Algae scrubber and silicate dosing?

[Miami Reef]

Has anyone observed what grows in an algae scrubber when you dose silicate?

Will diatoms grow or will it still be turf algae?

I bought my first algae scrubber, and I dosed silicate. I’m leaving the scrubber lights on 24/7 until I get algae growth.

I don’t have a preference on the algae. The silicate dose was unrelated to the algae scrubber.

 

[Seansea]

You will get all kinds of nastys in there. I dont dose silicates but your screen and the box itself will have every kind of funk you can think of.

 

[Garf]

Has anyone observed what grows in an algae scrubber when you dose silicate?

Will diatoms grow or will it still be turf algae?

I bought my first algae scrubber, and I dosed silicate. I’m leaving the scrubber lights on 24/7 until I get algae growth.

I don’t have a preference on the algae. The silicate dose was unrelated to the algae scrubber.

Diatoms normally populated the screen first anyhow. They almost always are replaced by hair eventually.