Need Help........

[jfenton954]

I started an algae scrubber about a month ago. I have a thick rough screen an 3 65watt- 6500k daylight flood lights on it but their more towards the top because of limited space. The flow seems to be fine a solid wall flowing off the screen but it only grows green hair algae at the top and red algae in the middle and nothing at the bottom???????........ I've seen online where people have made one out of a 5 gallon bucket and the lights were at the top of the screen and it looked like theirs were working fine. Is it me just not being patient or does it sound like I'm doing something wrong?

[SantaMonica]

Wrong bulbs. You are using incandescents. Trash those, and get three 23 watt CFL 2700k or 3000k floodlights. It will be less electricity, more light, and much more growth. Point the bulbs at the middle of the screen.

[jfenton954]

I'm using CFL's but they are 15watt -equal to 65watt bulbs and their 6500k instead of 3000k. I'll try what you said .........Thanks for the help.

[SantaMonica]

You are turning them off for 6 hours each day...

[jfenton954]

No...... Their on for 6hrs off for 2hrs and its set on a timer so it keeps repeating.

[Gigaah]

Yeah. lower K rated 23+ watt cfls and you'll see more green trash those 15w ones for this purpose.

[jfenton954]

I couldn't find 23watt so I got 26watt 2700k will those work?

[inkidu]

A good reflector can make quite a bit of difference.

Hope this helps.

[jfenton954]

What does that mean?

[inkidu]

If you are having trouble getting growth at the bottom of the screen. The cfl floodlight

might not be doing a good job projecting the light to where you need it and/or letting to much light escape. So the use of

any type of reflector to keep the light in the area you want it might help.

Hope this helps.

[jfenton954]

Ok....... Thanks for the help.