Tank is 300gallon sump 75gallons, have lots of fish feed 2x a day 6 cubes and 6 pinches of flake total a day. Vertical water fall type. screen size 12x8. flow for scrubber return 1 gallon in 16 seconds if math is right 225gph. feeding off return from sump. using 4 30w http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ue&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A1AKFXA5SBNHIA leds on 16 hours a day. my sump is designed for filter socks, but removed last week. next chamber in sump is skimmer, but turn that off last week too. can I run filter socks and my skimmer with a scrubber setup correctly? I really don't know what is the issue, if anyone could me.
Can you post a picture of your screen growth currently? That might help with the diagnosis. How many hours/day do you run the lights? Do you run all 4 of them at the same time? I'm assuming you have 2 more on the other side, correct me if that is wrong. Overall: If screen is 12" wide and 8" tall (that's what it appear) then the target flow should be 35 GPH/in x 12 = 420, you're at more like 19 GPH/in which isn't bad in the grand scheme of things, but your lighting is very intense for that level of flow, which might be causing photosaturation. Going by the LED guidelines for a stock fixture: Lighting: LED You have 12x8=96 sq in. 0.25W/sq in of screen means ~25W per side, so you're double that, and those fixtures have pretty good output so this leads me to think photosaturation could very well be the issue. Too much light and not enough flow. For those fixtures, you can diffuse the light a bit and knock down the intensity by cutting a very small square of diffuser material and taping it to the splash shield, right in front of the multichip. You only need about 1 sq in and tape it on with either double-stick clear tape or clear scotch tape. This stuff: Shop PLASKOLITE 7.85-sq ft Prism Ceiling Light Panel (Common: 24-in x 48-in; Actual: 47.75-in x 23.75-in) at Lowes.com Back to your screen size, 96 sq in / 12 = 8 cubes/day so you're good there. I would increase flow no matter what, and get back to me on how your lighting is configured.
This is 2 weeks growth. Currently have 4 30w leds running 16hrs 2 in front 2 in back. I can remove 2 leds so only 1 in front and back and add that light diffuser panel if you think that would help. Screen I noticed no growth were screen holders are, I'm cutting narrow to a 1/4" now. After cutting screen holders water is flowing over whole screen. Ill increase flow to 420gph. Anymore suggestions?
Age of screen was another question. 2 weeks is not a lot so give it time with the increased flow. That isn't a bad start for 2 weeks. I would change anything else quite yet. You have growth where there is flow so that does not say photosaturation to me. Leave lighting as is
So after months. Attached is a photo of 3weeks of growth which doesn't seem good. I did increase flow to 35gph like you suggested. Lights are currently 15hrs which maybe to much? I didn't add diffuser panel, but thinking about doing that this weekend. Could the issue be how its plumbed. I'm feeding it off manifold from return pump. Should I feed with return line which is herbie style? This would allow it to be ran before skimmer and not after skimmer in sump or does this not matter? Any ideas?
0 nitrate ,0 nitrite, 0 ammonia but also using 3 marinepure 8x8x4 ceramic blocks in sump. phospates were .1 before cleaning screen last week, .03 after cleaning screen yesterday. that's using red sea's test kits, buying hanna checkers. I'm stilling having to clean glass in tank every 3-4 days on front and side glass. 1 week on back glass.
I would clean it more frequently. Two weeks max between cleanings. The growth is dark, which would normally indicate high nutrient levels and/or low light, but your lighting should be fine. Definitely don't decrease it. If it is too strong you usually see light green and yellow areas on the screen.
Tanks about 2 years old. Fish/live rock only. This is last week, one week only This is this week, one week I been having to clean glass every 3 days. Also have Peyssonnelia algae which I heard is a type of coralline algae growing on rocks and anything plastic in tank. Its hard to scarp off and velvet to the touch. Was testing phosphates w salifest test. just got hanna checker phosphates are 0.00 0 nitrate ,0 nitrite, 0 ammonia w red sea kit but also using 3 marinepure 8x8x4 ceramic blocks..
