Algae Scrubber Basics

[sabbath]

Will do! Be nice to get a base line before the scrubber kicks in. I have not checked P in a while. Every time I do with a Hanna checker it reads 0. But I still have some algae. (I know its bound up in the algae) No4 is usually around 2-4ppm. I will go run a couple tests now.

Well here is one for you guys. I run Zeovit and started a small .5 cube scrubber 2 days ago. I feed about 2 cubes.
N=0 Red sea pro
P=0ppb Hanna Checker

So it will be interesting to see where this goes now.

I have some algae in the connected frag tank. So my hope is that the scrubber will take care of the algae and Zeo will do the rest. If things go right I could see slowly giving the ATS more and more of the load.

 

[percula99]

A couple of days after I clean the screen I always get splashing from the water flowing through the slot. Water splashes onto the lights and reflectors. I know people have been using celephane or SaranWap. Is there any other way? I shove the screen all the way to the top of the tube in the slot. If I only barely put the screen in the slot, would that help?

 

[LiMaZoo]

I had similar issues when I attempted a waterfall scrubber. Turned out to be a leftover pvc ridge inside the pipe left over from cutting the slot. Was able to smooth it all out and flowed more smoothly. Worth a look.

 

[bishop77]

Do we ever consider the fact that not all tanks are seeded with the same algae?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Yes, there is that possibility. There is also the possibility (highly likely) that different strains of algae are adapted to different nutrient ratios, similar to phytoplankton. So you could have a mix of algae that keeps everything in check, while someone else could end up with a skewed ratio. Still a lot to learn

 

[RyleyW]

I found that a good way of evening out flow over the screen and decreasing splashing is by inserting a 'diffuser' of sorts into the pvc where you've cut your slot.

Cut a strip of screen the length of your slot and about 3/4" wide, fold it down the middle and insert it into the pvc with the folded edge resting in the slot. In my experience this will effectively even out the flow of water over the screen and lessen splashing.

 

[percula99]

I had similar issues when I attempted a waterfall scrubber. Turned out to be a leftover pvc ridge inside the pipe left over from cutting the slot. Was able to smooth it all out and flowed more smoothly. Worth a look.

It was time for a screen cleaning, so I took the screen assembly out and cut the zip ties so I could look at the slot. It is actually a very clean cut and even all the way up and down the length. So that does not seem to be the problem.

While I had it apart though, I looked down the inside of the pipe. I noticed (and hadn't before) that where I had joined the ABS pipes together there was a build up of ABS cement. I put a 1/2 inch spade bit in my drill and drilled the inside of the pipe clean. For now it seems to be working well. I am hoping this is the answer but want to wait a couple of days before tooting my own horn. The slot itself was very dirty with algae clogging it when I first took it apart. Was that the problem or the ABS cement? I will report back in a few days to let you know if it starts up again or not.

 

[percula99]

I found that a good way of evening out flow over the screen and decreasing splashing is by inserting a 'diffuser' of sorts into the pvc where you've cut your slot.

Cut a strip of screen the length of your slot and about 3/4" wide, fold it down the middle and insert it into the pvc with the folded edge resting in the slot. In my experience this will effectively even out the flow of water over the screen and lessen splashing.

Check out my previous post. I will go with that for now, but if it doesn't solve my problem I might try your solution. When you put the diffuser in, I assume the screen does not get shoved all the way in. Also, with all that screening bunching up the whole, can the water get out? What size pump are you using on your set up?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Do you always take the screen out when you clean it? You should, if you haven't been, this might be part of he problem. Also the screen section that is in the pipe should not be rouged up. I leave a couple rows below the slot/screen junction smooth

 

[percula99]

Do you always take the screen out when you clean it? You should, if you haven't been, this might be part of he problem. Also the screen section that is in the pipe should not be rouged up. I leave a couple rows below the slot/screen junction smooth

I have not always taken the screen out when I clean it. I usually scrub around the edge with a scrub brush and an exacto blade. I guess I did not want to keep using new ties. I can make this part of my process from now on. The screen section in the pipe is not roughed up. Do you shove it all the way up, or just leave it hanging in the opening of the slot?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I put mine all the way in. Pump driven. In the basics I cover this. If overflow fed I recommend inserting only a couple rows and zip ties on the corners or 2 points instead of one center point. This way if something happens to make it to the slot pipe if will not snag on the screen and block flow, it will just get pushed to the end of the pipe.

 

[danmartis]

So my LED test project is complete.
Total cost was about $30 dollars.

View attachment 191473

I used two electrical boxes as my heat sinks, light blocker, reflector, and it comes with screws that would normally be used to screw in the faceplate. Can't beat that! Let's see how well it does with the heat from the LEDs... Used some old nuts and bolts to sandwich the 5 LED driver between the boxes.

Got a $1 dollar piece of acrylic and made a cover for the boxes.

- Some old wire I had to connect everything up, cut an old power cord for the plug.


View attachment 191474

View attachment 191475

Mounted it to the inside door.

View attachment 191476

Hi guys!
This is my 3 days old ATS.

After doing some reading on this thread i decided that i have to get leds instead of the 2 cfl bulbs.for me it looks scary to have those bulbs so close to the water.
My screen is 7x8 and i have a 420 gph pump feeding it.
So my question is how many leds per side i should get ?
i really like his idea and looks cheap to diy.
thanks

 

[percula99]

It was time for a screen cleaning, so I took the screen assembly out and cut the zip ties so I could look at the slot. It is actually a very clean cut and even all the way up and down the length. So that does not seem to be the problem.

While I had it apart though, I looked down the inside of the pipe. I noticed (and hadn't before) that where I had joined the ABS pipes together there was a build up of ABS cement. I put a 1/2 inch spade bit in my drill and drilled the inside of the pipe clean. For now it seems to be working well. I am hoping this is the answer but want to wait a couple of days before tooting my own horn. The slot itself was very dirty with algae clogging it when I first took it apart. Was that the problem or the ABS cement? I will report back in a few days to let you know if it starts up again or not.

It was Tuesday when I drilled the inside of my pipe with the spade bit, and it really seems to have done the trick. The flow coming out is almost a clean water fall still, with just a hint of splashing going on at the beginning of the slot. After three days previously there was spray all over the lights and sump. I can also attribute the good results to cutting the zip ties, taking out the screen and cleaning the slot. So far no celophane seems necessary at this point.

 

[srusso]

Here is a draft of the seventh draft of the document I promised. I don't know that I will ever get around to completing it, so I'd rather share it now, as it is...
I cut a lot of fat, focused on my audience.
I don't believe I am some great writer, I know I am not...
I am not done testing yet but, it seems to be working right now.

Want to get this groups ideas on this and to get others testing.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-otQ3chcfnrS1hxZHRBdFgzaFE

Thank you for taking the time to read it.

 

[LiMaZoo]

Here is a draft of the seventh draft of the document I promised. I don't know that I will ever get around to completing it, so I'd rather share it now, as it is...
I cut a lot of fat, focused on my audience.
I don't believe I am some great writer, I know I am not...
I am not done testing yet but, it seems to be working right now.

Want to get this groups ideas on this and to get others testing.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-otQ3chcfnrS1hxZHRBdFgzaFE

Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Very interesting concept and read Srusso. Thanks for taking the time to write and post this. Can't wait to hear all the opinions. I for one am pretty new to scrubbers so I'll sit back and read while the pros do that talking!

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Just wanted to add to this K topic that adjustments to this level should be done appropriately and only after testing with a reliable kit. What I have been told is that K is a difficult level to measure correctly, and that the Elos kit is probably the best one. In fact I was told to only rely on the Elos kit, and others would really be only good for trending, that is, knowing if the level went up or down but not necessarily knowing what the 'base' reading is.

 

[edgey]

Real interesting concept concerning K. Makes sense.

Please forgive me for not reading the whole 4000+ longest thread on earth, But what wattage CFL with reflector would you reccomend on each side for a 12"x12" screen?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

72W per side, total of 144W. That's a 12 cube/day screen, do you need one that big?

 

[MadBeach]

72W per side, total of 144W. That's a 12 cube/day screen, do you need one that big?

I never understood what defines a scrubber as perhaps oversized. Says SM? What science backs that spec up? Not trying to ne a pain, just questioning. In my experience scrubbers are self regulating. that is, they can't over scrub. At the same time, a larger scrubber is better able to handle a spike in nitrates or phosphates that a smaller scrubber. Am I missing something important here?

 

[jwoyshnar]

I never understood what defines a scrubber as perhaps oversized. Says SM? What science backs that spec up? Not trying to ne a pain, just questioning. In my experience scrubbers are self regulating. that is, they can't over scrub. At the same time, a larger scrubber is better able to handle a spike in nitrates or phosphates that a smaller scrubber. Am I missing something important here?

I agree totally with your post. I tried the new guidelines and it could not keep up with phosphates in the tank. My waterfall screen is 14x17" lit on both sides lit by 40 watt spiral bulbs, one one each side. I get a gallon of algae every 5 days from it. There has been many post where it is said that the new guidelines don't remove all phosphates.