Minimum lighting interval for algae scrubber

[SeeFu]

It looks like my algae scrubber is going to bottom out my nutrients. Is there a minimum time that the lights need to be on to at least keep what algae that's growing on the screen alive? I'm amazed how effective this device is. I barley have any algae on the scrubber and my phosphate went from .07 to 0 and nitrates from 10 to nearly 0.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

U might just wanna turn it off. Lol.
I would go under 4 or 5hrs...6 maybe even.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Wouldnt*

 

[TheDragonsReef]

If your phosphates were 0.07 before the scrubber you might not even need it.

 

[SeeFu]

i was doing very substantial water changes for the last 2-3 months to keep nutrients under control.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

i was doing very substantial water changes for the last 2-3 months to keep nutrients under control.

Gotcha. In that case i believe 6hrs is the lowest you can go without the algae dying. If the scrubber has more than one light you can turn one off as well.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

I'm not sure where 6 hrs/day came from? Knock the flow down to just enough to cover the screen and then run the lights maybe 1 or 2 hours/day. If you can break the interval up into 2 or 3 smaller photoperiods, that would probably work better.