Algae Scrubber Basics

[Floyd R Turbo]

wow, interesting!

 

[JohnnyB in SD]

So just to check that I have in fact learned a few things from this thread, If I have a system between 35-40g and the GPH from my overflow is lets say 200gph I would need a screen that is 5" long by 8" tall with lights on both sides. That would put it at 40gph per inch and 5x8=40.

5" wide is good for 200GPH, you don't "need" 8 inches, but your 5x8=40SqIn divided by 12SqIn per cube = 3.33 cube per day capacity. The 8 is a variable you can adjust based on your planned feeding, but 5x8 is also a good area for a CFL bulb. (You'll probably want it a little longer than 8" to account for screen going into the pipe and submerging into water at the bottom)
See post #2723 for further sizing details.

I think your T5 reflectors planned for the CFL's is an excellent idea.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

See post #2723 for further sizing details

Also this is in post 3256 of the summary and it describes adding to the height dimension, smooth screen areas, etc.

As far as sizing goes, it doesn't matter what dimensions you use as long as it's got good light coverage on the 'active' area. I like 6x6 for round reflectors, the shop lights like srusso runs don't have a very wide reflector but they're good for a narrow and tall screen (and side lit is better), if you scale down to say 4x4 or maybe as big as 5x5 you might be able to get away with a CFL floodlight.

The T5 reflector I think works better for the linear CFL because the T5 reflector is only about 3" wide and doesn't wrap around a spiral lamp well - you need a bigger reflector to better utilize the light.

 

[porksmash]

This will likely be the last summary revision for this version of the Algae Scrubber. There is a new version being developed (not by me) and it is currently being kept under wraps as it is in the middle of the patent process (again, not by me) so I know very little about it, except that it will supposedly have vast improvements in many areas, and will not resemble any Algae Scrubber that anyone has ever seen (this frustratingly includes me).

I'm a bit curious about this tidbit from the beginning of the revamped guide. Maybe you were downplaying how much you know, but I get the feeling someone basically said they're making the next best thing and you should be excited, but won't tell you anything else just yet. It's also going to be patented which somewhat implies the design will be commercialized. Can you say with any certainty, based on your experience, that this new secret ATS is actually going to be as amazing as it's made out to be?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I cannot, and I do not know anything about it other than a few pieces of general information such as it will still use a screen and light, the screen will be removable for cleaning without needing to shut the water off, it will not require a slot to be cut in a piece of pipe, and if it were made from acrylic there would be intricate parts and would require a high level of skill to make one, but an "ugly but functional" DIY version will cost next to nothing, and you probably already have all the parts and could make one in a matter of minutes. That is what I know and nothing else unless I just can't recall something right now, but there's no "A-ha!" thing that I know. And believe me, I've asked six ways from Sunday.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

One thing I have noticed now is the larger tiger pods can now spend time on the scrubber. Never seen them inhabit the scrubber until I started using the "shower curtain", no negative effects noticed here either. I will see if I can snap a pic if it next time I see it. Maybe it's a better breading zone...

Shower curtain... I like it...

And yeah, I hadn't intended it to be full-length but it makes sense. I have been thinking about building a full-length "splash shield" out of acrylic anyways, but maybe I'll just use plastic wrap full-length instead.

As a matter of update, my scrubber is still doing the exact same thing, even after re-sizing and adjusting light and flow to match the new guidelines roughly a month ago. Growing brownish slime that occasionally gets a little greenish slime mixed in. There's ZERO in the way of actual algae, much less the desirable green hair algae. Nutrients are not out of hand, but also not invisibly low, so I definitely think there's room for improvement. I am pretty firmly convinced that I just have none of it in my system to start a seed population and (gasp) I'm thinking about going on a quest of local reefers to see if I can "borrow" some hair algae from someone.

Or maybe I'll ditch the TS and build a big skimmer. :/

 

[jimrawr]

If you dont have hair algae in your display why are you worried about it? The scrubber is still removing nutrients and its job is to prevent algae from growing in your display, so if you dont have it why try to get it??

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Because it's pretty clear that my scrubber is not functioning in an optimal manner. I'm only removing a very small volume of brown slime when I clean it, and I have nutrient levels present in my system that, while not outrageous, are higher than many people with more fully functioning scrubbers are reporting. Given that I'm "playing by the rules" according to the new guidelines, I have to conclude that I don't have the optimal species of algae available in my system to populate the scrubber.

 

[aquaenthusiast]

Because it's pretty clear that my scrubber is not functioning in an optimal manner. I'm only removing a very small volume of brown slime when I clean it, and I have nutrient levels present in my system that, while not outrageous, are higher than many people with more fully functioning scrubbers are reporting. Given that I'm "playing by the rules" according to the new guidelines, I have to conclude that I don't have the optimal species of algae available in my system to populate the scrubber.

Just go find some pretty green algae from someone's tank and try to rub it into the scrubber with the water off. There are different species of algae and some may never make it to certain people's tanks.

 

[mrbncal]

So I am trying the shower curtain thing and I thought I would pass this on . . . I was having a heck of a time with the plastic wrap . . . it would get all bunched up . . . so one time when I was getting more wrap out of the drawer, I saw a gallon size storage bag, light bulb came on, so i cut the sides and the zipper end off. Works like a dream, no more spray and it quieted it down a bit as well. Reusable and thick enough that it doesnt get all scrunched up trying to get it over the pipe. Great idea guys.

 

[aquaenthusiast]

"The best results so far have utilized 660nm “Deep Red” LEDs; there have been far fewer attempts using 630nm Red LEDs. These wavelengths roughly correspond with the Chlorophyll A and B red peaks. Optionally, some 455nm Royal Blue LEDs can be thrown in; according to horticulturalists, and one study by NASA, this ratio is approximately 7:1 red: blue."

So would this be ok ? PAR38 12 Watt 660 nm RED LED Grow Light : http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=710
Even if you bought two of these and put both on either side of the screen I think these might work, but they seem really focused degrees wide so screen coverage might be an issue...

 

[aquaenthusiast]

Well after reading this...
"1W chips are much better, IMO, for Algae Scrubbers, because you can pack them closer together, put them closer to the screen, and get near-perfectly even coverage. This mainly applies to off-the-shelf fixtures, which usually have one circuit board and the individual LED dies are close together. It’s hard to get 3/4” spacing using 1W chips on stars. But if you have ever had the opportunity to see a 1W LED grow lamp array in person, you would agree that they are bright as #@$&*^!%. I’m talking blindingly bright, and extremely even coverage. As far as the wattage comparison for those – not sure. The “1/5” numbers came from the DIY 3W LED folks… "

maybe this fixture would be much better:http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=421

This is also slimmer in nature so you would be able to work with it in narrow places versus a bulky PAR38 bulb.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

wille, have you ever posted pictures of your build? I remember asking you about it before, but I don't recall if you ever posted any

 

[yz250motoxrider]

What does it mean if I’m getting brown growth? And there are some holes in it. Its thick heavy slimy brown growth with some patches missing, last week I harvested about a cup of this stuff.

 

[yz250motoxrider]

What does it mean if I'm getting brown growth? And there are some holes in it. Its thick heavy slimy brown growth with some patches missing, last week I harvested about a cup of this stuff.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Floyd, I'll take a photo tonight and post it. It's a pretty standard-issue vertical screen lit on both sides by CFLs.

 

[srusso]

Just go find some pretty green algae from someone's tank and try to rub it into the scrubber with the water off. There are different species of algae and some may never make it to certain people's tanks.

Willie, do not do this. It isnt necessary... As Floyd said, lets re-visit your build.

 

[srusso]

What does it mean if I'm getting brown growth? And there are some holes in it. Its thick heavy slimy brown growth with some patches missing, last week I harvested about a cup of this stuff.

Scrubber is out of balance, Light to Flow to Food

Patches are either pods eating algae or pieces getting too heavy and falling off.

 

[aquaenthusiast]

Willie, do not do this. It isnt necessary... As Floyd said, lets re-visit your build.

There are over 7,000 different species of green algae, mostly aquatic, if someone else has a nice species of green hair algae inoculating your tank with some might not be so bad, once you properly design your algae scrubber, having good green hair algae is a good thing. You can't expect all the different species to be in a single reef tank, so if someone else has some good species growing in their tank, why not grab some? The whole point is that you want the good green hair algae in your system, just not in your display. srusso I'm merely saying it doesn't hurt anything.

 

[aquaenthusiast]

For example...

For example...

A species like Cladophora sericea which can grow around coral reefs and actually can overwhelm corals to in the ocean. If we could correlate the conditions in which Cladophora sericea best grow under and simulate those conditions then we could begin to evaluate which species of algae are better suited for our algal turf scrubbers. You don't want to start out with a species of algae that is poorly suited for growing around coral reefs, some of which happen to find their way into the trade.


http://coralreefecology.ucsd.edu/files/2010/09/MEPS-Cladophora-Smith-et-al.-2005.pdf