i got an algae scrubber

[russ13]

update...... im getting a lot of algae growth on the screen now. gonna move up to 14 hours of light, I will keep increasing the light time about every 4 days until its starts to get that bald spot in the middle of the screen. but it really looks like its taking off.still haven't noticed that much of a difference in my display area yet. but if algae is growing on the screen I know it is taking nutrients out of my water. my nitrate test is very low but it was just as low before I started using this. I am still doing my water changes and running gfo and chemipure, don't think I will change my reefing habits but I am happy with the results so far. sorry for the bad pic I was to lazy to take the scrubber out

 

[jayhawk]

Just ordered two HOG .5 for my 28 nano's. I should get them tomorrow. I will also keep the thread up-to-date. My more seasoned tank doesn't really need it but I would like to get rid of the skimmer. It's HOB and gets in the way when changing media. The other nano is getting some algae and I do not want to stop overfeeding my corals/fish.

13 days after installation. I have two HOG .5. Both are used in 28 gallon nano's. The screens are as clean as they were the day I installed them. I used a 10 hour timer to run my light cycle. I had good bubbles at both of the unit. I seeded the screens with existing algae as directed. Both tanks had phos at .08. Nitrates are not an issue. One tank was getting a bad green hair bloom. Nothing changed. I was getting algae hazing on the glass every other day. This also did not change. The salt creep was minimum. The added noise is relative to the bubbler but it was tolerable. I have the magnetic version and it liked to slide down the glass out of position. I fixed it by using a sticking back wire tie holder. I placed it below the unit. Although I am in the 13th day, I am not sure this is for me. I think the seller makes and packages a nice product so I respect that. I have nothing bad to say about the seller. I read some of the other posts and it seems to be working for some reefers.

 

[Emac909]

I just cleaned my scrubber this morning.

All the junk that I pulled off the scrubber

 

[russ13]

wow that's a big screen. how often do you clean it?

 

[Emac909]

Every Sunday morning or when I get to it, every weekend for sure. But I'm a every heavy feeder.

 

[russ13]

here is a better shot of my screen.. I am thinking of adding another one if this one takes off. I have been looking to add a skimmer but I want to keep my lid and media rack so there is no room at all. I don't like the way aquapods have no room for anything behind there false wall, if I had it to do over again I would have gone with a different nano. but im liking what the scrubber is doing so far..

 

[SantaMonica]

Jay can you post pics of the screen? If possible, a vid of the bubbles too.

A tank with lots of algae in the display will usually start slower, but it still should have some green by now.

 

[SantaMonica]

Also, as for the unit sliding down, make sure the surfaces have been roughed up (we use sandpaper), and also that they are with their matched pair (they won't work if they are switched.)

A trick is to put a feather thin layer of silicone glue on the outside surface.

However if the glass is 1/4" or less, it should hold.

 

[russ13]

so I did my first cleaning today. lots of hair, cyno, and even corline algaes. when I went to clean the back of the screen it came off. bummed at first but I just used a little supper glue and it went back on fine. now we will see how long it takes to get dirty again

 

[SchnitzelReef]

They are built very cheap.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[SantaMonica]

Yikes!

Glad you were able to glue it back.

 

[russ13]

yeah it was easy its working fine now

 

[russ13]

after doing some more homework I decided to go with a bigger air pump. its getting a lot better an more even air flow now. im going to use the other pump for another DIY project in the works

 

[Emac909]

Cleaned my screen last Sunday this is what I got

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-y-_sJ2RM

The vid is a little over 7 min long but wanted to show how much junk I am getting out of my tank with the ats.

Yes I boom barding the site with this. I'll put the hidef up when I get home.

 

[russ13]

very nice

 

[russ13]

11 days after the first cleaning of the screen and its already packed with hair algae again. its seems like it took a lot longer to get it going but now it is really making some algae. im still thinking about adding another one

 

[SantaMonica]

Update pics!!

 

[russ13]

now I am breaking down the tank I have the algae scrubber on. my new tank I will be setting up is a 65 gallon. I now have 2 hog.5 I am not sure if I am going to use one or both of them on the new tank. it all depends on the room I have left in the sump and if they will fit.

 

[russ13]

My old tank is down and my new tank is up. A friend of mine bought the tank from me and wanted to use the algae scrubber out but I picked up a few one for the new tank. It's been in for a few days but the tank is new and a very clean running system so I think it's going to take a while to get filled up. Here is a pic of the scrubber in my sump.

 

[russ13]

Scrubber running on the new tank is showing growth already. It surprises me because there is almost no hair algae growing at all in the display.