SM100 suggestion to get better green

[kentth]

I built a SM100 clone and started using it in Aug, 2011. I am utilizing a screen that I started with in Nov. of 2010. (see other threads started earlier)

Since moving to the SM100, my tank has really blossomed. numerous feather dusters have sprung up throughout, sponges all over the place, my mushrooms have really taken off. I have seen a reduction in the amount of turf algea on the rocks, but I can not seem to get rid of it, I know I have to make the scrubber stronger. I now have done a water change in 9 months, the skimmer has been gone for a year.

I am feeding probably about 1 cube of flack daily and 1 cube of frozen shrimp a couple of times a week.

I have not been successful at getting the screen green. It has been mainly brown and yellow, except right at where the screen joins the slot and it a great color of green and good growth. Of course that is where the light is not as strong.

Three weeks ago I reduced the size of the screen from 7 1/2" long by 6 1/2" High, to 6 3/4 long (slot length) by 6 1/2 high. I also cut the time from 18 hours to 17 hours. I let it go 14 days, still got the yellow and brown slimy growth and I have always had great 3D growth at the bottom.

7 days ago, I cut the time to 15 hours and started dosing 3 ml of iron solution daily. This week I got dark green slimy growth, no yellow and brown. Still have great green growth at the edge. See pictures attached.

I have now cut the time to 14 hours a day, to see what will happen. Do you think I am on the right track???

Any suggestions are appreciated. I really want to get rid of the algea in the tank.

since making the screen change the only parameter that has change is my salinity it has gone from 1.0225 to 1.0255. NH3 is still 0, Phospate 0, PH 8.2.

Thanks in advance

Kent

[holdenj_04]

It sounds to me you need more flow. I would say thats why you get great green growth at the slot.

[SantaMonica]

The first pics shows algae that let go. Otherwise, it looks like weak lighting; it's not the yellow-rubbery growth of low-iron or low flow.

Up to 20 hours, or, increase wattage.

[kentth]

Thanks for the reply.

A week ago, when I was at 17 hours, I had the yellow-rubbery growth. Same as I had when I had the larger screen. The only way I got the green was to cut it to 15 hours and started dosing the iron. So not sure about the 20 hours.

I am running CFL, Osram Dulux L 36W/830 warm white 3000K, 2900 lm 2G11. When I ordered them I thought I was getting Sylvania, I complained to the vendor they said they were the same thing, I have my doubts. This set of bulbs were installed on 12/2.

I am seriously considering going LED.

I will keep checking it during the week at 14 and see what I have on at the 7 day mark. I'll take more pictures and post them and then we can see where I need to go.

Thanks

Kent

[kentth]

Here is 14 hours, still dosing 3ml of iron solutions. the algae had a lot better growth. not as slimy. it was really attached to the screen a lot better. quite a bit of growth in the water. I am running about 1" of water in the bottom of the scrubber.

I think I am going to cut the iron dosing, leave it a 14 hours and see what happens. I am afraid if I go to 20, it will really burn it.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kent

[SantaMonica]

Well it's not near burning at all, so do up the hours.

[kentth]

ok I will give it a tray

Thanks

[kentth]

This is 17 hours, still dosing FE 3ml per day. The center was brown and the top and bottom green, both sides. At this point I clean the area at the top, and the slot and put it back in, with the rest of the screen uncleaned.

What is your suggestion from this point?
Hear are my alternatives and any combo of them
Clean screen completely
Leave and go 7 days
change length of time up or down
stop dosing FE.

Thanks for all your help on this.

Kent

[SantaMonica]

Now it's burning. Looks almost the light never turns off. Flow is very uneven too. If you could spread the light out, and may be the flow too, it might work.

[kentth]

the light is pretty will spread out. As you can tell it is the strongest in the center with the top 3/4" and bottom 1 1/2" receiving the least. of course the bottom 3/4 to 1" are submersed. I may try to spread the reflectors our a little and give those areas a little more lite. Flow: the green streak on the left is away from the input, It is also going down from the left side of the strap that is holding the screen to the tube. there is another strap on the right side in about an inch.
The screen is centered in on the 15" tube. with about 4" of tube, slot blocked with tape, 6" of screen, and then 4" to the blocked end.
I think I will cut the time to 16 hours, keep dosing FE, and leave the screen without cleaning and see if it might green up, unless you can think another strategy.

As I said before, my tank is probably healthier then every. Pods all over the place, worms, feather dusters all over the rocks, micro stars are covering the rocks and on the glass. Just need to get rid of the HA in the tank. I think I might also cut my display lights an hour.

thanks for all your help on this.

kent

[kentth]

The 16 hours looks better. I did not clean the screen after last week, just the slot area. the growth is a lot better on the end away from the inflow. The flow is a lot better on that end also.

I presently have my screen centered on the pipe. I plan on leaving everything as is and see if I can duplicate what I got this week, unless you think I need to change the time up or down some more??? After I get my results next week, I may consider moving the screen to the far end of the pipe.

I did some flow testing. The absolute best flow that I can get out of my system, without it overflowing is 365 GPH. But with that I right at the point, that if I increase the return flow, I run a chance of overflowing the tank. Which means I will either have to build a bigger weir overflow, or drill the tank. I tested the flow with and without the screen in place (without the screen was just out of the pipe not through the slotted pipe) My comfortable flow rate, without fear that I was pushing the envelope, fear of over flowing, was 320 gph. With everything seat the same and putting the pipe with the screen on it the flow off of the screen is about 300. With that I have a about 1.5 " of water in the bottom of the scrubber. If I increase the flow, I would probably have to add another drain hole.

Thanks for all your help.

Kent

[SantaMonica]

Looks like a classic burn spot. Can you spread the light out more evenly to the ends?

[kentth]

the way my lights are set, they actually extend out beyond both sides of the screen. The lights are 15" long and the screen is 6". As I have been working trying to increase the flow, I have noticed that I don't have as good of flow on that end, even though the water first hits the slot at that point. I may attempt to even out the flow. At this point the slot is uniform in size and the screen is extended into the slot an even amount.

Thanks for all the help.
Kent

[SantaMonica]

You can try inserting a second layer of screen into the slot at the high flow areas, which will direct more flow to the low ones.

[kentth]

Thanks... I will give it a try.

[kentth]

It as been a over three years, since I build my SM100. It has been a very great success, no water changes, all numbers been steady at 0, only thing I have to do is add RO and Salt. No algae issue in display, but still fight cyano.

At this point I am looking at moving to LED for the lighting. My current screen is 5X12, have played with smaller, this seems to work the best. In reading it appears, I need to have a max of 15 660 and 2 450 3W per side. I have been reading through the threads and notice that as far as DIY, that most of the suggestions go back to 2012, as far as sources of material, drivers, brand of led, etc.

So wondering what is everybody doing in 2015. What is the best drivers to use, where is the best place to get the leds, heat sinks, etc.

I am moving from CFL to LED, for a couple of reasons, looking to cut energy usage, and my ballast burned out. So instead of replacing the ballast, figured jump to LED. I have considered this as an alternative http://www.expressions-ltd.com/Algae_Scrubber_LED_Light_p/led-grow-light.htm but noticed it is only running 1W 9 bulbs instead of 3W.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Kent

[SantaMonica]

Glad to see your scrubber doing great. I think these Chinese LEDs may work good, one of the 20 watt ones on each side:

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?2884-red-blue-led-grow-bulb&p=37669&viewfull=1#post37669

[kentth]

thanks for the reply. I am guessing you are meaning this one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291399671385#shpCntId

If so if doesn't appear to be able to be ship to the US.

Kent

[SantaMonica]

Yes, there are plenty of them on all ebay sites, and they all come from China.

[kentth]

I did some more digging and found them

Thanks