Algae Scrubber Basics

OK This may be old news to you established ATS folk but am I reading this correctly?
scolley said:
And the pods - wow! I don't know why, but now it's got pods that are 6, almost 7 cm. Big suckers. I've got no idea why, but they are much larger now.
Click to expand...
7 CM pods?! That is bigger than my cleaner shrimp
 
On my Algae scrubber one side has perfect flow and the other has horrible almost no flow. The screen is 21inches long by 17inches tall and is getting the recommended flow. The slot is 1/8" and in some places just under that. This is the third slot I’ve made and all of them yield the same result one side great flow and the other side bad flow. The pipe is 1.5" and the screen goes about a quarter inch into the pipe.

A) should I cut the slot a little bigger
B) make a new slot out of a 1 inch pipe
C) make new screens
D) Any other Suggestions

DSC00438.jpg

The outward facing side is the one with almost no flow

Thanks
 
yz250motoxrider said:
On my Algae scrubber one side has perfect flow and the other has horrible almost no flow. The screen is 21inches long by 17inches tall and is getting the recommended flow. The slot is 1/8" and in some places just under that. This is the third slot I've made and all of them yield the same result one side great flow and the other side bad flow. The pipe is 1.5" and the screen goes about a quarter inch into the pipe.

A) should I cut the slot a little bigger
B) make a new slot out of a 1 inch pipe
C) make new screens
D) Any other Suggestions

DSC00438.jpg

The outward facing side is the one with almost no flow

Thanks
Click to expand...

Never mind that. Read this:

Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723

your screen can currently handle 30 cubes a day. Actually that's not 100% true - if it were properly lit, it could handle that. You've got almost 360 square inches of screen and at the most, 170 watts on it, so it's severely underlit and oversized. Flow is the least of your concerns. I don't mean that to sounds brash, but you're gonna have problems if you don't re-do that scrubber.
 
Mods - are you paying attention?

This is an UBER thread, where it it SO large that you can no longer sticky threads to ensure value to the community. Instead summaries like the one below have great community value.

I'm not sure how to address this problem in a thread based forum, but it was worth calling attention to. Thanks. :)

Floyd R Turbo said:
These are really all you need

Basics Write Up - Post #1
Updated Summary - Post #2001-2010
Quick Troubleshooting - Post #1902
Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723
Click to expand...
 
scolley said:
Mods - are you paying attention?

This is an UBER thread, where it it SO large that you can no longer sticky threads to ensure value to the community. Instead summaries like the one below have great community value.

I'm not sure how to address this problem in a thread based forum, but it was worth calling attention to. Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

Keeping in mind the only post I've read in this entire thread is the one above. Would you (or one of the other members from this thread) putting together a summary or "index" type of post do what you're asking? Then I could just edit the first post of this thread and add a link to direct first time readers to that post. :)

Or another idea, again you or somebody else heavily involved with these algae scrubber thread could put together an entirely different thread with links to "highlight" posts in each thread. That thread could then be stickied and locked. :)
 
So from what I understand if I cut the scrubber in half and keep the lighting that would be adequate for 12 cubes a day, even though the water volume is 350 gallons.
 
Musbtr1pin said:
So I've started reading this thread, and I have a terrible algae problem. I run carbon and GFO and change every two weeks. Starting to change every week GFO carbon every couple days.

Let me see if I got this correct... An algae scrubber can reduce the algae in my dt? For realz?
Click to expand...

Yes.

10 weeks...

picture.php
 
yz250motoxrider said:
On my Algae scrubber one side has perfect flow and the other has horrible almost no flow. The screen is 21inches long by 17inches tall and is getting the recommended flow. The slot is 1/8" and in some places just under that. This is the third slot I’ve made and all of them yield the same result one side great flow and the other side bad flow. The pipe is 1.5" and the screen goes about a quarter inch into the pipe.

A) should I cut the slot a little bigger
B) make a new slot out of a 1 inch pipe
C) make new screens
D) Any other Suggestions

DSC00438.jpg

The outward facing side is the one with almost no flow

Thanks
Click to expand...

While flow not your only problem, it is a problem. I got a straight slot by clamping the pipe to the bench. Then, I clamped a piece of wood as thick as the diameter of the pipe directly against the pipe. On my circular saw, it is 5" from the edge of the base (or foot) of the saw to the blade. So I measured 5" from the top center of the pipe and screwed down a second piece of wood to the first piece of wood to act as a fence. If the slot is not wide enough, just rotate the pipe a tiny bit and cut again. Wear safety glasses.
 
Dino said:
Keeping in mind the only post I've read in this entire thread is the one above. Would you (or one of the other members from this thread) putting together a summary or "index" type of post do what you're asking? Then I could just edit the first post of this thread and add a link to direct first time readers to that post. :)

Or another idea, again you or somebody else heavily involved with these algae scrubber thread could put together an entirely different thread with links to "highlight" posts in each thread. That thread could then be stickied and locked. :)
Click to expand...

^ great idea. The only problem I see with that is that a bunch of things are about to change in a few months, and DIY models using LEDs are still 'ramping up' so it might be too soon to lock a 'best practices' thread. If a thread is made like that and then locked, can it be edited by request of the OP?

I know that thefishguy65 has the 2001-2010 post on his DIY Summary thread/homepage. That might be a better way to do it. Been meaning to make my own 'homepage' anyways :)
 
Floyd R Turbo said:
If a thread is made like that and then locked, can it be edited by request of the OP?
Click to expand...

Sure, if did need to edit it could just send me or another mod a complete copy of the post with whatever revisions made to it. That way could just copy and paste. :)

Floyd R Turbo said:
I know that thefishguy65 has the 2001-2010 post on his DIY Summary thread/homepage. That might be a better way to do it. Been meaning to make my own 'homepage' anyways :)
Click to expand...

That would work too :D.

Another thought that just popped to mind. One of you who are premium member could use our blog system to create a summary/index or what have you. I'm not sure if you can edit blog posts indefinitely or not, I'm thinking you may be able to, but the blog area isn't a section I'm terribly familiar with. Its another idea you guys might play around with though. :D
 
I have been meaning to add those links too (done). Anyone is welcome to add links to summaries. I started it for just this reason, but I can't read all the threads :).

Even worse is trying to keep those summaries up to date if you are in charge of them. Some of the information/technology changes very fast.
 
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