SantaMonica
05-04-2009, 08:41 PM
Here are some typical sequence of algae on a new scrubber:
First can be a light brown coating, like a slime. After a week of that, you brush it off in your sink and running water, and the next week you get a darker brown. After you clean that, you'll either get very dark brown growth which stays thin, or you'll start getting some green hair. If it's dark, brush it off right way. After a few cleanings of this dark growth, it too might turn green. After a month or two of weekly growing and cleaning cycles, most of the growth might be green hair.
If first growth is super dark or black, use as much light as possible 24 hours.
If first growth is nothing (everything is paper white), use much less light, for 18 hours, and use a black shade cloth or screen over some (not all) of the light.
If you start getting purple cyano on the screen, it means your light is too weak or too far away.
If you start getting a hard yellowish or orange-ish coating, it means your flow is too low in that area, or the light is too strong.
If you start getting bald spots near your light, it means your light is too strong or is on too many hours; you should be turning it off 6 hours a day and/or reducing it or shading it.
If you start getting small round holes in your algae, it means pods are eating through it; use freshwater cleanings to remove the pods.
If you start getting dark growth and then some white variable patches, it means dark slime is letting go. Brush it all off, and maximize light and hours, and repeat cleaning every 3 days.
Related:
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3740-Slime-is-the-best-filter
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3713-Growth-Rings
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3807-Feeding-scrubber-growth-to-your-fish
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3838-Slime-on-bubble-upflow-scrubbers
Updated October 18, 2024
First can be a light brown coating, like a slime. After a week of that, you brush it off in your sink and running water, and the next week you get a darker brown. After you clean that, you'll either get very dark brown growth which stays thin, or you'll start getting some green hair. If it's dark, brush it off right way. After a few cleanings of this dark growth, it too might turn green. After a month or two of weekly growing and cleaning cycles, most of the growth might be green hair.
If first growth is super dark or black, use as much light as possible 24 hours.
If first growth is nothing (everything is paper white), use much less light, for 18 hours, and use a black shade cloth or screen over some (not all) of the light.
If you start getting purple cyano on the screen, it means your light is too weak or too far away.
If you start getting a hard yellowish or orange-ish coating, it means your flow is too low in that area, or the light is too strong.
If you start getting bald spots near your light, it means your light is too strong or is on too many hours; you should be turning it off 6 hours a day and/or reducing it or shading it.
If you start getting small round holes in your algae, it means pods are eating through it; use freshwater cleanings to remove the pods.
If you start getting dark growth and then some white variable patches, it means dark slime is letting go. Brush it all off, and maximize light and hours, and repeat cleaning every 3 days.
Related:
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3740-Slime-is-the-best-filter
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3713-Growth-Rings
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3807-Feeding-scrubber-growth-to-your-fish
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?3838-Slime-on-bubble-upflow-scrubbers
Updated October 18, 2024