cultivating algae for nutrients export (1 Viewer)

[stdreb27]

So their is some spammer on another site that blitzed a bunch of forums, I've seen him on several different ones. Anyhow, he is a bit of a sales man when it comes to his idea. But I'll check that off as just a little excited.
However in a desperate attempt at addressing my algae, I'm going to give his idea a shot. Because despite his wild claims the idea is plausible.
URL link
Anyway, the concept is create an area more suitable to algae than your tank by to pour water over a screen stick a light next to it, and wait for the algae to grow. And that algae will export NO3 and PO4.

I used my overflow to drive the water flow, and built this.

Here are the picture, I'm going to post photos every two days to mark the progress or lack their of.

Day 0

algae pictures

I built this on Friday.

 

[stdreb27]

day 2 (no discernable change)

 

[SnMan]

I would hang a sheet of plastic reflective Mylar between the skimmer and your screen. This will keep light off and out of your skimmer while providing light to the backside of the screen. Since Mylar is some form of plastic it should not be hurt by water or salt creep. Just a thought.

 

[stdreb27]

Hopefully the algae on the mat will block the lighting.

 

[spongebob281]

where did you get the screen? How big does it have to be for a 75 G? So basically if i wanted to build one in the sump just have water run over the screen with lights on both side?

 

[landfish]

you can find the screen at wallmart in the craft section. They use if for hook loop crafts. It is great for DIY but it is not UV resistant and only last a year or 2

 

[stdreb27]

Got mine at hobby lobby for under 2 bucks.
As for size, I don't really know, the original poster said 1 inch per gallon. But I never subscribe to such rules of thumb.

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, stdreb.
This looks like a good idea, please keep us informed how it goes. The water is actually flowing down the mesh? Once the algae starts growing on the mesh, how will you get it off? Remember, as long as the algae is in your system, you're merely sequestering nutrients. You don't export nutrients until you actually remove the algae from your system and throw it away.

good luck, keep us informed...
Steve

 

[stdreb27]

Hi, stdreb.
This looks like a good idea, please keep us informed how it goes. The water is actually flowing down the mesh? Once the algae starts growing on the mesh, how will you get it off? Remember, as long as the algae is in your system, you're merely sequestering nutrients. You don't export nutrients until you actually remove the algae from your system and throw it away.

good luck, keep us informed...
Steve

exactly, the screen is removable and I'll scrape off the algae periodically the guy spamming other forums suggests that the growth will require weekly cleaning.

 

[spongebob281]

why do you have to scrub it off weekly

 

[stdreb27]

To remove the excess nutrients from your system. And to keep the algae constantly growing.

 

[SnMan]

Day #2 pic? Any slime one the mesh yet?

 

[MikeSW]

I was curious about algal scrubbers. When researching I kept reading the same thing about a yellow tint to the water from the plants giving off organic substances. Interested in your results. Keep us posted.

 

[stdreb27]

day 6

As you can see I don't have any significant growth on the mat yet. So as expected there is no discernible change in the algae in the tank.

 

[stdreb27]

I was curious about algal scrubbers. When researching I kept reading the same thing about a yellow tint to the water from the plants giving off organic substances. Interested in your results. Keep us posted.

Don't know, haven't crossed that bridge, the other guy seems to think it can be addressed by cleaning the screen outside of the tank. And not breaking the strands of algae.

 

[spongebob281]

what type of algae to seed the screen>?

 

[stdreb27]

I didn't really seed the screen, I figured there was enough algae in my take to take care of that.

 

[stdreb27]

day 8 update

I'm starting to see growth on the algae mat. ( I didn't seed it, because I was lazy) Plus I've seen it seeded and not seeded, and there was little difference in growth times, maybe a couple days behind.

However I see no difference in algae in the DT. Still not unexpected at this point.

I have noticed that the light may be too close, because I see algae growth around the sides of the screen but not under the most direct growth...

 

[spongebob281]

what are your parameters? have you tested for phosphate?

 

[stdreb27]

Phosphates are at 0. However with the algae in the tank. There is little doubt as to why.