New Waterfall style advice

[byrdman75]

Hello, i built a waterfall style scrubber about 10 days ago and this is what im getting. Whats your thoughts?

5688

[SantaMonica]

Welcome.

I say point the lights at different spots so it does not burn, run 5 more days, then scrape and see how it looks.

Looks like you have some fairly high nutrients in the water.

[byrdman75]

Welcome.

I say point the lights at different spots so it does not burn, run 5 more days, then scrape and see how it looks.

Looks like you have some fairly high nutrients in the water.

is that what the center is? on the back i only have 1 23 watt cfl with a dome shade. my tank is a 180 gallon with a stingray(soon to be 2) 15inch gar 16 inch knifefish, i feed every day 4-5 shrimp. the screen is a 12x18 screen with 2 inch in the water.

[SantaMonica]

Yes, probably need to back the cfl away 2" or so.

[byrdman75]

what GPH would u run? its on a dc pump that can go from 250 to 800? i have it around 500

[SantaMonica]

More is always better, but at least 35 gph for every inch of slot.

[byrdman75]

ok, here is another update. something isnt right, im not getting an even screen. i changed the back light from a cfl in a dome to 4 cfls like the front. 5725 5726 what should i change?

[SantaMonica]

Not sure what you mean by "even" but the dark grow is from weak light, and the holes are pods eating. Scrape it all off so you can see the white screen, and run the lights for 22 hours.

If you can move the lights close, it would help.

[byrdman75]

so my lights are to far away? maybe 4 inches from the screen. i ment even by meaning the think stuff is only near the top the bottom is bare. and do you have "pods" in a freshwater system?

[byrdman75]

to give you some info, i have 8 cfls 23 watts per. i run them 18 on 6 off. you want me to go to 22/2 correct?

[SantaMonica]

Yes it is only growing directly in front of the light, because the light is too weak elsewhere. And, it is growing dark, because low-light causes dark growth.

Yes there are FW pods.

Go to 22 hours, and move them closer if you can.

[byrdman75]

ok how is this?

http://i57.tinypic.com/59y6he.jpg

the furthest gap is 3 inches

[SantaMonica]

Yes that will probably be much better.

[byrdman75]

do you see any other ways to improve this? or is just time going to make this pop? im only on week 2 so maybe im impatient

[SantaMonica]

Yes just wait.