Upflow Algae Scrubber No Airstone 1.5 month Update

bozo · Jun 28, 2020

Tank: 25 gallon IM Lagoon
Age of Tank: Started Cycle on April 10, 2020
Age of Scrubber: Started on May 19th, 2020
Inhabitants: 2 clownfish, 1 inch Valentini Puffer, 2 inch Flame Angel
Feed: Mysis, brine, cyclopeeze, pellets. Every other day. 1 cube of each frozen. 3 cubes total per week.
No airstone.
Duration of LED: 15 hours

LED: LED Grow Light from Amazon
Mesh Screen: 7 Mesh by Darice on Amazon
Plastic HDPE Pencil Box from Daiso. Bought an appropriate size and cut it on one end to make it fit and for flow.
Suction Cups: Suction Cups on Amazon
Velcro: Velcro from Home Depot
Zip Ties: Zip Ties from Home Depot

I drilled some holes all around the box so that I could zip tie the screen to the box.

I didn't cut the top open because I wanted more contact time with the light and algae. No science on that logic. Just pure mechanics. Not sure if it makes a difference.

Photos from 19MAY2020

Photos from 28JUN2020

I did not harvest. I took out the box to clean the algae that was growing on the glass. Then put it back in.

DeniseAndy · Jun 28, 2020

Looks good, but may want to scrub off the slimy algae so it can begin to grow some nice green algae. Mine all start with that before really getting going.

bozo · Jun 28, 2020

DeniseAndy said:
Looks good, but may want to scrub off the slimy algae so it can begin to grow some nice green algae. Mine all start with that before really getting going.

That was my next question. Whether to scrub that crap off or not. Wasn't sure if I needed to let it grow a little more to ensure that the screen was established.

I'll try scrubbing half off and keeping the other half there for science purposes.

Thanks for the advice!

DeniseAndy · Jun 28, 2020

Generally the slimy stuff is not wanted and is taken off. You can just use a toothbrush and get it off in a bucket then put back. Good luck. I love my scrubbers.

bozo · Jun 28, 2020

DeniseAndy said:
Generally the slimy stuff is not wanted and is taken off. You can just use a toothbrush and get it off in a bucket then put back. Good luck. I love my scrubbers.

This is how it looks after I scrubbed off the slimy stuff. Hopefully I didnt scrub off the good stuff

DeniseAndy · Jun 28, 2020

Should be fine. It takes time to grow the good stuff.

bozo · Jun 28, 2020

DeniseAndy said:
Should be fine. It takes time to grow the good stuff.

Just a side question. Do you run a skimmer at the same time?

I've been running an oversized skimmer 24/7 while running this UAS. The skimmer pulls gunk very easily.

I just got sold the flame angel. He was the biggest pooper out of all the fish.

What would you recommend in my situation?

Thanks

DeniseAndy · Jun 28, 2020

I run a very large skimmer 24/7 also. It will keep your water clean and just may grow slowly if you do not have the nitrates. As long as you are not stripping your water (you have detectable nitrates and phosphates), you are fine to run both.

SantaMonica · Jun 28, 2020

Yes need to scrub the slime off often, so gha can attach. Also, if you can paint the inside of the case white, or put a white plastic sheet behind the screen, you will greatly help the algae stay alive on the screen.