Algae Scrubber

[Z06-Hec]

I created my own algae scrubber, sheet of plastic mesh, water feeding over the mesh sheet to trickle down, some exposed spots with a grow LED 600W WAKYEM .
I plumbed a pvc pipe into an all black file folder bin, with the mesh sheet attached to bottom of pipe while the water trickles down.
how do long should i run the light to kick start the process? or any tips on starting the growth?

 

[Dan_P]

I created my own algae scrubber, sheet of plastic mesh, water feeding over the mesh sheet to trickle down, some exposed spots with a grow LED 600W WAKYEM .
I plumbed a pvc pipe into an all black file folder bin, with the mesh sheet attached to bottom of pipe while the water trickles down.
how do long should i run the light to kick start the process? or any tips on starting the growth?

I thought these things were self-seeding. Turn on the light and go, right?

 

[Z06-Hec]

Yeah maybe im being impatient, its been like 6 days. LOL

 

[SantaMonica]

Yes all scrubbers are self-seeding, even if it's just slime.

 

[Dan_P]

Yeah maybe im being impatient, its been like 6 days. LOL

Photosynthetic organisms start to colonize new surfaces within days but you won’t see anything without a microscope for maybe two weeks and then only a blush of color.

 

[PharmrJohn]

@VintageReefer --- Anything to add?

 

[VintageReefer]

@VintageReefer --- Anything to add?

Nope, if the design is good and conditions right, it will self seed. Takes about 2 weeks for films to start and could take 4 weeks for algae to start. Possibly more. Depending on nutrient level of the tank and if your cleaning slime films or not during early stages

 

[dschuffert]

When I started mine, it took about a month to build up a nice amount of algae. I ran it 24x7 while it was building algae on the plates. I now run it opposite my light cycle.

 

[kyreefville]

Yes it was about a month for me. I cleaned slime off a week or two in. Checked it today and starting to get good clumps of GHA. I'm running mostly opposite of tank lighting schedule. I'd like to see your DIY. I literally just put a screen in the trickle filter area and feel like there's got to be a better way. Wish I had more DIy vision.

 

[VintageReefer]

Yes it was about a month for me. I cleaned slime off a week or two in. Checked it today and starting to get good clumps of GHA. I'm running mostly opposite of tank lighting schedule. I'd like to see your DIY. I literally just put a screen in the trickle filter area and feel like there's got to be a better way. Wish I had more DIy vision.

@ScubaSkeets

 

[edsbeaker]

One tip that I heard about, and used successfully, was to use some sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the mesh. The algae sticks to it better, and for me it jump started the process.
The other tip I heard was that it’s not a great idea to run the light 24/7. The algae at the center of the mesh, closest to the light, tends to burn with so much light. I started with 12 hrs on 12 hours off.

 

[Z06-Hec]

That pvc is capped on the left end, drilled a few holes for the water to trickle, split the feed so the backpressure flows out on that other pipe. The feed is an overflow from a 10gal side tank that's fed from the external skimmer. It's all connected.
Appreciate all the feedback already !!

 

[SantaMonica]

use some sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the mesh. The algae sticks to it better

 

[Z06-Hec]

it started getting brown early last week in the corners... now its brown most places and some places are growing thick now...