Algae Turf Scrubber and Phosphates

[JAMSOURY]

Will an algae turf scrubber be able to produce algae on phosphates alone? Or are nitrates required for it to produce the algae?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Or are nitrates required for it to produce the algae?

Yes.
More specifically, nitrogen

 

[Dan_P]

D

Will an algae turf scrubber be able to produce algae on phosphates alone? Or are nitrates required for it to produce the algae?

Are you thinking that your system’s nitrate level is too low tomgrow algae?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Is your question theorectical or practical?

 

[Dan_P]

Is your question theorectical or practical?

Wondering what assumption(s) is behind the question.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Wondering what assumption(s) is behind the question.

Sorry, mY question was posed to the OP

 

[JAMSOURY]

Wondering what assumption(s) is behind the question.

I have high phosphates and 0 nitrates. I’m wondering if the ats would be able to still produce algae to remove the phosphates. Or if dosing nitrates would be required for the algae to be produced, removing both at the same time.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I have high phosphates and 0 nitrates. I’m wondering if the ats would be able to still produce algae to remove the phosphates. Or if dosing nitrates would be required for the algae to be produced, removing both at the same time.

If you have fish in the system there'll be nitrogen, even in the case where a home hobby test kit reads zero.
I & others I know still get growth with zero NO3 readings.
You could obviously feed more & that would increase nitrogen, but there may be something else lacking, like iron.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Is this a new scrubber, or an existing scrubber with a mature screen?
How high is your PO4?

 

[JAMSOURY]

Is this a new scrubber, or an existing scrubber with a mature screen?
How high is your PO4?

New scrubber. Just started it. It’s showing signs of algae.

 

[JAMSOURY]

Is this a new scrubber, or an existing scrubber with a mature screen?
How high is your PO4?

New scrubber. Just started it. It’s showing signs of algae.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

New scrubber. Just started it. It’s showing signs of algae.

Well it normally takes many weeks to get a mature screen, so patience is necessary

 

[JAMSOURY]

Well it normally takes many weeks to get a mature screen, so patience is necessary

Cool, yeah, I was just wondering if algae grew on phosphates alone.

 

[Dan_P]

I have high phosphates and 0 nitrates. I’m wondering if the ats would be able to still produce algae to remove the phosphates. Or if dosing nitrates would be required for the algae to be produced, removing both at the same time.

I thought that might be the answer. Thanks.

Macro algae does not contain much phosphate in its biomass. For a back of the envelope calculation, use 1%. And because that number is based on a dry weight, the phosphorous content of live algae, assuming 80% water is only 0.2%. You can estimate how much algae you will have to grow to reduce your water’s phosphate content. You might be impressed by the amount.

As a pedestrian in this matter, and having performed this calculation, I have often wondered whether these algae scrubbers are really just carbon sources for bacteria and it is the bacteria doing some or most of the nitrate and phosphate removal. In the end it doesn’t matter. Hope it works out for you.

 

[James spinn]

I just started a algae scrubber my question is I have refuge with sand and cheato when and should I break down my refuge?