Turf scrubber only growing slime algae?

[Miami Reef]

I see photos of rich, green turf algae that people harvest from their scrubbers, but mine looked slimy and thin.

I haven’t used my scrubber in several months, but I’m trying again.

This is what they grow in the same scrubber that I have:

This is what mine grew a few months back:

I kept my flow in the scrubber nice and strong. I used the same lighting that the above photo used. I dosed trace elements, and my nutrients weren’t bottomed out.


Is it a matter of introducing the turf algae? Does my tank simply lack it?

 

[KrisReef]

You got it, just not enough nutrients in the water or perhaps slow down the flow and see if the growth doesn't uptick? I dont have one of these, but my fuge cycles on and off with nutrients and growth, ?

 

[Garf]

I see photos of rich, green turf algae that people harvest from their scrubbers, but mine looked slimy and thin.

I haven’t used my scrubber in several months, but I’m trying again.

This is what they grow in the same scrubber that I have:

This is what mine grew a few months back:

I kept my flow in the scrubber nice and strong. I used the same lighting that the above photo used. I dosed trace elements, and my nutrients weren’t bottomed out.


Is it a matter of introducing the turf algae? Does my tank simply lack it?

Screen doesn't look very rough. Below is Turbos vid;

 

[LavenderTi]

My scrubber has been doing the same for the past year. Santa Monica said high nutrients can cause slime to grow but mine are 9 ppm nitrates and 0.06 ppm phosphate.

 

[VintageReefer]

I see photos of rich, green turf algae that people harvest from their scrubbers, but mine looked slimy and thin.

I haven’t used my scrubber in several months, but I’m trying again.

This is what they grow in the same scrubber that I have:

This is what mine grew a few months back:

I kept my flow in the scrubber nice and strong. I used the same lighting that the above photo used. I dosed trace elements, and my nutrients weren’t bottomed out.


Is it a matter of introducing the turf algae? Does my tank simply lack it?

you can’t introduce turf algae. If I was to send you mine it would die. It just doesn’t work like that you need to grow your own

Clean the slime it will prevent turf from growing. You probably will have to do this a few times. The screen needs to be rough so turf algae can root. If that’s knitting screen and is smooth you can use a drill bit for making holes (like a 1.5-2”) and rough it all up with that

Keep clearing the slime, give the screen a good cleaning each time and eventually turf willl grow. The slime makes the surface too slick and prevents turf from rooting

 

[Miami Reef]

I didn’t roughen the pad because the vendor’s picture above uses the same pad that I use. It can’t be from the sheet itself.

I use the same scrubber and light from the picture above, but the algae I grew was so thin and slimy. It was not turf algae.

Either I don’t have the turf algae strain or the vinegar dosing is causing the pad to be too slick.


Nevertheless, I removed the algae scrubber unit. The filter sock that comes with the scrubber gets slimy and clogs quickly, and without it the water splashes (salt creep) and makes a lot of noise.

I’m just going to use vinegar to maintain nitrate.

 

[exnisstech]

Nevertheless, I removed the algae scrubber unit. The filter sock that comes with the scrubber gets slimy and clogs quickly, and without it the water splashes and makes a lot of noise.

Filter socks for the scrubber?

 

[Miami Reef]

Filter socks for the scrubber?

Yes. Mine is a big hang-on-back unit.

 

[AKReefing]

It looks like GHA. When you scrape it off and squeeze the water out, you'll find out that it's fibrous. Regardless, you're exporting nitrate and phosphate. Both are plant fertilizers.

 

[Miami Reef]

Screen doesn't look very rough. Below is Turbos vid;

I am trying again.

I roughened the screen with a jagged knife. I also stopped carbon dosing since last week; perhaps the bacteria film inhibited the turf algae growth.

I’ll report back with updates.

 

[Luisn17]

I am trying again.

I roughened the screen with a jagged knife. I also stopped carbon dosing since last week; perhaps the bacteria film inhibited the turf algae growth.

I’ll report back with updates.

That’s how mine looked in the beginning and eventually it became the lush kind you are after. But later on I learned that if I let it become too thick, the inner layer does not leave a layer behind for regrowth when I scrap it off. Then I have to wait longer for it to regrow. I scrap my screen once a week now. I also carbon dose since the scrubber is not enough to keep my phosphate down.

 

[reefer2/19/24]

I see photos of rich, green turf algae that people harvest from their scrubbers, but mine looked slimy and thin.

I haven’t used my scrubber in several months, but I’m trying again.

This is what they grow in the same scrubber that I have:

This is what mine grew a few months back:

I kept my flow in the scrubber nice and strong. I used the same lighting that the above photo used. I dosed trace elements, and my nutrients weren’t bottomed out.


Is it a matter of introducing the turf algae? Does my tank simply lack it?

So I have a Rain2 scrubber and noticed that it was overflowing the tray and making a lot of noise! Pulled out the entire unit and noticed it was curved. I called and talked to Brian and he had me take some pictures and email him. He quickly replaced the tray for free! Then instructed me to only run 2 lights the unit has 4 and give it 2 weeks and call him back with pictures. I was growing slime like nobody's business! So I am hopeful that turning the lights down will grow turf algae. Looked yesterday and not much of anything growing. I'm 4 days in and fingers crossed it works. According to Brian too much light inhibits turf growth when setting one of these up and you'll get slime vs turf algae.

 

[reefer2/19/24]

My scrubber has been doing the same for the past year. Santa Monica said high nutrients can cause slime to grow but mine are 9 ppm nitrates and 0.06 ppm phosphate.

How many lights are you running? I started with all 4 but was told by Brian at Santa Monica you have to start with 2 lights for a while until you get turf and then you can add the other 2 lights. And you only in the beginning light 1 side of the screen. And that when you clean it you don't scrape it off and you put the entire unit in the sink and use a scrub brush for cleaning..
So I am following his advice and I believe that he knows what he is talking about as he is the manufacturer for the Rain2.

 

[BryanM]

Is it a matter of introducing the turf algae? Does my tank simply lack it?

I just started my journey with an ATS.

If you're running lights 24x7, you might reduce that to 18hrs a day.

I was also told that you need to be patient, and most people give up before getting the results they want.

 

[LavenderTi]

What’s been everyone’s feedback after these months? I’m considering taking mine offline and going with a sulfur denitrator and lanthanum chloride for phosphates.

 

[BryanM]

What’s been everyone’s feedback after these months? I’m considering taking mine offline and going with a sulfur denitrator and lanthanum chloride for phosphates.

I love mine, I know @exnisstech and @VintageReefer love theirs.

Lanthanum comes with its own set of risks, and I'm not sure I'd like that for a long term strategy for phosphate control

 

[VintageReefer]

What’s been everyone’s feedback after these months? I’m considering taking mine offline and going with a sulfur denitrator and lanthanum chloride for phosphates.

I’ve been using just a scrubber for a decade

Lanthanum is effective but extremely risky

Why would you consider removing the scrubber? What issue are you having?

 

[LavenderTi]

I’ve been using just a scrubber for a decade

Lanthanum is effective but extremely risky

Why would you consider removing the scrubber? What issue are you having?

I’ve been using it for over a year and all it grows is slime algae. I clean the screen completely - scrubbing it completely and rinsing in the sink. I dose traces and recently upped my iron dosing to see if that will help.

My main frustration with the ATS is that my nitrates and phosphates are rising. It’s a Rain4 which is supposed to handle ~4 frozen cubes per day. I feed less than that and my nutrients are still climbing. I’d prefer to feed more but the system can’t support it yet without changing my methods.

 

[Miami Reef]

I’ve been using it for over a year and all it grows is slime algae. I clean the screen completely - scrubbing it completely and rinsing in the sink. I dose traces and recently upped my iron dosing to see if that will help.

My main frustration with the ATS is that my nitrates and phosphates are rising. It’s a Rain4 which is supposed to handle ~4 frozen cubes per day. I feed less than that and my nutrients are still climbing. I’d prefer to feed more but the system can’t support it yet without changing my methods.

I’m trying again and so far it’s just the slime algae. I’m half convinced the turf needs to be introduced to the tank. I might try buying a piece of turf and gluing it to the scrubber.

 

[VintageReefer]

I’m trying again and so far it’s just the slime algae. I’m half convinced the turf needs to be introduced to the tank. I might try buying a piece of turf and gluing it to the scrubber.

Won’t work