Ruddybop's UAS test

[kerry]

I have made a couple huge bio ball towers and could never over come the nitrate. I would like to know this guys theory on "vaporizing" LOL, I need to learn this. I do not understand how he is exporting nitrate in an oxygen rich environment. Even with my 6 foot tall tower at a very slow trickle I could not export the nitrate.
Most ponds will take care of nitrate as they age and become like an ecosystem. I would bet this is likely what has happened and it was not his tower deal IMO.
The enclosed and open towers I experimented with where failures for exporting nitrate. Maybe someone else with some more brain power can explain why his exports nitrate. I dont get it at all. Very interesting build he has for sure. Thanks for the info Sir.

[ruddybop]

I have made a couple huge bio ball towers and could never over come the nitrate. I would like to know this guys theory on "vaporizing" LOL, I need to learn this. I do not understand how he is exporting nitrate in an oxygen rich environment. Even with my 6 foot tall tower at a very slow trickle I could not export the nitrate.
Most ponds will take care of nitrate as they age and become like an ecosystem. I would bet this is likely what has happened and it was not his tower deal IMO.
The enclosed and open towers I experimented with where failures for exporting nitrate. Maybe someone else with some more brain power can explain why his exports nitrate. I dont get it at all. Very interesting build he has for sure. Thanks for the info Sir.

Yes and these guys make coil denitrifier so when the water runs through the coil tube the oxygen gets used up by the time it reaches the bottom for the filtration process of nitrates... I don't get it either....He did have a very scientific write up on it though.....

[kerry]

I understand the coil deal. I thought about building one until I ran across the scrubber.

[ruddybop]

Day - 45 - OK I decided to let it go for about 14 days just for fun... SM mentioned that my Algae was possibly dying so he said to clean it...

This is 2 pics with the scrubber... Notice the darker areas of the screen...




This what was harvested.



And this is what it looks like in the tank with some very full areas...The black parts on the first two pics are actually the algae very thick lying flat, but when I put it in the water it starts to come alive with 3d algae.





So.... My questions

1. - Do I have enough light or too much light. 138w 9x14 screen.....16hours

2. - Does Algae grow thick or fine in Fresh Water... Mine is very thin. Soft to the touch, but grows out from the screen about 3/4" when in the water. Flattens out when pulled out.

3. - What suggestions do I need to do if any for my scrubber...

[SantaMonica]

Light seems fine, if it grows green.

FW might grow thinner. But upflows will usually seem thinner (at least with weak bubbles) because the water is supporting the thin stuff and not ripping it away.

Seem good the way you have it.

[ruddybop]

Light seems fine, if it grows green.

FW might grow thinner. But upflows will usually seem thinner (at least with weak bubbles) because the water is supporting the thin stuff and not ripping it away.

Seem good the way you have it.

From looking at the bald spots on the screen do you think I have too much screen.

What if I cut off about 2 to 3 " off each side. Do you think it would grow thicker. Or just leave it and see if it grows on those spots...

[SantaMonica]

They are from detachment; not lack of growth. A 2-sided screen would help keep the roots illuminated longer.

[ruddybop]

I haven't posted in a while because I was trying some different things to see if this would grow better. 220G Fresh Water 9x14 screen...My scrubber is more like a 2 week scrubber and I found if I rotate the screen... meaning when one side is all grown in clean the back side (only) and stick it back in my scrubber with the clean side to the light and the grown side to the back/dark area. The grown side starts to get smaller and the new side to the light starts to grow like crazy. I have only done this once for my test, but I just took it out tonight and the algae is 10" to 12" long. The green is nice and rich. I also cut some slots in the screen to let light illuminate the back side.

I found if I clean my scrubber completely that it doesn't grow as nice. So I am rotating the cleaning to one side only and flipping the screen around with the full grown side to the back/less light.

Here are some pics of the Algae.
When the screen is completely out of water it looks like nothing has really grown.



Then put it in the water and it comes to life. You can see how long the algae is...






This is by far the best growth that I have had...


I will keep trying it this way and keep trying different thing so see what make my scrubber grow better....

[Floyd R Turbo]

That's some crazy long growth! FW scrubbers definitely grow differently than SW scrubbers, that's for sure.

[ruddybop]

That's some crazy long growth! FW scrubbers definitely grow differently than SW scrubbers, that's for sure.

Yes it is crazy... I could make a wig...

That was my problem Floyd.. I was waiting for this lush thick green carpet of grass.. From what I have seen At least with my Fresh Water scrubber is that it is thin and mushy, soft, slimy algae.... lol