I need help with my ATS

[vsutarov]

I can't grow decent long algae on my ATS for almost 2 months.It is only brown/red slimy on the scrubber surface.This is my info:
-pump 2000L/h
-scrubber 27cm(10.5inch) long
-light T5 normal 5x8W 6500K.I also tried 23W CFL warm white,but no difference.
-distance from light about 6cm/2.5inch.I tried also more distance,but also no luck.
-photoperiod 17 hours per day.Also tried less,but almost the same result.
-cleaning.Tried different time intervals for cleaning,from few days to 10 days
Measurings:
NO3=5ppm Salifert and D-D
PO4=0.02-0.06ppm Hanna. I also use PO4 remover from time to time when PO4 goes up.
I am almost certain that I have enough flow and light,but I am missing something
Here are some pictures from 8 days of growing:

[SantaMonica]

Without pics, I'd say the light is too low.

Try your pics a different way.

[vsutarov]

I suppose you ment lights are too high from the pictures.Maybe they should go 1 inch lower but it is not posible from this setup.First lamp from up is now facing a little lower where canvas gets out from pipe.I thought this shoild not affect so much for algae growth.I will try more pics tomorrow.

[SantaMonica]

There are no pics.

[vsutarov]

Now I see what you mean,sorry.I don't know why can't you see them.I will try another way,with copying the links.
http://postimg.org/image/7f8egeiu9/
http://postimg.org/image/4zb6gaq5d/
http://postimg.org/image/xxr1p4hk1/
http://postimg.org/image/bkjb2bgm9/
http://postimg.org/image/etxq8s4pt/

[SantaMonica]

Still can't see them. Try uploading to the forum from your computer.

[vsutarov]

[kotlec]

I see pics 3 diff ways.

[vsutarov]

I don't know what is going on with my atachment.I see all pics with no problem.I will try from another computer later.

[Floyd R Turbo]

I can see all the attachments you posted.

From your pictures, your flow looks OK. 528 GPH / 10.5" = 50 GPH/in but that's before head losses from the pump, I'm guessing even if it's 1/2 of that, you should be getting growth.

Your screen looks about as tall as it is wide. I'm going to assume it is 10" tall, so 10x10 = 100 sq in

I think your problem is your lighting. You are using T5 8W x 5 but the top one is at the level of the pipe and is doing nothing. So 8W x 4 = 32W. This is severely underlit. Also, your lights have not reflectors, so you automatically lose about 75% of the light. That means that you really only have about 8-10W of light actually hitting the screen. The minimum guideline is essentially 10 times this. Additionally, your screen is one-sided, which is inherently weaker, but I understand your space issues. Also, 6500K is the wrong spectrum. You need 2700K-3000K. It may not have worked for you before but there are all kinds of other reasons why it might not have worked, lighting is only one part of the picture.

I also think your screen is too big. Why is your screen so large? Are you feeding 8 cubes of food per day? The new guideline is feeding based - a 10x10 screen is good for 8 cubes/day (12 sq in of screen for every cube of food fed per day, so 100 sq in/12 = 8.3 cubes/day). Consider reducing the screen to a more manageable size, then finding a way to light it on both sides.

Consider this example, which would be good for 3 cubes of food per day of feeding, or thereabouts:

Reduce screen to 6" x 6". You can trim the width down and leave the length at 10" so that the water will have a quiet path to the sump, but the effective growth area will be only 6" x 6"
Place a 2700K CFL on each side, with a dome-style reflector. Try to find a 23 to 32W CFL. 23W is a pretty common size (actual wattage, not equivalent).
You can also use a floodlight CFL, this is a CFL lamp that is within a floodlight housing, since it has a built in reflector, it will not take up as much space and you can light both sides. a 6"x6" screen is about the maximum size you would want for a floodlight CFL.
Continue to use the same pump - you may have to dial back the flow a little bit