Hours of light for new screen.

[Catchemall]

Hi new to the forum. Actually first post. My question is I just started my scrubber last night. So how long should I run the lights starting out with a new screen should it still be full 18 hours of light? Or should I work my way up to 18hours. Should I put up some kind of diffuser to start out? Thanks for the help.

[SantaMonica]

Welcome.

Well it's hard to see the small pic, but generally 18 hours is good start. After you get the first growth you can see if the pattern needs diffusing.

[Catchemall]

Thanks Santa Monica. Also I built this thing big for future expansion the screen is approximately
6X6 that's good for 3cubes. Is that seriously how many that needs to be fed because as of now I only have four small fish a few nice lol corals and clean up crew. I did build it so I can ocerstock alittle. So is there any negative affects if I only fed say 1 cube a day for now or should i be feeding more for the screen?

[SantaMonica]

It's good for 3 cubes max, if lit on both sides properly. But you don't have to feed that much.

[Catchemall]

Awesome thank you for your help I'm sure I'll be back needing some help haha. I have them lit by two ip65 20 watt grow leds one on each side. I think they have 16 660nm reds and 4 440-450nm Blues. And a rio 1100 pump. Supposed to be 395gph screen is 6x6

[Catchemall]

Hi guys and gals I was hoping for alittle advice on my scrubber. My tank is 7 months old starting to show signs of gha after takin GFO off so I built my scrubber. It's been running now for a month and I have cleaned it 3 times just by rubbing my palm and fingers across it. But it's only getting brownish yellow slime it seems to be getting alittle thicker though. its been running 18 hours light a day. I wasn't 100% happy with my slot "flow" so I checked it and it was only .06-.08" wide so I opened it up to .125" wide and now I have a lot better flow. Is there any recommendations based on where I am now and where I need to be in the future?

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsflz6tmzi.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsflz6tmzi.jpeg.html)

[SantaMonica]

Brush all the slime off. Hair cannot attach through slime.

Reduce hours to 12. Seems to be burning in the middle.

[Catchemall]

Ok I'll do that and report back next cleaning thanks for your input I appreciate it

[Catchemall]

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsalldwozt.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsalldwozt.jpeg.html)


http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsuzfmscpv.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsuzfmscpv.jpeg.html)

Certainly looks to be more growth with the increased flow and decreased hours for the lights any new recommendations based on this weeks photos?

[SantaMonica]

No just let it fill in. When you feed more it will get thick.

[Catchemall]

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdjqv8lnk.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdjqv8lnk.jpeg.html)

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpso9yr5brp.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpso9yr5brp.jpeg.html)

I got a better timer and started a new schedule for the last week of 12 hours total light with 4 on 1 off 4 on 1 off 4 on 10 off. Seems to have stopped burning so bad and started to turn more green and filling in more. So I gave it a light rinse and light palm swipe to get slime off. That seems to help get the sliminess off then the green comes.

[SantaMonica]

If you can brush all the slime off, gha will attach quicker.

[Catchemall]

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps9app0cvn.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps9app0cvn.jpeg.html)

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6gbcpe58.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6gbcpe58.jpeg.html)j

More and more growth. This is with the lights on 4on 1off 4on 1off 4on 10off. Had that timer for about two weeks and it seems to have stopped burning and started filling in. I cleaned pretty good but left abit of the green there.

[SantaMonica]

Green hair has attached a lot. It will fill in more too. Just do regular cleanings now when full.

[Catchemall]

Ok will do thank you for your help along the way @SantaMonica

[Catchemall]

Do you think I should leave the time like it is or up it some

[SantaMonica]

clean now so the slime will be out of the way.

[Catchemall]

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsgpxbsmd2.png (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsgpxbsmd2.png.html)

This is one week of growth just doesn't seem to be getting enough growth. So I cleaned the brown guey stuff off and left the green and didn't scrub down to much. Let me know what you think I should do. Seems to have good flow and coverage over it. Lighting schedule is still 4on 1off 4on 1off 4on and 10 off.

[Catchemall]

Am I just not being patient enough should I be letting it grow longer? I'm just alittle confused on what I'm doing wrong

[SantaMonica]

Scrub all the slime off so you see the white again.

[Catchemall]

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscogpsohs.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscogpsohs.jpeg.html)

Looking better 5hours on 1 off 5hours on with the high intensity leds.

[Catchemall]

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsx4wpwbji.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsx4wpwbji.jpeg.html)

http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss91/cheifcatchemall/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpstif51ibc.jpeg (http://s565.photobucket.com/user/cheifcatchemall/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpstif51ibc.jpeg.html)

Wish this thing would do better as I am seeing some growth on my sand and rocks now.

[SantaMonica]

You just don't have many nutrients in the water. I'll bet your rocks are new and white mostly.

[Catchemall]

My tank is 10 months old nice color to rocks no coralline just the whatever that "p" word is. Lol. And starting to get what appears as cyano or spirulina bacteria and green hair. My nitrates test zero API checked again tonight.

[SantaMonica]

Periphyton