Analyze scrubber, not working as expected

[cbehr]

Please analyze my scrubber pictures, I’m not getting the results I was hoping for and am not entirely sure what I’m doing wrong. I don’t have any algae other than the film on the glass in my display, but I can’t get rid of the hair algae in my prop tank. I have a MSX 250 skimmer and run GFO/Carbon 24/7 on a 95g tank.

I’m using a mag5 pump so I think I’m good on flow, using these bulbs
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001WA ... ss_product (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001WAL1NW/ref=oss_product)

Screen is 12” wide. I have one side that’s just sandpaper roughed up(might need to clean this side better?). It was my initial screen from about 6 months ago. About 4-5 weeks ago I added a screen that I roughed up using a hole saw. I was hoping I would have seen some better results by now. First three pics are the new rough side, second set of 3 pics is the smoother old screen.


Rough dirty screen
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/rdirty.jpg

Rough side after cleaning
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/rclean.jpg

Rough side after cleaning, running in my sump
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/rafter2.jpg


Smoother side dirty
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/sdirty.jpg


Smoother side after cleaning
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/sclean.jpg

Smoother side, running in my sump
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/safter2.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Your light is too close/strong for how much flow you have. Or, you are not turning it off for 6 hours.

Also, clean all of that stuff off.

[cbehr]

Sounds good, I will back them up a couple inches and re-clean tonight.

[Rosenaa]

Hmm funny, mine look nearly the same... I guess my lights are too close also :o Since the light look the same (spot like)

[Amphiprion]

I made the same mistake at first, as well. I could see the characteristic ring of photoinhibition and subsequent oxidation of algal cells. Kinda like a big yellow ring in the middle, surrounded by lush growth.

[SantaMonica]

If your screen is very rough, then extra flow is the preferred fix. If not, less light will do.

[cbehr]

I actually just realized my timer was stuck on so the algae wasn't getting a 6 hour break!! Hope I see new growth/changes soon!

[cbehr]

Here are some updated pictures. I moved the lights back two inches and waited two days to clean. I think I need to widen my slot so flow is more even. How am I looking?

Dirty Rougher side, this side seem to be getting less flow than the other side.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/dirtyroughside.jpg

Dirty smoother side
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/dirtysmootherside.jpg

Clean rougher side
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/cleanroughside.jpg

Clean smoother side, this redish hair type algae is SUPER tough to remove from the screen!!
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f47/jamal-188/cleansmootherside.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Do you really need the tape on the pipe? I think it's reducing your flow. Yes you need more flow... you can see white areas on the screen that get no flow. Having low flow is the same as having too much light. So work on getting a rapid water fall on both sides.

Growth seems much better... is certainly doing some filtering now, but could probably filter twice as much.

[akiles voy]

I have other kind of alga on the screen. that is brown and no completely covers the screen after 5-6 days. i have a 3,200 kelvin flouerescent 43 watts at 3 inches of the screen.

[SantaMonica]

Akiles takes some pics before and after cleaning, and post on a new thread.