Algae scrubber as bio filter.

[le0p]

Had a busy weekend but I have a quick update...

I checked out the local stream while out on my run this weekend, it's mostly moss like this:



This stream goes on for about 2 miles through the woods and I stopped every couple minutes to take a look. After 3 or 4 stops I pretty much wrote it off, it was all moss. Then about a 1/4 mile from parting ways with the stream I heard it roaring pretty loud and just decided to take a look for the hell of it and saw this:



Which definitely looks like some algae! The moss when underwater turns dark and is obviously not meant to be submerged but this is nice and bright and flowed with the water so I'm assuming a hair algae of some kind. I plan to go up there tomorrow to collect a sample. Any advice on how to introduce it? Should it be quarantined?

I didn't have time to perform my usual maintenance this weekend so I have to do it tonight, but I pulled the scrubber and took a pic to update here, looks like some growth already though mostly brown film, I do see some green specs in there:



I added a lot of lace rock in this tank and some of it had some heavy green hues from old algae growth on it, so I wouldn't be too surprised if it introduced some green stuff.

 

[markstrimaran]

I used a plastic canvas, rouphed up, anchored in the stream, as there was nothing actually visable moss and silt covered rocks.

All you need is a teaspoon, to get it started. I would quarantine it for snails and ick.

 

[markstrimaran]

I used a plastic canvas, rouphed up, anchored in the stream, as there was nothing actually visable moss and silt covered rocks.

All you need is a teaspoon, to get it started. I would quarantine it for snails and ick.

For snails and ick if your unsure.
I used a blender, to chop up the algea into tiny bits. Then spread the paste on the screen. The algea might need a adjustment period to acclimate to the 660nm red leds.

A hard rock mineral screen is going to hold it better than plastic. I have no experience with the Santa Monica screens, just plastic canvas, and my sand conglomerate screen.

 

[jaws7777]

I would definitely try some sort of qt. Good luck man

 

[le0p]

Thanks, I'll have to set something up to quarantine this as I've only got one tank going at the moment. Maybe a large jar with a air pump and a desk lamp would work? I'll hold off on collecting until I have someplace to QT. In the meantime, going to see how the scrubber continues to grow and maybe I won't even need it.

I do have concerns with putting an unknown wild algae from a stream running through old coal mining territory into a stable tank so I'm going to want to do a long QT with this if it's needed.

 

[markstrimaran]

A new and authentic 2700k CFL 13 watt or better. Will keep it alive and thriving.

I have been regularly rinsing mine with straight chlorinated tap water, without any adverse effects.

Just a jar with no air bubbler, just keep it illuminated, and weekly drain it and refill with strait tap water. My nitrates are 10ppm on tap. You might need a trace of 10-10-10 fertilizer grains, if your water is mostly from hard rock streams.

 

[jaws7777]

A new and authentic 2700k CFL 13 watt or better. Will keep it alive and thriving.

I have been regularly rinsing mine with straight chlorinated tap water, without any adverse effects.

Just a jar with no air bubbler, just keep it illuminated, and weekly drain it and refill with strait tap water. My nitrates are 10ppm on tap. You might need a trace of 10-10-10 fertilizer grains, if your water is mostly from hard rock streams.

View attachment 1308131
View attachment 1308130

Thats impressive growth man.
Seriously tempting me to give this another go

 

[le0p]

Thats impressive growth man.

Seriously! That's awesome.

I haven't had a chance to get up to the stream this week, but I'll run past it again tomorrow so I'm going to bring a little collection bottle with me and grab some on the way. Going to pick up some quick cure as well, great idea!

 

[le0p]

Update on algae in the scrubber, this 2 weeks from initial setup:



Haven't done anything with the stream algae just yet. I had a container ready but I forgot it when I left for the trail, I was running late and by the time i realized I was too far to go back. I checked the same spot though and there's more now so I'm sure supply will continue to be available. Going to pick up the treatment this week and try and get a sample this weekend.

So far I seem to be getting decent growth so I'm not sure if I'll need it or not, I removed the screen that reduces light in the scrubber and will see how things go when I pop it open next weekend!

 

[jaws7777]

Update on algae in the scrubber, this 2 weeks from initial setup:

View attachment 1308978

Haven't done anything with the stream algae just yet. I had a container ready but I forgot it when I left for the trail, I was running late and by the time i realized I was too far to go back. I checked the same spot though and there's more now so I'm sure supply will continue to be available. Going to pick up the treatment this week and try and get a sample this weekend.

So far I seem to be getting decent growth so I'm not sure if I'll need it or not, I removed the screen that reduces light in the scrubber and will see how things go when I pop it open next weekend!

Have you noticed a reduction in nitrates ?