Turf scrubber only growing slime algae?

[KStatefan]

I have continued to scrub mine clean twice per week as recommend here and still just get this gold/brown growth. I will continue to do that. Last two cleanings.

 

[Miami Reef]

Do your lights have a dimmable feature?

 

[KStatefan]

Do your lights have a dimmable feature?

No

 

[Miami Reef]

No

How many watts is it using? I think it’s ridiculous to assume not cleaning it enough is the cause of this. I think it’s absolutely preposterous.

I don’t believe there is too much light FYI.

 

[iannarelli]

Hey OP! I purchased a Clearwater V2 CW-50 at the end of last year and have had it running since about early March. I haven't dialed back the lights (they run 24/7) and I was getting brown and green slime only when I'd remember to clean the screen. Recently it was making a lot of noise, so I figured I should stop being lazy and clean it and lo and behold, this is what I was greeted with:

I think, like others are saying, it just takes a while for it to show up. I was shocked, and for the longest time was just "meh" about the unit. I have mine ed by an IOAOI return pump, set to speed 2. Hope this helps!

 

[Miami Reef]

Hey OP! I purchased a Clearwater V2 CW-50 at the end of last year and have had it running since about early March. I haven't dialed back the lights (they run 24/7) and I was getting brown and green slime only when I'd remember to clean the screen. Recently it was making a lot of noise, so I figured I should stop being lazy and clean it and lo and behold, this is what I was greeted with:

I think, like others are saying, it just takes a while for it to show up. I was shocked, and for the longest time was just "meh" about the unit. I have mine ed by an IOAOI return pump, set to speed 2. Hope this helps!

Okay good. I actually set my lights to 24/7 last night. So I’ll just continue what I’m doing: clean the screen when it gets full.

I stopped checking on it daily because the current growth takes a bit long. I’ll check once a week or so. I think having the “I don’t care” attitude will work for me because I’m growing stuff, but it’s just not the dense growth that will make difference in O₂.

 

[iannarelli]

Hey OP! I purchased a Clearwater V2 CW-50 at the end of last year and have had it running since about early March. I haven't dialed back the lights (they run 24/7) and I was getting brown and green slime only when I'd remember to clean the screen. Recently it was making a lot of noise, so I figured I should stop being lazy and clean it and lo and behold, this is what I was greeted with:

I think, like others are saying, it just takes a while for it to show up. I was shocked, and for the longest time was just "meh" about the unit. I have mine ed by an IOAOI return pump, set to speed 2. Hope this helps!

Okay good. I actually set my lights to 24/7 last night. So I’ll just continue what I’m doing: clean the screen when it gets full.

I stopped checking on it daily because the current growth takes a bit long. I’ll check once a week or so. I think having the “I don’t care” attitude will work for me because I’m growing stuff, but it’s just not the dense growth that will make difference in O₂.

Not thst im advocating this, but i went a lot longer than a week before checking. But i news to be better. Ill ipen it up today and see what the growth looks like and post another photo. The previous one was from 8/17, and i havent look at it since.

 

[LavenderTi]

Here’s how I’m looking these days.

 

[Miami Reef]

Progress! This was 1.5 weeks of growth. I set the algae scrubber photoperiod to 12 hours a few days ago. I’m curious to see what the next harvest will look like.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

Needs 24 hours light, and/or a stronger light

 

[exnisstech]

Progress! This was 1.5 weeks of growth. I set the algae scrubber photoperiod to 12 hours a few days ago. I’m curious to see what the next harvest will look like.

snf

It's interesting how different the algae is that grows in the units using the screens vs what grows in my floating surf and surf x scrubbers. That stuff is just disgusting looking. I wonder if the surf has more intense lighting or if the fact its it uses an air pump vs a water pump has anything to do with it?
Any opinion @SantaMonica

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Progress! This was 1.5 weeks of growth. I set the algae scrubber photoperiod to 12 hours a few days ago. I’m curious to see what the next harvest will look like.

I would not have scraped that at all, I would have only rinsed off under medium pressure room temp water and rubbed with fingertips or swiped with palm to get rid of the gooey dark slime. Leave behind all the GHA, that's not thick enough to block light. Leaving all the GHA behind at a stage like this allows the GHA to maintain a foothold. I wouldn't say scraping it now is a mistake, just not what I would do.

FYI for next time, just rinse it. If you start to get clumps of GHA growth, like balls or thick spots forming on the screen that protrude out further than the rest of the mat, pick away at those leaving about 25% behind.

 

[Miami Reef]

Needs 24 hours light, and/or a stronger light

Sure. Seems like the longer photoperiod has been working thus far. I'll keep it. I just assumed algae would prefer to have a respirating period.

It's interesting how different the algae is that grows in the units using the screens vs what grows in my floating surf and surf x scrubbers. That stuff is just disgusting looking. I wonder if the surf has more intense lighting or if the fact its it uses an air pump vs a water pump has anything to do with it?
Any opinion @SantaMonica

I think different scrubber environments plays a massive role on what algae thrives in it. The ones that need to grow on a turf scrubber must have a strong adhesion to the screen from the waterfall against gravity. The surf style has a more mellow environment, and it explains why almost all surf users grow a very similar "fluffy" strain.

I would not have scraped that at all, I would have only rinsed off under medium pressure room temp water and rubbed with fingertips or swiped with palm to get rid of the gooey dark slime. Leave behind all the GHA, that's not thick enough to block light. Leaving all the GHA behind at a stage like this allows the GHA to maintain a foothold. I wouldn't say scraping it now is a mistake, just not what I would do.

FYI for next time, just rinse it. If you start to get clumps of GHA growth, like balls or thick spots forming on the screen that protrude out further than the rest of the mat, pick away at those leaving about 25% behind.

Sure thing. I'll rub off the slime next time instead of fully scraping it clean. Thank you for letting me know.

I'll keep everyone posted, and I really appreciate all the help I've been receiving.

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s working!

 

[KStatefan]

Wish this thread was still active.

I still just get brown gunk

 

[iannarelli]

Wish this thread was still active.

I still just get brown gunk

It took mine a while of running 24/7 for it to show up. Admittedly my tank is heavily stocked and I feed a bunch so that probably helped.

 

[EliMelly]

RIP Baruch

 

[1ocean]

Wish this thread was still active.

I still just get brown gunk

sorry to hear your not happy with the results so far. Clean off the screen.. Get some 80 grit sand paper and lighly sand the screen to rough it up some. This will create better surface for alga to hold on too. ..I am here if you have questions...

 

[1ocean]

I also found that a light mix of red and white grows best...