Algae Scrubber Basics

_shorty_ said:
A narrow screen is not necessarily a problem, I think the point was to make sure you get light coverage over whole screen. You may try a linear configuration with bulbs, rather than triangular/circular.

I've seen you post on finding screen thick enough a couple times now.. The typical screen material most use is from hobby store. It's about 1/16th inch thick. The brand my hobby store carries is : Yarnology - ultra stiff - plastic canvas, used for crochet and knitting.

The stuff you have doesn't look too far off but its hard to tell. When roughing the screen, you have to take your time and just keep going over it... Don't expect to get it roughed up in two passes, otherwise you would probably tear the screen.

Edit: took a second look at your screen compared to extra I have laying around... Each strand of yours does look thinner than mine, which would probably tend to tear more easily. Yours looks more like plastic screening more like a screen door, rather than a 'canvas' with thicker grid lines.
Click to expand...

i searched on ebay, Yarnology - ultra stiff - plastic canvas but its not being sold there. Do you know where will i get it online? alsocan i go for the black screen, its really thick and strong but holes are small.
 
Or ihaveno option but to go for horizontal. i already have a spare top filter. i would like to know the flow required. the screen will be 4"x 10" approx.. here are the pics:

IMG02182-20121216-1631_zpsa0b1f157.jpg

IMG02183-20121216-1631_zps7c4584db.jpg

IMG02184-20121216-1915_zps321a89a4.jpg




IN THE LAST PIC, IV KEPT A ROUND SPONGE BELOW THE SCREEN, TO GIVE IT A SLOPE...
 
please suggest/help me with the screen, im not getting thick plastic canvas.... has anyone ever tried the black window screen? i have uploaded the pic of different types of screen on page 177
 
nanomania said:
here are some links that do send to india...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Darice-7-Me...622?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2e806c8e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-PLASTIC-...103?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337e388bbf

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Darice-Plas...062?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d079e330e

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLASTIC-CAN...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3a5dfdb83d
Click to expand...

Floyd R Turbo said:
This one. You can throw away the holiday pattern books and keep the mesh - looks like the clear #7

I can tell by the distance between the holes at the end with the "tab" sticking off of it - these are the correct sized holes, this is definitely the one you want.
Click to expand...

That's 10 bucks though...

How about this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Darice-7-Me...416?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c1b1c3f8
 
Yes, as srusso said, that's the stuff!

ultra stiff is fine it just takes a little longer to rough up, and is a bit more durable. buy extra sheets in case you mess it up.
 
Hey Floyd, I have been doing a ton of scrubber research and try to learn as much as I can without the need to ask a question.. I know "the closer the better" with lighting is the norm, but how close is too close with a 23w cfl flood light on each side? I have the perfect light box setup, but there is only room for a 3" space between the lights, creating a 1.5" space from light to mesh. I have run the lights for an hour, they get hot, but not so hot that I can't touch them. If this is too close, I have the option of going single sided with double lights in the same box. Would a cooling fan help, or is it the radiant heat that becomes a problem?
 

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The radiant heat from the CFL floodlights I believe is slightly less of a problem. The intensity is also a little less of a problem, because those typically have a diffuser-like material at the output (those look like they have a 'bumpy' lens). so you might be OK with those. Just a note I would do something to seal the electrical connector.

All you can do is try it out and see what happens. If that was a bare lamp - it would be too much. If you go a long time without getting growth in the center, put it on a timer for a few hours at a time with a hour gap in between Eventually, if you try enough things, you will get growth.
 
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