Algae Scrubber Basics

[kcress]

I love this thread and all... but its unmanageable... Please please please say you want an algae scrubber sub forum.

I can appreciate an 'Algae Scrubber' forum but I don't see how it would make this kind of thread, "more manageable".

We have these 'bloat' threads all over the place, all with the same problem. They're a paradox.

If we could put just the condensed knowledge somewhere a noob, (on any particular subject), could come and read the meat of that subject, without re-asking the same exact questions, we wouldn't have these all encompassing subject compendium threads. Which have it all if you want to spend the time.

 

[srusso]

I can appreciate an 'Algae Scrubber' forum but I don't see how it would make this kind of thread, "more manageable".

We have these 'bloat' threads all over the place, all with the same problem. They're a paradox.

If we could put just the condensed knowledge somewhere a noob, (on any particular subject), could come and read the meat of that subject, without re-asking the same exact questions, we wouldn't have these all encompassing subject compendium threads. Which have it all if you want to spend the time.

Well we would stop using this thread for one thing... It could become the sticky for the sub forum. Then people could have a place to start new threads, with specific questions. The best answered threads for simple questions could also become stickies.

I see it as a huge help for people looking to get questions answered and help them not get lost in the posts.

Everyone could start their own build threads rather then fishing back 100's of posts to remember what type of build person x or person y did...

For us who are offering help, subscribing to a whole sub forum rather then just this thread would be a huge help for seeing new posts, etc...

I can only see positive results from getting our own sub forum...

 

[syedjilani]

subscribed.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I've been using the needle wheel from skimmer to feed my ATS and it produces a ton of foam in my sump. I've been trying to come up with a way to collect it but so far I just have extra mesh around the edge that the sludge collects on.
From this I think it would be possible to build some type of hybrid skimmer ATS but I really don't have the resources to build anything

Funny you should mention this, I've been thinking about the same thing but from the opposite direction.

The skimmer I recently added is clear acrylic like most are these days, and it sits inches from the scrubber. The inside surface facing the scrubber regularly grows dust coating of algae that eventually sheets off from the surface, gets broken up in the turbulence, and ends up in the collection cup. This got me thinking about the viability of purposefully growing algae inside the skimmer.

I've been looking at the new bubble-driven updraft scrubbers (or whatever their proper name is) and wondering about putting a small section of plastic canvas INSIDE the skimmer, held to the side with suction cups. Then just aim the light at it. You get plenty of flow, turbulence, gas exchange, etc. and it's all contained inside the skimmer so it can't create a salt creep mess all over everything. Maintenance would be easy, just reach in and pull the screen out each time you empty the collection cup. And, the only additional equipment (assuming someone already has the skimmer) is a light and a bit of plastic canvas plus some suction cups or a magnet to hold it in place. This lowers the bar as far as cost/effort to try a scrubber given that most people already have a skimmer...

What do you all think?

 

[srusso]

Funny you should mention this, I've been thinking about the same thing but from the opposite direction.

The skimmer I recently added is clear acrylic like most are these days, and it sits inches from the scrubber. The inside surface facing the scrubber regularly grows dust coating of algae that eventually sheets off from the surface, gets broken up in the turbulence, and ends up in the collection cup. This got me thinking about the viability of purposefully growing algae inside the skimmer.

I've been looking at the new bubble-driven updraft scrubbers (or whatever their proper name is) and wondering about putting a small section of plastic canvas INSIDE the skimmer, held to the side with suction cups. Then just aim the light at it. You get plenty of flow, turbulence, gas exchange, etc. and it's all contained inside the skimmer so it can't create a salt creep mess all over everything. Maintenance would be easy, just reach in and pull the screen out each time you empty the collection cup. And, the only additional equipment (assuming someone already has the skimmer) is a light and a bit of plastic canvas plus some suction cups or a magnet to hold it in place. This lowers the bar as far as cost/effort to try a scrubber given that most people already have a skimmer...

What do you all think?

The Skimmer/Scrubber combo has been discussed, I dont think anyone really ever tried it though. Its completely experimental, someone should give it a try...

 

[RGibson]

Funny you should mention this, I've been thinking about the same thing but from the opposite direction.

The skimmer I recently added is clear acrylic like most are these days, and it sits inches from the scrubber. The inside surface facing the scrubber regularly grows dust coating of algae that eventually sheets off from the surface, gets broken up in the turbulence, and ends up in the collection cup. This got me thinking about the viability of purposefully growing algae inside the skimmer.

I've been looking at the new bubble-driven updraft scrubbers (or whatever their proper name is) and wondering about putting a small section of plastic canvas INSIDE the skimmer, held to the side with suction cups. Then just aim the light at it. You get plenty of flow, turbulence, gas exchange, etc. and it's all contained inside the skimmer so it can't create a salt creep mess all over everything. Maintenance would be easy, just reach in and pull the screen out each time you empty the collection cup. And, the only additional equipment (assuming someone already has the skimmer) is a light and a bit of plastic canvas plus some suction cups or a magnet to hold it in place. This lowers the bar as far as cost/effort to try a scrubber given that most people already have a skimmer...

What do you all think?

How much plastic canvas would be needed ?

 

[Gorgok]

Finally a good reason to own/use a BH-1000 or similar box skimmer.... Hmmm. I don't recall the dimensions off hand, but i think i could put about a 5x5" screen in it, and strap an LED light on the outside. All that would require is a few magnets glued to the outside of the body and somehow get them attached to the screen as well. I think the trick on this style would be to pick the proper spacing between screen and wall. Closer gets more light before it hits bubbles, farther and you can get water flow on both sides of the screen...

I do have an extra light i have not installed and some screen material... Just need some magnets. Waterproof magnets. Where can i get those for cheap?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

How much plastic canvas would be needed ?

Who knows. Try it and tell us what worked.

Finally a good reason to own/use a BH-1000 or similar box skimmer.... Hmmm. I don't recall the dimensions off hand, but i think i could put about a 5x5" screen in it, and strap an LED light on the outside. All that would require is a few magnets glued to the outside of the body and somehow get them attached to the screen as well. I think the trick on this style would be to pick the proper spacing between screen and wall. Closer gets more light before it hits bubbles, farther and you can get water flow on both sides of the screen...

I do have an extra light i have not installed and some screen material... Just need some magnets. Waterproof magnets. Where can i get those for cheap?

I had the same thought process - ideally you would be able to play with positioning very precisely and it would probably be a variable that you'd have to adjust experimentally for every build based on some rule of thumb. I would imagine this would help us learn about how/why the current designs work and whether or not we have correctly attributed certain design elements to their performance. For instance, do we need a certain flow velocity? Or is turbulence more important?

Waterproof magnets? Make your own by coating magnets in epoxy! Or "steal" from another application. I was thinking you could use two algae scrubbers - glue the pair of inner halves to each side of the screen, or something like that.

 

[sabbath]

Funny you should mention this, I've been thinking about the same thing but from the opposite direction.

The skimmer I recently added is clear acrylic like most are these days, and it sits inches from the scrubber. The inside surface facing the scrubber regularly grows dust coating of algae that eventually sheets off from the surface, gets broken up in the turbulence, and ends up in the collection cup. This got me thinking about the viability of purposefully growing algae inside the skimmer.

I've been looking at the new bubble-driven updraft scrubbers (or whatever their proper name is) and wondering about putting a small section of plastic canvas INSIDE the skimmer, held to the side with suction cups. Then just aim the light at it. You get plenty of flow, turbulence, gas exchange, etc. and it's all contained inside the skimmer so it can't create a salt creep mess all over everything. Maintenance would be easy, just reach in and pull the screen out each time you empty the collection cup. And, the only additional equipment (assuming someone already has the skimmer) is a light and a bit of plastic canvas plus some suction cups or a magnet to hold it in place. This lowers the bar as far as cost/effort to try a scrubber given that most people already have a skimmer...

What do you all think?

My thought or concern with this is. I have a couple UAS's (upflow algae scrubbers) and they cause algae to grow on the tanks glass in front of the leds. I could see it getting difficult and time consuming to clean after it matures in a skimmer.

 

[salty joe]

Funny you should mention this, I've been thinking about the same thing but from the opposite direction.

The skimmer I recently added is clear acrylic like most are these days, and it sits inches from the scrubber. The inside surface facing the scrubber regularly grows dust coating of algae that eventually sheets off from the surface, gets broken up in the turbulence, and ends up in the collection cup. This got me thinking about the viability of purposefully growing algae inside the skimmer.

I've been looking at the new bubble-driven updraft scrubbers (or whatever their proper name is) and wondering about putting a small section of plastic canvas INSIDE the skimmer, held to the side with suction cups. Then just aim the light at it. You get plenty of flow, turbulence, gas exchange, etc. and it's all contained inside the skimmer so it can't create a salt creep mess all over everything. Maintenance would be easy, just reach in and pull the screen out each time you empty the collection cup. And, the only additional equipment (assuming someone already has the skimmer) is a light and a bit of plastic canvas plus some suction cups or a magnet to hold it in place. This lowers the bar as far as cost/effort to try a scrubber given that most people already have a skimmer...

What do you all think?

Worth a try. This might help.
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Underw...CC8AA18FD23E4919F4514D582525F4FE.qscstrfrnt02

 

[srusso]

Worth a try. This might help.
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Underw...CC8AA18FD23E4919F4514D582525F4FE.qscstrfrnt02

Very interesting...
Thank you for sharing!

 

[saitoking]

Thanks for all of you guys help. Not, see ya

 

[softieatheart]

Worth a try. This might help.
http://shop.mediabaskets.com/Underw...CC8AA18FD23E4919F4514D582525F4FE.qscstrfrnt02

I have been planning on making a HOB scrubber modding out a little HOB filter with a screen, one of these lights, and an airstone. Just not enough hours in the day.

 

[srusso]

Hi guys. I have had my 125 FOWLR tank up for 18 years. I have read about algae scrubbers for a long time. Dealing with high nitrates and phosphates. It's about time to try my hand at one myself. I have a 20 gal, so I went to Michaels and Home Depot this morning and spent $58.00, and this is what I have started. I will make some reflectors from the 12x12 mirror paper and wood then mount them around the lights. I also ordered an overflow. Should be here this week. Take a look and see what I am doing wrong, and let me know please. Thanks. saitoking

My apologies, I missed your post. Ironically my post, just after yours was begging people to help vote for an algae scrubber subforum...lol so we wouldn't miss posts....

Can you please explain your design more? The lighting seems on track, you will need to include some type of protection for it though.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Thanks for all of you guys help. Not, see ya

That sometimes happens when you post and then a new page is started, and with a highly active thread, it's easy for a post to get glossed over. Try posting a question in the Multichip thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2128756 I had to post 3 or 4 times before I got an answer the thread is so completely out of control. It's just the way it is. Plus we all have lives, sometimes I don't get to reading this thread more than once a week I'm so busy, so please don't take it personally

Hi guys. I have had my 125 FOWLR tank up for 18 years. I have read about algae scrubbers for a long time. Dealing with high nitrates and phosphates. It's about time to try my hand at one myself. I have a 20 gal, so I went to Michaels and Home Depot this morning and spent $58.00, and this is what I have started. I will make some reflectors from the 12x12 mirror paper and wood then mount them around the lights. I also ordered an overflow. Should be here this week. Take a look and see what I am doing wrong, and let me know please. Thanks. saitoking

1) light sockets need to be above the lamps, otherwise water will drain into the socket/electrical connections

2) screen size is rather large, have you reviewed the feeding based guidelines?

3) would post more but one of the kids needs the PC for homework. See how that works man, I get 5 minutes and it's gone!

 

[saitoking]

That sometimes happens when you post and then a new page is started, and with a highly active thread, it's easy for a post to get glossed over. Try posting a question in the Multichip thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2128756 I had to post 3 or 4 times before I got an answer the thread is so completely out of control. It's just the way it is. Plus we all have lives, sometimes I don't get to reading this thread more than once a week I'm so busy, so please don't take it personally



1) light sockets need to be above the lamps, otherwise water will drain into the socket/electrical connections

2) screen size is rather large, have you reviewed the feeding based guidelines?

3) would post more but one of the kids needs the PC for homework. See how that works man, I get 5 minutes and it's gone!

Ok
I made a cover a few days ago to keep some of the spray from going all over, lights still not mounted, still have 4 lights 2 on each side not in picture. Also put a union on the screen to make it easy to remove for cleaning. The first post said 20 gals. but is a 10 gal. I have gone by all the basic guide lines . Screen is 10 X12 for a 120 gal tanks, lights are going to be mounted 4 inch away, What do you think? Thanks for the help saitoking

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

That is the old sizing guideline, which was what I was alluding to in #2. Look at the posts in my signature (the summary) and you will see that the screens are no longer sized based on tank volume, but rather on feeding rate, 12 sq in of screen per cube of food (or equivalent) fed per day, on average. You can probably go as much as 1.5 or maybe 2x oversized, but I wouldn't exceed that or you'll run into problems eventually with growth not being green. If it's a long established system, and oversized screen may work well for a few months, but after the scrubber has sucked a lot of the nutrients out of the system, you will need to resize the scrubber according to the feeding load.

 

[Gorgok]

I will also add that i still find the bag/wrap method the simplest and most effective way to remove (not reduce) spray from screens. A black garbage bag is what i would use, cut to be 1/2" longer than the screen is wide, and about 1-2" wider than the pipe circumference. Drape the plastic over the pipe and once water is running it should practically vacuum itself to the screen. A few pokes might be necessary to help get it started though.

The reason for black plastic instead of seran wrap is simply to help prevent light from growing anything in the slot.

While you could cover the whole thing in the wrap or a clear bag, then you have another thing to clean or light starts to get blocked... I just move my strip away while cleaning and put it right back once done.

 

[saitoking]

That is the old sizing guideline, which was what I was alluding to in #2. Look at the posts in my signature (the summary) and you will see that the screens are no longer sized based on tank volume, but rather on feeding rate, 12 sq in of screen per cube of food (or equivalent) fed per day, on average. You can probably go as much as 1.5 or maybe 2x oversized, but I wouldn't exceed that or you'll run into problems eventually with growth not being green. If it's a long established system, and oversized screen may work well for a few months, but after the scrubber has sucked a lot of the nutrients out of the system, you will need to resize the scrubber according to the feeding load.

So you mean by 2X would be 6X8 for a feeding rate of 2 cubes per. day? Since the wattage is now lower I could still use the blubs that I have 23w Spiral CFL bulbs but just use 1 on each side instead of 2, if I go 2X at half the time 9 hours or I will have to buy lower watt blubs? Thanks for the revise it's was too much to read and I didn't get to that part yet. saitoking

 

[Kenfuzed]

So you mean by 2X would be 6X8 for a feeding rate of 2 cubes per. day? Since the wattage is now lower I could still use the blubs that I have 23w Spiral CFL bulbs but just use 1 on each side instead of 2, if I go 2X at half the time 9 hours or I will have to buy lower watt blubs? Thanks for the revise it's was too much to read and I didn't get to that part yet. saitoking

If you jump back to page 131 it has everything summarized in just a few posts. About 1/3 down that page in post 3255 it explains the revised screen size rule of thumb.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1977420&page=131