Algae Scruber from Poland :)

[leoni]

hello I'm Leszek,
I'm Polish and I read your forum already for almost two months:)

I have a 500 liter tank for 4 years, up to now I could not keep it clean, and I came to this forum.

My ATS has been active since 1/11/2010 30cmx30cm size washer is illuminated on each side of the Philips 2700K 2x23Wat pump Atman AT-203 on the movement of 2000l / h.

Are parameters such muds are ok?

I already had three since then, scraping, but the algae are still very dark here and there appear bright hair.
cleaned every 7 days

For some time he also mad my skimmer, or a sign that I have to disable it?
here are photos before placing the next light bulbs and reflector
http://images41.fotosik.pl/444/dcf8781378e4887c.jpg

http://images40.fotosik.pl/432/8df83ef02f82f85d.jpg
http://images47.fotosik.pl/449/028cedf07e2e2b53.jpg
grid so it looked before the first scraping
http://images35.fotosik.pl/285/136e612fa9275649.jpg

sorry for my english

[SantaMonica]

Hello Leoni,

A few things....

Your flow seems good. Your light-guard over the top looks good. Screen size is good. Growth starting to get green.

But a single bulb is not enough to cover a wide screen. Especially with no reflector. As you can see, the growth is only near the bulb, so the rest of the screen is being wasted. It is better to have two bulbs on each side.

Also, you have only 46 total watts, for a 132 gal, which is too small (minimum is 65 total watts.) And, since you have no reflectors, you really only have 23 total watts being used.

So add another bulb on each side (total of 4 bulbs = 92 watts), and put reflectors on all the bulbs. Let it run for a month, and clean every 7 days.

Should work well.

[leoni]

as I said these are old picture, at the moment is 2x23 Wats on each side and reflective foil is inserted

at this stage whether the skimmer off?, because I have an overflow cup twice a day :D

[SantaMonica]

Turn it off

[leoni]

ok, it turned off

Today also put an photos from another scrape

[redadeath]

can u tell me what material did u use for the screen
best regards

[leoni]

pictures before scraping scrubber, is not that little as a week?
http://images43.fotosik.pl/475/6f34bcb0d5027a59.jpg
http://images50.fotosik.pl/475/77ca28b340ace6c9.jpg
http://images38.fotosik.pl/468/92fed987dc2f6aac.jpg
http://images40.fotosik.pl/458/4735b03defb1fd44.jpg
http://images41.fotosik.pl/470/b3d3b88fec140596.jpg

[leoni]

can u tell me what material did u use for the screen
best regards

PCV tubes were used 1 / 2 ", and garden netting

[leoni]

SM please tell me is that normal my ATS in 7 day??

[SantaMonica]

For a new screen, yes. Later on it will be thick by 7 days.

[leoni]

ok, thanks SM that is waiting for the results next week

[leoni]

hello,
so it looks like from the three scraping scrubber , it seems to me that things are improving.



http://images40.fotosik.pl/469/963231638ac8041b.jpg
http://images47.fotosik.pl/486/8315c089238e36ea.jpg
http://images39.fotosik.pl/481/bda40509dccebbc8.jpg
http://images46.fotosik.pl/467/31a273d4617dca8e.jpg
http://images40.fotosik.pl/469/17956e28462850ce.jpg
SM how you think everything is ok?

[SantaMonica]

Seeks ok. Clean every 7 days.

[leoni]

hello,
so it looks like from the four scraping scrubber

http://images38.fotosik.pl/493/a1fa81c4e5a477b3.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Did you rough up the screen? It looks like algae is letting go in places.

[leoni]

this is so rough, but maybe in those places too little rough, and are therefore continually

[SantaMonica]

Try this:

http://www.radio-media.com/fish/ScreenHoleSaw.jpg

http://www.radio-media.com/fish/CanvasCompare.jpg

[leoni]

yes I did just that

[Vannpytt]

Save yourself some time. Stronger lights!

[leoni]

or 2x30Wat on each side is enough?

[Vannpytt]

Real watts or equals?

[leoni]

exactly 2x32 Wat :D

[leoni]

and if I could mount 65Wat 5500K bulb? because, unfortunately, more powerful do not have the range 2700-3500K?

do you think can be?

[Vannpytt]

We don't have those bulbs where I live.

I would say it's strange if you don't get growth if you really have that much light and flow.

[leoni]

poorly understood unless: 0
You wrote in my previous post that I have to give more light bulbs, because at this moment I have 2x23Wat on each side giving a total 92Wats.

So my question is whether it is better to give 2x32 or 2x65 on each side?

[Vannpytt]

I have a T5HO 39w *6 tubes scrubber, and they are about 5-7cm away from the screen. (With reflectors). This is alot of light, and it grew as much as you got in a day with only half the lights on. If you don't have growth that is turning stringy, you need to be adding more, increasing lightperiod in the start or something else to provide more photopower to the algae that are supposed to grow there.

If you don't grow green algae there are a few reasons.

1. IF the flow is too strong for the light. (Too little light/too far away from screen/no reflectors (light lost)) - Grows brown/slime
2. IF the light is too strong for the flow. (Increase the flow/Add Iron/Reduce light in that order of desperation) - Grows yellow algae
3. IF the flow is too strong for the algae to hold on to the screen. (Bald spots, spots where algae is missing yet other are green) - Grows green

Remember to keep your Alkalinity/KH up at all times with kalkwasser topoff water and bicarbonate/natron.

[SantaMonica]

1. IF the flow is too strong for the light.

Actually strong flow only helps, up to the point of algae letting go, or splashing. You really can't have too much flow.

92 watts is good for a 30 X 30 cm screen. It is your first scrubber, so simple is good. I would say keep it simple, and let it run and see what happens. Looks fine to me. It might take a few months to get where you want.

[leoni]

thanks guys but I think it will take some time as said before I get SM green hair.

The tank is not young and certainly a lot of that is there,

the skimmer off for 2 months

[leoni]

I do not know if it's normal for some time but I have drastically increased cyano on the sand

[leoni]

so it looks like sand in my tank

http://images37.fotosik.pl/484/71bd91a53f263b09.jpg

[SantaMonica]

How much are you feeding each day?

[leoni]

one cube per day

[SantaMonica]

Are the bulbs new?

[leoni]

bulbs bought two months ago

[SantaMonica]

If the holes in the screen are 1/2 inch, then you really need regular plastic canvas.

Other than that, you probably have places in the tank where food is sitting and rotting. Improved circulation in the tank would help with this.

Cyano on the sand does not hurt anything for now. Let it run for a while and let's see what happens.

[leoni]

very thanks SM,

Today I bought a 2700K bulb 40Wat see if we can speed up the green hair

[leoni]

hello,
so it looks like from the five scraping scrubber

I think that is getting better
scrubber was very hard
roughing also improved so that it is more cactus
http://images37.fotosik.pl/491/8c2c28b4668119dd.jpg
http://images45.fotosik.pl/518/76c167fd8b6a8976.jpg

[leoni]

hello,
here is my sixth scraping, I can see the pictures begin to make a bright green in the middle and on the left side

http://images46.fotosik.pl/521/ac77efd53e324b81.jpg
http://images46.fotosik.pl/521/46bdbe0c9a1ef171.jpg
http://images39.fotosik.pl/535/cc3ccecb4ea8aab8.jpg

http://images47.fotosik.pl/540/133a48be77c6014c.jpg
SM if everything is okay?

One thing worries me, namely the rock is covered with sheepskin
and so has to be?

[new2scrub]

think you still need a better screen,with the holes so big it is like having half the surface area of the same screen made from plastic canvas, plastic canvas is dirt cheap so don't worry about getting it, In fact I am sure someone on here would send you a sheet providing you paid the shipping , if you cant find it in your area.

[SantaMonica]

Clean the screen completely.

The algae on the rocks will disappear after a few months.

[leoni]

@new2scrub
I have a problem with getting in my town I am such a plastic canvas you use them

SM
and if it does not affect in any way to corals?

[Rumpy Pumpy]

@new2scrub
I have a problem with getting in my town I am such a plastic canvas you use them

SM
and if it does not affect in any way to corals?

http://cgi.ebay.pl/2-LARGE-SHEETS-OF-PL ... _858wt_698 (http://cgi.ebay.pl/2-LARGE-SHEETS-OF-PLASTIC-CANVAS-7-COUNT-/110401728951?pt=UK_Crafts_Needlework_EH&hash=item19b474b1b7#ht_858wt_698)

[leoni]

so it looks like my rock

http://images45.fotosik.pl/542/c0bac89a762340dc.jpg
http://images35.fotosik.pl/376/b4a6ea0312f7894a.jpg

thanks @Rumpy Pumpy

[SantaMonica]

Coral grow better with scrubbers. The scrubber give the corals food.

[leoni]

Today I bought a plastic canavas according to your recommendations:) I did with the cactus and wait for what will be the effects

[Rumpy Pumpy]

I did with the cactus and wait for what will be the effects


You did it with the cactus?

That could be prickly. :shock:

[leoni]

yes, it is very prickly

[leoni]

hello,

after changing to the plastic canvas and 10 days, so it looks like my scrubber before cleaning

http://images40.fotosik.pl/562/94ca97d1852acac1.jpg


and after cleaning


http://images50.fotosik.pl/579/6fa9c962547f2b1d.jpg


I think it is much better than before, what do you think SM?

[SantaMonica]

Yes.

[leoni]

after changing to plastic canvas, green algae grow nicely, until today, all of which were done in yellow green, which is the reason?

Not enough iron?

and perhaps to replace bulbs?

Help!

[SantaMonica]

Your water probably started slowing down, because of growth. Clean and see what happens.

[leoni]

ok, today cleaning

[leoni]

and still the same three days the green
yellow, the fourth day.

SM what to do

[SantaMonica]

The pic from Jan 30th is fine. Increase flow if you can, add iron if you can, but otherwise just clean 7 days and it should be ok

[leoni]

pictures before scraping after six days:

http://images41.fotosik.pl/640/e2b61a3a5a23a0d4.jpg

http://images41.fotosik.pl/640/0f99eb6432b44de9.jpg

after four months I see a significant improvement

[SantaMonica]

Is much better, and filtering better, but the middle is still burning. Get a wider reflector, or stronger flow, or add iron, or last option... turn the bulb off two extra hours per day.

[leoni]

ok will try, today I also mentioned the new bulbs

[leoni]

hello,
in my next yellow algae, already ordered Kent-Iron
parameters:

NO3-0, 1 (Salifert)
PO4-0, 05 (Tropic Marine)

but rock on in algae

[SantaMonica]

Pics when you can.

[leoni]

pictures inserted before the next cleaning

Now I made it glow 16h / 8 hours off, we'll see what happens

[leoni]

hello,
here's screen before scraping

http://images47.fotosik.pl/696/7c1e571cfe689bec.jpg

and so it looks like a rock in the aquarium
http://images50.fotosik.pl/695/e69b1f953af11b35.jpg
http://images49.fotosik.pl/694/33b09d0500d17c6c.jpg
http://images37.fotosik.pl/649/b6db98e5a17ae9cf.jpg

I think the parameters of such a super never had:
PO4-0.09 (Hanna checker)
NO3-0.1
Mg-1360
Ca-460
Kh-9

also reduced the duration of light 16on / 8off and pours Kent-Iron 15ml once a week

What could be the reason that the rock so it looks?

[SantaMonica]

Your rocks are full of phosphate. The algae on the rocks is consuming most of the phosphate as it comes out of the rock. That is the reason your test shows no phosphate.

You are growing black algae on the screen. You must clean every 3 days, and remove all of the algae, all the way down to the plastic screen. Do this until it is no longer black.

It will take several months for all of the phosphate to come out of the rocks. You can make it happen faster by:

1. Feed less.
2. Increase flow.
3. Then increase hours that the bulb is ON, up to 18.
4. Then add more bulbs.
5. Then make screen larger.

[leoni]

and whether the phosphate rock will have an impact on the SPS?

[SantaMonica]

As long as you measure less than 0.03 they should be good.

[leoni]

I ask because I have a few SPS, and whether there will be a problem with them?

shame that they should be

[SantaMonica]

Phosphate = 0.03 is no problem for SPS

[leoni]

ok I understand

[leoni]

I have a question of water oxygenation

Today in our store salesman told me that the algae scrubber is unable to atmospheric oxygen when the tank is a lot of fish, is it true?

[SantaMonica]

False. A scrubber provides:

1: Oxygen to the water by air/water touching.

2: Oxygen to the water by photosynthesis.

3: Removal of CO2 by photosynthesis

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis

[leoni]

thanks SM

I thought so too but I wanted to make sure

[leoni]

Hi Santa,
I have a few days on the rocks and sand, cyano, and air bubbles, or it may be because Kent-Iron?

[SantaMonica]

No, not iron.

[leoni]

what may be the reason?

on the screen as the air bubbles appeared

[SantaMonica]

The scrubber is not strong enough.

[leoni]

What does it mean? a little pump?

[SantaMonica]

What wattage in bulbs do you have?

Show pics of bulbs.

Bulbs should be on 18 hours.

[leoni]

2x23Wat bulb with one hand
and 1x40 and 1x23 watts, on the other

pictures put an evening

as 18h on / off 6

[leoni]

hi,
here's photo
http://images43.fotosik.pl/733/befdbe07ee7da533.jpg

[SantaMonica]

The 40 watt is probably too close. Let's see the screen before you clean, and we will find out.

[leoni]

hello,
Here is a screen before scraping mega-laden algae, and even longer see green hair

http://images43.fotosik.pl/743/af886b8d2924c55e.jpg
http://images37.fotosik.pl/697/ad8745effab50b28.jpg


Here the effect of cleaning
http://images45.fotosik.pl/744/c52f85f9297c4085.jpg

[SantaMonica]

You need more wattage, to handle the high nutrients. Or just wait longer.

Also, you have a double layer screen; change to a single layer. The double layer is blocking light.

[leoni]

hello,
scraping and more than 150g of algae, this time held the for 10 days.
unfortunately my camera does not do good photographs and algae are actually light green

http://images39.fotosik.pl/803/b3eed488b2c84b90.jpg
http://images41.fotosik.pl/803/14351535496b3901.jpg
http://images41.fotosik.pl/803/4a359891e34e87df.jpg

[leoni]

hello,
for some time now I have a problem with my scrubber, I mentioned recently gave a new canvas for the new Eheim pump 5000l and 10 of my yellow algae

What happened before was all wpo??dku I was receiving a very nice green hair!

Help!

[SantaMonica]

Pics please

[leoni]

http://images47.fotosik.pl/858/0ed953c760ef263f.jpg
http://images45.fotosik.pl/859/4947840f45249b33.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Simple: Yellow algae means the algae need iron.

Do this by increasing flow.

Also you can add an Iron additive.

Also you can do this by feeding more Nori to the fish.

[leoni]

ok, thanks

Kent'm pouring iron-Iron 10ml per week

begin to feed more algae Nori

[leoni]

hello,
I have a problem with my scrubber, after a week of work is all yellow, despite the pouring Kent-Iron, after two weeks of doing the green hair.

What is the problem?

[SantaMonica]

Did your flow slow down?

Are you feeding less?

[leoni]

is the flow of 5000l / h, feed very little, and the problems began, as I have given a greater pump.

Previously everything was fine: it was 2500l/h

[dtyharry]

I have read this entire post and this is a very patient person. Despite taking heed of every piece of advice there are still problems! There appears to be loads and loads of algae on each scrubbing and yet still the tank is plagued with hair algae and cyan. The feeding seems very little for a fairly large aquarium and after five or so months surely the problem should have been solved.

[SantaMonica]

How much food?

[leoni]

max. 2 cubes

[SantaMonica]

Just let it run. Mine grows yellow too sometimes if the flow slows down in certain spots.

If it keeps being yellow, you can reduce the lights by 2 hours a day.

[leoni]

ok, I will try

[dtyharry]

Just as a matter of interest, if one was to set up a scrubber to cure hair algae problems etc, how long realistically should you give it before other avenues should be explored?

[SantaMonica]

The scrubber will work everytime, if constructed and operated correctly. However since I don't build and operate each user's scrubber, it may or may not be done correctly. In order to compare this to "other options", the other options much be DIY also, and not be store bought. If you are going to compare store bought options (like a skimmer), they must be compared to pre-made scrubbers.

If done correctly, it will take 3 weeks to 6 months, depending on how well it is built and operated, how much P is in the rocks, and how much feeding there is.

[leoni]

hello,
tell me if this bulb can replace 23W:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/e27-10w-65 ... 220v-51280 (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/e27-10w-6500k-166-led-1050-lumen-white-light-lamp-bulb-220v-51280)

[Vannpytt]

Tell me Leoni, do you also have very strong display lightning?

[SantaMonica]

No you don't want to try LED's at all if you want results.

[leoni]

Tell me Leoni, do you also have very strong display lightning?
yes,and what do you mean?

[Vannpytt]

Read my sps and scrubber growth thread. You might have the same problems as me. Too strong or wrong light in display tank compared to scrubber even if the guidelines are followed.

[leoni]

I just mute the problems at the moment:), generally the sand had become very white and slowly rock it gets clean of algae.

The tank operates without skimming from November 2011

[leoni]

hello,
tell me why for some time now I have a low Ph 7.88 never fell below the 8

What could be the reason and how to pick them up?

[SantaMonica]

Scrubber getting weak again, maybe.

How is growth?

Check bulbs and flow.

[leoni]

hi,
here are photos before scraping


http://images38.fotosik.pl/1004/675827a3fa711a40.jpg
http://images39.fotosik.pl/996/7e10500eec55851f.jpg
http://images45.fotosik.pl/1014/cdd9ecc84e352a05.jpg

KH 7.96
NO3 0
PO4 <0.01
MG 1440
Ca 400
KH 6.4

[SantaMonica]

Flow getting weak, turning algae yellow. If you can't increase flow, then add iron.

[leoni]

flow of 5000l / h, iron given once a week 15ml
also noticed that whiten started a seriatopora hystrix from the bottom, which may be the reason?

[SantaMonica]

More iron. If you have yellow growth, there is not enough iron. But it still looks like weak flow.

Any time a stony coral starts bleaching, it probably needs more food particles.

[leoni]

or simply double dose or 30ml?