Finally! 90g scrubber - 40sq inches

[Floyd R Turbo]

It could be due to the type of algae growing. They didn't seem to be affected until the end of the growth cycle, and the screen was growing less green growth as initially as it was vastly oversized for the amount fed since it was based on the original guidelines. Once I fix that issue and get the new one going, I will put them back in and see how they do.

[kerry]

My frogspawn is doing fine in my scrubber tank as well as my Exenia, colts, mushrooms, and toad stools. My SPS sure does do well to!

[mess7777]

thanks kerry, glad to hear it!

Time for todays progress pics, it seems to be growing well, the screen is basically covered now and I imagine over the next couple days it will start to thicken until Saturday when it's time for the 1st cleaning. I am trying to remember, do I clean just 1 side the 1st time or both?

I am trying to think of how i can get my lights to face more straight on to the screen, as it stands I have no way to attach them differently. I might rig up pieces of wood to screw into the side braces that I can clamp to......I will go with this for now and see how growth progresses. After all, if it isn't broken why fix it.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Yes if you can get the lamps perpendicular and closer that would be best. Is the light on the back side missing a reflector, or is that just like that so you could take the pic? You're losing 80% of the light without a reflector. Also (according to srusso) you can get the lights closer with the saran wrap over the entire screen. It's looking good but I would say that putting the lights closer and straight on would green it up fast.

[mess7777]

Yes if you can get the lamps perpendicular and closer that would be best. Is the light on the back side missing a reflector, or is that just like that so you could take the pic? You're losing 80% of the light without a reflector. Also (according to srusso) you can get the lights closer with the saran wrap over the entire screen. It's looking good but I would say that putting the lights closer and straight on would green it up fast.

Yes one is missing a reflector, that is on the to do this this weekend. Strangely enough, the growth seems thicker and greener on the side without the reflector.

They reflectorless one is about 4 inches away, the other is more like 5-6, best I can do without something else to attach to. It will be a challenge to find a way, but if there's a will......

[mess7777]

5 Days in -

More pics and even a video. My pod population has literally exploded in the last week, insanity the number of copepods....I am loving that! Please beware I am no videographer so this is not a pro video!

It is very obvious now that the reflector improves the amount of growth considerably, if there was ever any doubt....doubt no more. I am waiting to test my levels on SAturday just before cleaning to see if there is any improvement of nitrate in phosphate in just one week.




http://youtu.be/_Z1Pr8dWurQ

[DennisC]

I wish I could get that amount of pods in my tank or sump. Looks very good to me.

Dennis

[mess7777]

Did my 1st cleaning today. The algae was a lot more brown, even towards oily slimy black than it looked while water was running over it. However, not a huge surprise seeing as I have such high nutrient levels. I tested prior to cleaning and Nitrates are between 20-40ppm, phosphates .25. This is slightly down from last week's test although it is close enough to be attributable to human error. I will be picking up a reflector and some new bulbs today to amp it amp to the next level. If the algae continues to be the ugly black stuff I will start cleaning more frequently, every 3 days until it starts growing more brown to green stuff.

I probably will stop posting every day now!

[SantaMonica]

Stronger light should fix it.

[mess7777]

Well it has only been one week, but I had to make a decision. With the limited space in my sump, it came down to a reflector or my skimmer. I went with the reflector. I am going to keep an eye on things over the week, but I have said many times before I don't think my skimmer did much of anything but bubble out some greenish water. It was not a powerful hardcore skimmer like many have. I have a 90g tank and this skimmer would probably be rated for a 90g MAX which means it really good for 40g or something like that. Anyway, my N and P have been high for the last 15 months(since getting it) with the skimmer, so I figure it can't be doing much to help me out anyway!

Wish me luck, and please tell me it's going to be alright, in spite of reading everything here it is still extremely scary for some reason.