Algae scrubber as bio filter.

[markstrimaran]

Their are lots of variables at work. That what I hope to find. Lights are the single most important part of the cycle. My tank with the most 660nm spectrum. Produce the most algea.

If it is working, nitrate creep should be diminished. My middle (green tank) only fluctuates from 15ppm. Too 20ppm with just a weekly 32% water change. Over the last 12 months. Some thing is going on.


My top (log) tank, is on a 36% weekly water change. Eventually it gets a fin level, once it creeps into the mid 30ppm. This tank has the built in algea scrubber, with a added sand reactor.
I will be removing the sand reactor, after I get more data.
Too bad, I am working 55 hrs a week. Goto go.

 

[markstrimaran]

 

[markstrimaran]

Started some new balls, and toying around with a reactor, that will fit in my upstairs sump.
The clear acrylic, prototype. Fluidised algea reactor. Should be able to pack about 200 square inches of scrubber area into a 5"x5" area.

 

[markstrimaran]

15 ppm nitrates,
5 leds, 5 algea balls, Feeding 1/2 tsp 2x day.

Oh and I broke my heater, doing a water change. View attachment 1288398
If need to I can run 1 ball. With a quart jar, in the waterfall drop.

Update

6 day later and nitrates are at 22ppm from 15ppm. With 5 balls in motion.

The 400 watt engine coolant heater needs 2hrs on once ever 24hr to hold 74 F.

Still waiting on a ammonia test kit. In the mail.Got a new ammonia alert. However the old one has not registered ammonia at all in the last week.

 

[Richard203]

just got my self a santa moncia algea scrubber let see how my nitrate goes.

 

[markstrimaran]

I was sick last week, so I never checked the tank much.
My api ammonia test, is reveiling slight levels, which the sea chem does not show.

It is hard to tell. .25 from .50ppm with the api color card. I need a picture with the vials, so I can compare better. Kind of like the nitrate test.
I am guessing this is a trivial amount. The left is my tap water, the right is from my well cycled cichlid tank, with all the algea.

The test is too vague for me to make use off.

 

[markstrimaran]

I also just noticed, the Api test reads .25 ppm as first color. Were the sea chem reads .05 ppm as first color. I was thinking the .5ppm api was to equal the .05 ppm sea chem.

 

[markstrimaran]

This might help.

 

[tarheel96]

You can crosscheck those test results with the seachem NH3 test using the Free Ammonia Calculator below.
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/FreeAmmonia.php

1 ppm NH3 + NH4 at pH 7.9 is almost 0.05 NH3. I think you're at a lower pH though.

You've definitely proven that algae scrubbers can be used as a biofilter. Congratulations! You could even add pressurized CO2 like in a planted tank. Growth rate could increase by 2-3x if light and nutrients aren't limiting.

 

[markstrimaran]

You can crosscheck those test results with the seachem NH3 test using the Free Ammonia Calculator below.
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/FreeAmmonia.php

1 ppm NH3 + NH4 at pH 7.9 is almost 0.05 NH3. I think you're at a lower pH though.

You've definitely proven that algae scrubbers can be used as a biofilter. Congratulations! You could even add pressurized CO2 like in a planted tank. Growth rate could increase by 2-3x if light and nutrients aren't limiting.

This is something new, I will need to learn. So my ammonia levels, are going to vary with Ph.