Algae scrubber as bio filter.

[markstrimaran]

Changed out filter socks, wow ...

The 1000 baby snails that hatched inside the sock between cleanings.

Then the 2 000 midge fly larve. (Micro water skipper).

It had about a full cup of sludge/ algea mix. Odorless, but starting to add nitrates.

 

[markstrimaran]

Hold in a jar until it goes anoxic, and everything climbs the wall. Then gently pour out the detris..

Spray down the jar with clean water.

The snails float, the worms get suspended.
Then open the spigot ( on the jar) and flush all the fly larve into the fry grow out tank.

Very entertaining, I forgot the popcorn.

* most of the stuff on the bottom is fresh algea from the salad buffet yesterday.

 

[markstrimaran]

UPDATE week # 7

Nitrates are less than 15ppm, after "WC"
They peaked 20ppm Wednesday, before I changed out filter socks.

The long strand turf algea that is taking over might allow me to reduce the ball count. As the overall green surface area is increased greatly with a nice carpeting of the long strand turf algea. It also will remove nitrates, along with ammonia.

A few of the balls are growing it also. Which kind of braids it together as the balls rotate and twist. Allowing for easy harvesting.
My other fluidized algea scrubber is much more turbulent. I never had an issue with the balls. I kind of like the free ball of algea to feed the babies with.

 

[markstrimaran]

Removed all of the bio balls, and clouded the tank over. So here it goes 100% filtration on algea scrubber only.

I will be adding a small water pump to help the balls circulate in the scrubber chamber.

It will probably involve re drilling the over flow tubes and maybe some thru acylic threaded holes for water injection. Or a over head spray bar.

 

[markstrimaran]

Update week 8.

Nitrate 20ppm pre water change..

The small pump was causing filter sock problems, I added another air pump , which so far has been enouph to keep the balls from jamming up.

It is definitely a LED light spectrum thing, as the lights on the other scrubber have not been growing any long strand.

Another tid bit, 2 weeks ago my LED reef fixture died, and it was replaced with 3 36" T5 lighting. 2 actinic 1 10k.

 

[markstrimaran]

Week 9 Update.

Ammonia @ 0ppm
Nitrate pre water change is 20ppm.
It was 15 ppm mid week. Still on the 55 gallon weekly dump cycle too about, 210 gallons so very much only a 25% weekly water change.

The fluidized reactor, has grown a very lush 6" carpet of long strand turf algea, which the balls cannot keep trimmed, so it has turned into more of a refugium.

I think the T-5 Ho full actinic tubes are growing the softer type algea in the main display. Which are absorbing most of the nutrients.

My old led fixture has lost a driver and is unrepaired.
Display algea, cloudy due to filter sock switch
Scrubber harvest. With lots of midge fly larve, and some very fat and happy baby dragons bloods.
Inside scrubber with lights and air off.

 

[markstrimaran]

The long strand algea, has overgrown the balls. I pulled all the balls out as they were jamming up.

Currently watching ammonia levels, which are creeping, I am going to try and see if the algea alone can provide sufficient bio-filtration.

Worst case, I will put the bioballs back in, and re load with thirty 660nm 3 watt leds.

I put the algea balls in my other fluidized algea scrubber, basement grow out tank. Which has been working wonderfully for the last 13 months.

 

[markstrimaran]

Update week 10
Ammonia is still .025 ppm, but down from .05 midweek. The seachem ammonia alert is not detecting any. Only the liquid test kit is.
Nitrate is about 20ppm pre water change.

I will let it roll, as it should grow in a thick mat of algea. Which may or may not work. But I have plenty of bio media ready should ammonia become excessive.

 

[markstrimaran]

The plan C, full refuge growing long strand turf algea.


This algea is the kind that grows in a fast moving well lite, stream.

My idea is to watch the Ph. As algea growth increases it builds Ph. If I harvest to much it's a simple process to chop up some into inch long sections , and add it back.

Ammonia is back into the yellow, it spiked after I pulled the balls and removed too much algea mass.


The 10 watt leds, seam to be bright enouph to penetrate the mass.

 

[markstrimaran]

Update 10.5
12.5 oz of longstrand algea, pulled half and chopped and put it back in the scrubber.

Rinsed and well shaken off in the fry tank.




Now to watch ammonia spike, and add an ounce at a time until it balances, or the pumice rock bag starts growing some nitrosomes.


I added a 10" x 2" x 16" pumice bag over the top of the pump intake. As an added safety. It is old used media, but freshly seeded with bacteria from bio balls.
All sealed in a 300 micron nylon sock fabric for easy maintenance.
HOPE it works.