Can't get anything to grow

[Rshahnyc]

I have a Santa Monica Filtration Surf 2X.

I ran it with 1/2 lights for 1 week and then changed it to 2/2 lights for the next 2 weeks. I have some greenish tinge but no actual macroalgae growth. Then I bought a ball of red macroalgae and threw it in but the middle looks like it's rotting so I got rid of it. I took it out and hand cleaned it out/ran it in water/separated the little stringies. Still nothing since then.

Just turned the lights on a schedule to only run in the evenings as of 2 days ago. Really lost. Really need something to get rid of phos.

 

[Reefer AJ]

I have a Santa Monica Filtration Surf 2X.

I ran it with 1/2 lights for 1 week and then changed it to 2/2 lights for the next 2 weeks. I have some greenish tinge but no actual macroalgae growth. Then I bought a ball of red macroalgae and threw it in but the middle looks like it's rotting so I got rid of it. I took it out and hand cleaned it out/ran it in water/separated the little stringies. Still nothing since then.

Just turned the lights on a schedule to only run in the evenings as of 2 days ago. Really lost. Really need something to get rid of phos.

What are your levels?

 

[Rshahnyc]

 

[Reefer AJ]

You should have enough to grow steady what type of lights are they and what is the macro algae you are trying to grow what is in there now since you got rid of your red?

 

[Rshahnyc]

You should have enough to grow steady what type of lights are they and what is the macro algae you are trying to grow what is in there now since you got rid of your red?

There is nothing else in there. Just the green tinge. I don't know that I'm supposed to be seeding it additionally. The initial instructions don't state to do that and given what happened with the red, I didn't bother picking up Chaeto or anything. Ideally I'd grow green hair algae.

The lights for growth are built into the SFM Surf 2xx.

SURF2xx floating surface scrubber with Green Grabber surfaces, 2 power supplies, and Xtra Xtra LEDS - for high nutrient water

www.santa-monica.cc

 

[twentyleagues]

Dont they recommend 24/7 for lighting until you start to get growth?

Just read directions said 18hrs to start. Did you run the lights for 18hr to start?

No you do not need to seed it. The lighting and the water flow should be enough to encourage algal growth.

 

[Rshahnyc]

Dont they recommend 24/7 for lighting until you start to get growth?

Just read directions said 18hrs to start. Did you run the lights for 18hr to start?

No you do not need to seed it. The lighting and the water flow should be enough to encourage algal growth.

I did half light as recommended for 18H.

Right now I have it programmed to do 18H on both lights.

 

[Uncle99]

I have a Santa Monica Filtration Surf 2X.

I ran it with 1/2 lights for 1 week and then changed it to 2/2 lights for the next 2 weeks. I have some greenish tinge but no actual macroalgae growth. Then I bought a ball of red macroalgae and threw it in but the middle looks like it's rotting so I got rid of it. I took it out and hand cleaned it out/ran it in water/separated the little stringies. Still nothing since then.

Just turned the lights on a schedule to only run in the evenings as of 2 days ago. Really lost. Really need something to get rid of phos.

You could use phosphate-E and fine socks for a few days to reduce that organics level.
I just finished two day reduction from .4 to .15ppm in two full days.
I used 20mls for 200g, 10ml in each sock and that reduced to .24ppm. Removed socks and replaced.
Hit another 20ml for 200g, again, poured into fine sock.
Now we hit .15ppm which is back to normal running.

 

[Rshahnyc]

Spoke to SMF and changed the schedule to 1 light plugged, one not plugged and run for 18H. That was 4 days ago.

My phos then was 0.65
My phos today was 0.65

Is it starting to work? Hmmm who knows until I open the box to find out on Friday

 

[Devaji]

how did this go for you?

 

[Rshahnyc]

Grew a bunch of dark slime. No significant harvestable algae. I posted about how it wasn't working and @SantaMonica responded. He/She had me clean out the collection box again with a toothbrush until was thoroughly cleaned/mostly white. This was last Wednesday. I checked the box this morning no significant growth, mostly looking white still. Will keep watching. Hopefully I'll get the correct growth by the end of month.

 

[SantaMonica]

White means too much light. Cover half the light with the included black shade cloth.

 

[Devaji]

Grew a bunch of dark slime. No significant harvestable algae. I posted about how it wasn't working and @SantaMonica responded. He/She had me clean out the collection box again with a toothbrush until was thoroughly cleaned/mostly white. This was last Wednesday. I checked the box this morning no significant growth, mostly looking white still. Will keep watching. Hopefully I'll get the correct growth by the end of month.

how it works for you. I am thinking about adding one to my LPS reef.

I have a waterfall scrubber on a 200 FO tank its doing a great job so far.
plz do keep us posted.