Need help with my algae scrubber

[Rigfisher]

I have had it running for 5 weeks now and was running for16 hours a day with very little to no algae growth backed it down to 11 and a half hours and all I can get to grow on the screen is a light brown algae that appears to be diatoms the aquarium is only 8 weeks old
I am running 4 30 watt LED grow floodlights on a 14 by 13 screen it is a waterfall type scrubber

[Rigfisher]

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[SantaMonica]

Welcome.

A new tank like yours won't grow much yet. After a few more months and more feeding, it will grow more.

[Rigfisher]

Thank you for your reply so you're saying I should just leave everything alone the way it is now and wait and see what happens0?

[SantaMonica]

Yes

[Rigfisher]

Cannot seem to get algae to grow very well algae scrubber I have started getting hair algae in the tank should I figure out some way to dim the lights

[SantaMonica]

Pics of the screen will help

[Rigfisher]

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[Rigfisher]

I am working out of town where my wife been cleaning every week but I asked her to leave it on for 2 weeks and algae at the top of the screen will get green and everywhere else it would be light brown slimy looking stufft yup it was about a half inch thick layer

[SantaMonica]

It's just too much light for the amount of nutrients. Turn off 3 of the lights, and let the light grow until filled in. No cleaning at all. 18 hours light a day.

[Rigfisher]

I have no way to turn off three of the lights they're all connected do you think a diffuser will help I could rewire it but I do not have time I'll leave back out of town in a few days.

[SantaMonica]

Just put a piece of black plastic or cloth over the light, or in the box. Check first to make sure it does not melt.

[Rigfisher]

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This is pictures of my scrubber after 2 weeks of growth. The scrubber has been up and running for 3 months now this is the best it's ever done does anyone have any thoughts how to improve.

[SantaMonica]

Nice. Now if you can reduce the size by half, the available nutrients will be able to grow thick.

I'd just cut the screen vertically in half, and wrap the remaining slot with plastic wrap, and focus the light so it mostly hits the half that is hanging.

[Rigfisher]

I have a question to see if y'all can answer my algae was growing thick and green on my algae scrubber and now it has started turning red any help would be appreciated

[SantaMonica]

If most of the nutrients in the rocks have been pulled out, this could happen. Or your lights could be getting weak.

[Rigfisher]

Can I run my algae scrubber behind my UV sanitizer it would be easier if I just hook up the line that run my algae scrubber to my UV sanitizer come out of my UV sanitizer and go through my algae scrubber would that be possible to do that. Or would it affect the growth of the algae on the scrubber

[SantaMonica]

No a UV will not affect a scrubber.