My algae scrubber thread

My L2 algae scrubber has arrived. I am going to try to keep this thread updated as to the results I get with this unit. I did a quick and dirty install today. My setup wasn't really great for adding a scrubber and still maintaining easy access for cleaning and everything, but I made it work. Its only temporary solution until I redo the entire sump in the future.
A little info on my system. The display is a 250 gallon deep dimension tank. Its connected to a 125 sump that runs about half full. Its divided into a intake/skimmer section, a return section, and a section I use just for more live rock capacity.  My current equipment include a SRO 5000 skimmer, a GFO reactor, as well as dosing pumps for 2 part. I'll be taking the GFO offline. I have never had a hair algae problem in the display. My tangs may be helping out with that. I have a little that grows on one of the outflows of the return, but that is all. I do get cyano on the sandbed and some rocks. There is also some other brown stuff that will form in the sand. Possibly dinoflagellates or diatoms I am not really sure.
Now on to the starting point. I cut back on water changes the last couple weeks partly because I was busy, but also because the scrubber was on the way.

 

Forgot to do the update this weekend after I tested. Not much new to report. After 1 week I am getting some coloration on the edges of the screen. Test results were pretty much identical to the initial testing.

 

This weeks test results.

Forgot to get a picture of the phosphate test. Showed .13 on my hanna. GFO has not been running. I have noticed the algae on the glass has seemed to be growing faster. I assume this is because of the available phosphates that the GFO is not removing. Hopefully my scrubber will get some more growth and I'll start to see that diminish.
Here is a picture of the screen. Its getting pretty color over the entire screen now, except for the front edge. For whatever reason I can't seem to get the water to flow over this section.

 

New Updates. My one little patch of algae is growing. I accidentally turned down the water flow on the scrubber a little too much, and I think it may have slowed things down last week. Its back flowing strong again so we'll see how things go this week.

 

I didn't clean it. That's how it looked when I pulled it out.

 

Getting nice growth from my "patch" of algae. I also had a good amount that was growing in the box itself, and not on the screen. Not sure why its not really filling out in the middle. I did flip the screen this week so the patch is closest to the feed line. We'll see if that changes anything.
the rest of the tests.
PO4 - .06 hanna
Alk - 9.4 hanna
Cal - 450 Salifert

 

I was thinking that as well. I had been running 6 on and 18 off since I put it online. It originally got color over the entire screen, and then appeared to bleach in the center I attributed this to me turning down the flow too much, but it didn't seem to get any more color when I cranked the flow back up. Last week I changed it to only 4 on and 8 off cycles to see if that made any difference.

 

I split the flow from my return pump to a manifold and am using a feed from that for the scrubber. I tested the flow when I set it up and was right where Bud recommended.

 

Finally some pretty good growth. I think I figured out some things with my up and down growth I have been having. I have trouble getting my screen in and out due to my current setup. At times I was not getting the slot oriented correctly and in turn this caused the water to flow randomly down the screen instead of the smooth flow it should be. No water in places was causing the algae not to grow in those areas. Now that I know what to watch for I'll have to be sure my screen gets put in correctly every time.

 

Growing algae like mad. I have been so busy with work the last couple weeks I haven't had time to do a proper photo session and parameter check.

 

You'll get an update when you start showing up for meets again. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/tongue2.gif