DIY Algae scrubber

[jaws7777]

Seachems reply to the lower gph (20ish range)


Thank you for your email. At a flow rate below 50 GPH, the difference in flow rates only really matter with regards to how it impacts the circulation of the tank and the delivery of nutrients to bacteria. At a certain point, the bacteria will start to be limited by how much nitrate they are receiving in new water. A lower flow rate does not mean that more bacteria will be growing. I'd suspect that 20 GPH would somewhat limit bacteria growth, but not to an extreme degree

 

[tarheel96]

I stopped dosing ridx not knowing if it would impact the anerobic bb....thoughts ? Rd said he wasnt sure

The bacteria in Ridx are heterotrophic like the anaerobic denitrifying bacteria so they both need and use carbon. The Ridx bacteria should lower the organic carbon levels in the water column and impact them in that way. I don't know how much of a difference it would make though.

I think this would be more of a problem after adding Ridx when the bacteria are mostly in the water column.

 

[jaws7777]

The bacteria in Ridx are heterotrophic like the anaerobic denitrifying bacteria so they both need and use carbon. The Ridx bacteria should lower the organic carbon levels in the water column and impact them in that way. I don't know how much of a difference it would make though.

I think this would be more of a problem after adding Ridx when the bacteria are mostly in the water column.

so you think i would be ok using the ridx in my set up ?

 

[tarheel96]

How often do you dose with ridx normally?

 

[jaws7777]

How often do you dose with ridx normally?

Every wc but havent in a few weeks

 

[kno4te]

My last wc was about a week ago (little over). The right tube is the tank. The left tube is out of the denitrator. Just fed and will recheck in several days. Fingers crossed.

 

[jaws7777]

Impressive. So 3 to 4 weeks is when you noticed reduction ?

What are nitrates down from ?
Thx for posting...giving me hope

View attachment 1247699 My last wc was about a week ago (little over). The right tube is the tank. The left tube is out of the denitrator. Just fed and will recheck in several days. Fingers crossed.

 

[kno4te]

Around the 3 week mark when it would stay at about 20ppm pretty regularly. No changes to feeding and water change was reduced to once a week. Was 20ppm for several weeks.

 

[markstrimaran]

Well, my 150 watt light, shorted out, the copper etched on the aluminum, dissolved due to a pin hole in the epoxy coating.
Theirs hope as the single bulb 3 watt, is still going strong. I have a 5 led chain keeping the scrubber alive, until the new lights arrive soon.

I started dosing potassium and sulfate, so far it has doubled, algae production. I have mixed up a slurry of the two, and adding 3 cc, apx 10 ppm by volume.

 

[jaws7777]

Do you guys see any issues with the pump beong so close to the heaters ? Warmer water has less oxygen right so should be fine ?