Cw-200 algae scrubber can’t harvest for 5 weeks

[Jeff Crawford]

Cw -200 algae scrubber question. I must leave for 5 weeks , everything is basically automatic but will tbe scrubber clog up in 5 weeks? How long can you go without a harvest? Can you slow the growth with shorter time or set for too many hours to slow by burn ?

 

[blaxsun]

You could always turn it off...

 

[Arego]

Reduce photo period, slow down flow, set to turn off during the night or day, or as stated turn it off.

 

[Jeff Crawford]

Thanks,

Reduce photo period, slow down flow, set to turn off during the night or day, or as stated turn it off.

Anyone know how long it goes before clogging?

 

[Biokabe]

Thanks,


Anyone know how long it goes before clogging?

That would entirely depend on flow, lighting, photo period and tank nutrients. In other words, for some people it would clog in a week, for others they could probably go for months.,

 

[BanjoBandito]

Thanks,


Anyone know how long it goes before clogging?

Mine on an 18 hour light cycle takes about 3 weeks to be totally clogged and overflowing. Don’t ask how I know.

 

[Jeff Crawford]

That would entirely depend on flow, lighting, photo period and tank nutrients. In other words, for some people it would clog in a week, for others they could probably go for months.,

thank you

 

[Jeff Crawford]

Mine on an 18 hour light cycle takes about 3 weeks to be totally clogged and overflowing. Don’t ask how I know.

I see, do you think it would slow down at a say,,,6 hour light cycle?

 

[BanjoBandito]

I see, do you think it would slow down at a say,,,6 hour light cycle?

yes I think it would but it may not hold the numbers you want due to lack of growth. I’m kinda in the “experimenting phase” with mine so I’ve been watching it like a hawk and monitoring photo periods. I was using 8 hours after I bottomed out my nitrates at 24/7 and the screen would not fill in like it does now on 18 hours. I’m not sure if it would ever get “full” on that low of hours though. I’ve never purposefully tried to clog it via lack of cleaning.

 

[BanjoBandito]

At 6 hours would it really be doing anything nutrient reduction wise? I’m not sure. Probably SOMETHING….but if I was willing to run it at 6 hours I’d probably be willing just to keep the lights off for a few weeks if I was gone or get someone to clean it 2 or 3 times while I’m gone and not alter the current light period.

 

[Jeff Crawford]

thanks for your input, I am attempting to find a person that would come over and get into that muck otherwise I may just have to shut it down before I get home

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

If your system can otherwise go without the scrubber running, take the screen out and scrape/rinse, and secure it in the sump so that it says wet. The algae will survive for a long time with very little light, as long as it stays wet. You can even put it in a bucket/tray with some tank water, outside of the tank. The screen might look pretty dead/white when you get back, but it will pop right back.

That's the safe bet.

Otherwise, as others have said, dial the flow back, give it light only in short bursts (an hour or so, 2-3x per day) and that will keep it alive also. Scrape well and rinse well before you leave (you don't need to "scrub" it). The only downside for this approach is that if you have some kind of clog, and the screen doesn't get water, you'll cook it and then you'll have to soak in vinegar and start from scratch. Or if the water creeps out of the box (somehow) then you have water on the floor. Neither of these are highly likely, but I try to go by Murphy's Laws.

 

[Jeff Crawford]

If your system can otherwise go without the scrubber running, take the screen out and scrape/rinse, and secure it in the sump so that it says wet. The algae will survive for a long time with very little light, as long as it stays wet. You can even put it in a bucket/tray with some tank water, outside of the tank. The screen might look pretty dead/white when you get back, but it will pop right back.

That's the safe bet.

Otherwise, as others have said, dial the flow back, give it light only in short bursts (an hour or so, 2-3x per day) and that will keep it alive also. Scrape well and rinse well before you leave (you don't need to "scrub" it). The only downside for this approach is that if you have some kind of clog, and the screen doesn't get water, you'll cook it and then you'll have to soak in vinegar and start from scratch. Or if the water creeps out of the box (somehow) then you have water on the floor. Neither of these are highly likely, but I try to go by Murphy's Laws.

Thats some good advice, thank you very much