Yes.

[seaweed88]

Two weeks have passed and it is time to clean the screen on the broodstock system. Algae is thick but there is a lot of red/burgundy algae on the screen. Any idea what this is and why?

Thanks Mark

[SantaMonica]

Low ratio of light to nutrients.

[seaweed88]

Light is to low or nutrients is to low?

[SantaMonica]

Lights

[seaweed88]

The scrubber on my broodstock system is doing well. I am drawing plans for the growout system and would like to add a scrubber to this system also.
What is the best way to seed the new screen on a new system?
Also what are the thoughts on running a skimmer on a heavily stocked system?
Thanks
Mark

[SantaMonica]

Don't seed.

If your fish don't need to eat plankton, then use a skimmer.