Algae Scrubber Problems

[uli-the-nihlist]

Hello Reef2Reef.

I set up an IceCap algae turf scrubber on my RSR250 about 4 weeks ago and have been having persistent hair algae outbreak in my display ever since. I kept GFO and AF Zeomix online for the first week, but then weened it off shortly thereafter. I can see some brown algae and hair algae in the grates of the scrubber screen, but so far more algae has been growing in my display than on the scrubber since I took GFO and Zeomix offline.

Is this typical for a scrubber break in when switching off of GFO or should I be doing something different here? Any advice is welcome!!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Did your nutrient levels shoot up? Scrubbers do have a break in period so maybe you took your other export methods offline too soon

 

[uli-the-nihlist]

Did your nutrient levels shoot up? Scrubbers do have a break in period so maybe you took your other export methods offline too soon

Hi Kenny thanks for the reply. Nutrients never really shot up and have stayed at 3-5 for nitrates and ~0.02-0.04 for phosphates. I assume the nuisance hair algae is helping keep these numbers down, I am just not sure if I should run GFO again or use lanthanum for phosphates during the ATS break in. Certainly not looking to outcompete the scrubber.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

If I have the choice between gfo and lanthanum I'm definitely going with the latter. But it looks like your po4 is pretty low so I wouldn't bother. Once the scrubber starts working I think the other algae will go away

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Are you running the scrubber lights 24/7?

 

[uli-the-nihlist]

Are you running the scrubber lights 24/7?

No I am only running the lights for 18 hours on and 6 off reverse cycle of display lights

 

[TheDragonsReef]

No I am only running the lights for 18 hours on and 6 off reverse cycle of display lights

Try running them nonstop. Might help with the initial growth. I have a clearwater scrubber and that what the instructions said to do for the first couple weeks.

 

[KleineVampir]

Well here's my guide. hopefully it helps: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-basic-guide-to-algae-scrubbers.815940/

 

[uli-the-nihlist]

Well here's my guide. hopefully it helps: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-basic-guide-to-algae-scrubbers.815940/

Wow, that answered so many of my questions. Very easy to follow and written based on experience. I really wish I had this before I started my scrubber.

Thank you for posting this!

 

[uli-the-nihlist]

Just to update, I reduced the photoperiod on my display by 6 hours and reduced my dosing to compensate. As expected, the algae in the display has really died back and the scrubber has taken off. Apparently the scrubber was having a tough time competing, but seems like reducing the photoperiod worked for me!