Algae Scrubber and Glass cleaning

[Saintnovakai]

I run a scrubber but still get haze on my glass every two days.

1. Does this mean the scrubber isn't good enough?

2. Is this normal?

3. Should I run the scrubber light longer than 15hrs ?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

It's normal.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

3. Should I run the scrubber light longer than 15hrs ?

You run the photo-period duration according to the level of no3 you want to maintain. Longer photo-period duration - more photosynthesis- more assimilation of nitrogen

 

[Saintnovakai]

You run the photo-period duration according to the level of no3 you want to maintain. Longer photo-period duration - more photosynthesis- more assimilation of nitrogen

Okay! Gotcha Scrubbersteve!

I did a water change just now and although my scrubber is growing this green paste looking algae, I found tiny tufts of hair algae behind a rock or two. Does this mean the scrubber isn't working efficiently?

My two week growth is in the pics.

 

[Apotack]

A small amount of algae in your display is beneficial.

 

[Saintnovakai]

A small amount of algae in your display is beneficial.

Whaaaat!? I thought the point of the scrubber was 1. To shift that growth to the screen and 2. To suck nutrients out of the tank that would cause the algae.

 

[Apotack]

Fish, pods cuc etc eat it. Pods also live in it. I prefer a balance where there is some algae but not to the point where it’s overgrown.

 

[Saintnovakai]

Fish, pods cuc etc eat it. Pods also live in it. I prefer a balance where there is some algae but not to the point where it’s overgrown.

What PO4 gives you that? I'd prefer if them pods grew on the scrubber still but I take your point. I'm also afraod of algae in the display because I don't have any algae eaters in the tank except for cleanup crew and they are carnivores until proven otherwise.lol

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Okay! Gotcha Scrubbersteve!

I did a water change just now and although my scrubber is growing this green paste looking algae, I found tiny tufts of hair algae behind a rock or two. Does this mean the scrubber isn't working efficiently?

If the scrubber is designed correctly (screen size, flow rate, light spectrum & intensity) it creates an optimal environment for algae growth to take place. I'm my own tank the green & brown hair algae, & cyano, growing on the rocks disappeared over a month once the scrubber screen had matured. Coralline algae growth then became prolific, & this further restricts nuisance algae growing on the rocks.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Double post

 

[Apotack]

What PO4 gives you that? I'd prefer if them pods grew on the scrubber still but I take your point. I'm also afraod of algae in the display because I don't have any algae eaters in the tank except for cleanup crew and they are carnivores until proven otherwise.lol

I don’t know how much PO4, I just go by eye and lengthen or shorten the amount of time the scrubber lights are on depending on what I see. After I make a change I leave it alone for several weeks to see if I get what want.

 

[Saintnovakai]

Is heavy flow better or a smooth sheet of water over the screen? Im wondering if my flow is way to high and the light is y penetrating enough.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Is heavy flow better or a smooth sheet of water over the screen? Im wondering if my flow is way to high and the light is y penetrating enough.

You only need enough flow to prevent the water channeling over the screen - even coverage over the algae. Any more flow is unnecessary, & if too fast can be a negative performance wise.

 

[Dan_P]

Whaaaat!? I thought the point of the scrubber was 1. To shift that growth to the screen and 2. To suck nutrients out of the tank that would cause the algae.

I think that you have the right idea about algae scrubbers.

Algae scrubbers will need some phosphate to work at peak performance. If your system’s water is phosphate starved, it is conceivable that the scrubber is underperforming while locally high phosphate levels are permitting some display tank growth.

By the way, your scrubber appears to contain hair algae and therefore the tank is continually being reseeded with hair algae. Seeing some in the display tank may not be unusual.

 

[Saintnovakai]

I think that you have the right idea about algae scrubbers.

Algae scrubbers will need some phosphate to work at peak performance. If your system’s water is phosphate starved, it is conceivable that the scrubber is underperforming while locally high phosphate levels are permitting some display tank growth.

By the way, your scrubber appears to contain hair algae and therefore the tank is continually being reseeded with hair algae. Seeing some in the display tank may not be unusual.

I never thought of the reseeding thing. I'm gonna put a mesh bag where the scrubber drains into the return area. I definitely see how hairs could travel and find a comfortable spot in the tank.

 

[Dan_P]

I never thought of the reseeding thing. I'm gonna put a mesh bag where the scrubber drains into the return area. I definitely see how hairs could travel and find a comfortable spot in the tank.

Hair algae reproduce via the formation of these “buds” which in turn produce many microscopic algae which settle out and form new plants. The mesh bag may not catch these but I like the idea of capturing the hairs and any particles coming off the algae mass.

 

[Saintnovakai]

Hair algae reproduce via the formation of these “buds” which in turn produce many microscopic algae which settle out and form new plants. The mesh bag may not catch these but I like the idea of capturing the hairs and any particles coming off the algae mass.

So aaaaaah, how do I stop the algae sperm from populating the tank? Do others have this problem?