Tetra Ex70 scrubber performance

[Jriechel]

Pics for this project are in the other thread for the Tetra EX20. I thought this was a more general question, so I'm posting it here. Hope that's ok..

I've got said scrubber on a 55 gal that's been cycled, and has had a light bioload for about two weeks. I believe that I'm in the middle of the diatom bloom phase; no surprise there. However, I've also got the back wall of the tank growing green algae, which is fine since I have a small pleco in there, but nothing growing in the scrubber. My question is why? I thought we were giving optimal algae conditions in the scrubber, which I take to mean that the tank is less than optimal by comparison. So why no joy in the scrubber? Thoughts?

Thanks much,

Jeff

[SantaMonica]

Probably too much light, compared to how much nutrients. That's why you sometimes need a shade cloth, or a low-power mode, to start.

Put a piece of plastic in there to reduce the light.

[Jriechel]

Sounds good. I've got it on a 7 hours interval during the night. Should I keep this as is?

Jeff

[SantaMonica]

Should be 18 total hours.

[Jriechel]

Wow, okay. I missed a vital piece of the equation! I'll make that adjustment.

Jeff