Little growth on IceCap Algae Scrubber

[VicarReefer]

I've been running the IceCap algae scrubber on my Waterbox 70.2 for over 2 months now. It hasn't produced much growth (see pics). Also growth is forming in uneven patterns. I run the lights for 12 hours every night. Should I be increasing flow?

 

[lapin]

Do you have high enough nutrients to support the algae?

 

[VicarReefer]

Do you have high enough nutrients to support the algae?

Do you mean am I feeding enough? I don't have a very high bioload at the moment. It's 70 gallon system with only 2 clown fish and small blue tang. I feed once a day - a variation of frozen brine and probiotic pellets.

 

[Smite]

I believe he's asking if you have detectable nitrates and phosphates?

 

[jrill]

Not enough nutrients to sustain much growth.

 

[Garf]

It doesn’t look like the screen is roughed up.

 

[VicarReefer]

It doesn’t look like the screen is roughed up.

What should I use to rough it up?

 

[Garf]

What should I use to rough it up?

Back in the day, we used a hole saw, rubbing it backwards and forward by hand. But this method is similar;

 

[G Santana]

What should I use to rough it up?

People use sandpaper to rough it up in hopes that algae would grab on easier.
I made a DIY scrubber and did not rough up the grid and got very little algae growth on it in the first few months and then, an explosion of algae. I had to clean the grid weekly.
When your tank is ready, it will let you know.

 

[Smite]

Are you able to look inside when its running? Looking at the original picture makes me wonder if you've got enough flow to cover the whole screen? Is your scrubber level? make sure there isn't algae growing where the sheet meets the slot, it can cause water to not run evenly over the screen

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

It doesn’t look like the screen is roughed up.

Wait....the screens that come with the Ice Cap scrubber aren't roughed up?