120g in-wall build thread

[lpkenneys]

Looking good...soon you'll be able to sit back and enjoy your hard work I cant wait to see how the scrubber works out... maybe you can show the rest of us how to make one at the next meeting...

 

[dalilgriffith]

what bulbs work for refugium algae ?

 

[Jandree22]

Lowes have CFL lamps that are "daylight"... I THINK they're 6500k. They'll do.

 

[JDL]

some updates.

finished my ATO

algae screen getting some algae finally and none on my glass :thumbsup:

and a great new thing, a float in my skimmer to turn off when tripped connected to my RKL controller. Tested and works great.

 

[JDL]

my massive coral collection

 

[JDL]

minor update: purchased new bulbs for my T5 NEP

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

will place them 1 day at a time and update with some new pics.

 

[volcom69]

Interesting combo of T5 let me know how it looks if it looks like a 14k bulb or what it looks like. The combo i have on my tank now is like the radium bulbs.

What ATO is that you put on.

 

[JDL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15239595#post15239595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by volcom69
Interesting combo of T5 let me know how it looks if it looks like a 14k bulb or what it looks like. The combo i have on my tank now is like the radium bulbs.

What ATO is that you put on.

ok i couldnt wait so i put all the bulbs in at once.

here is a pic

corals seem to really like it, my toadstools are really extended.


My ATO is super simple.
1. aqualifter pump
2. ifloat switch from aquahub.com
3. float sensor from digital aquatics
4. 20g brute trash can for ATO container

connected the float and pump to my reefkeeper lite. Soon as the float switch trips my pump turns off. Soon as it trips the other way pump turns on. I constantly have the same water level.

It is kinda blue, but not too blue. I jut have to figure out which 2 bulbs for my dusk/dawn to use.

coraline starting to grow on my base rock already.

 

[volcom69]

I use the blue blus as my dusk/dawn light, but you have an actinic so i would probably throw that in there with the dusk/dawn. Looks good, i just ordered some new bulbs for mine im going to try some aquascience bulbs out and see if they are any good.

 

[JDL]

Minor update: scrubber seems to be working great. No algae at all in my tank. I dont even get any on my glass.

 

[MVlk]

Those are pretty good results! Have you had to scrape any yet?

Now I have to figure out how to do the same. Almost seems too easy to not do.

 

[JDL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335252#post15335252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MVlk
Those are pretty good results! Have you had to scrape any yet?

Now I have to figure out how to do the same. Almost seems too easy to not do.

no i havent had to scrape any yet. This is the first week i am getting any green algae. I think because i basically have a new tank and was running GFO and chaeto, i didnt have much nitrates/phosphates so it is slow to get turf unlike tanks that have tons of nitrate/phosphate already in them.

my chaeto was growing like crazy, but has slowed down now that the screen is growing algae. I also removed the GFO.

a scrubber is super simple to build, and you can easily build one on your setup. All i did was use one of my overflows and put a union and ballvalve for easy cleaning.

 

[Jandree22]

I'm sceptical on the effectiveness of these setups, but that doesn't mean I'm disputing them, either. I found a VERY long writeup at Saltwaterfish.com so I'll have to read through that when I have an hour or so.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=330606

I might dabble with one of these setups myself if I'm convinced through that article and your experiences. thanks

 

[JDL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15335296#post15335296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jandree22
I'm sceptical on the effectiveness of these setups, but that doesn't mean I'm disputing them, either. I found a VERY long writeup at Saltwaterfish.com so I'll have to read through that when I have an hour or so.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=330606

I might dabble with one of these setups myself if I'm convinced through that article and your experiences. thanks

I would skip swf.com because of the retarded linking rules. The same article is on many other sites and all the links included.

All i know is it cant hurt to have a turf scrubber. If it works.... great, if it doesnt then i didnt waste any money.

I can say i have no algae on my glass ever and my tank is clean. Is it from the scrubber or i just havent hit that point yet?

 

[Jandree22]

10-4 on the linky police.

True dat, seems harmless enough. My setup would require some replumbing so it's more of a "look before you leap" concern for me. I'm definately interested in following your progress with it.

 

[CBehr]

I built mine a couple weeks after JDL. I have cleaned it three times and am just starting to get green algae. I unfortunately DO have some nussiance alage in my prop tank despite running GFO/GAC and a oversized skimmer. I'm anxious and hopefull the scubber will work as well as what I've read.

I must say in the 3 weeks of running it the algae on my front glass has cut down a little already.

 

[JDL]

before cleaning

after cleaning

light


algae is getting much thicker and green. Very similar to GHA.
I also cant find one of my bangaii, only see 3 in the tank. There hasnt been any fighting or anything. However one bangaii always hid in the corner and that is the one missing.

 

[JDL]

FTS 7/19/09
just did a water change so a little dusty/cloudy

 

[MVlk]

Coming along nicely.

 

[JeffBoyRD]

Hey JDL, looking good. I would like to raise the question of the color temp of your bulb. Apparently stuff is growing on your scrubber. However, would the algae grow better under a 6k-7k bulb? I know that works better for plant growth. Just a question.