Algae Scrubber Basics

[_shorty_]

Well I did a DIY (worlds ugliest skimmer, all PVC) design. I was actually thinking about running the output to cascade over the screen as well but if the skimmer shifts then it's going to be a mess. I can't plumb it into the scrubber input because it isn't pressurized and the water would be forced backwards into my skimmer. I'm kind of at a loss for what to do. I only want the skimmer to be a supplement to the scrubber but I want them to complement each other if possible.

My opinion is that the skimmer into the scrubber would be ideal... Do you have enough flow through the skimmer to supply the scrubber? Instead of 'free airing' onto the screen, I'd plumb into the scrubber somehow... If not enough flow via skimmer by itself, maybe combine/'Y' the output together with a pump to feed directly into the slotted scrubber pipe.

 

[SantaMonica]

Remember that in a new tank, it's easy to start out with scrubber-only and see how it goes. You can add your skimmer (if you made space for it) later if you decide you want to remove the food particles from the water.

 

[blackwidow]

ok here are pics of my first prototype Algae Turf Scrubber made from 22mm Flo-Plast pipe and connectors connected to a D-D Upflow 2000 Pump.

Project not complete: Still need 1 More CFL Bulb / Holder and reflectors aswell a splash guard (Acrylic??)

Heres some Porno for y'all:

Full ATS with Pump attached

Close up of ATS Legs made from same pipe as the ATS itself, 22mm Floplast Pipe from wickes so durable you can cut it with scissors, ATS Screen slots inside the central pipe that has holes drilled along length of slit. Drilled Holes minimize chance of water spraying out of slit where Screen connects to scrubber. So you get a calm water fall flow effect when pump is on over the screen.

This has been custom fitted to stand over first compartment of sump, you can see the notches in each ATS leg fits nicely onto baffles

Light clipped onto the side of one leg, will be another light on other side

Final Installation Pose

 

[blackwidow]

Some Vids:

http://youtu.be/tTLA6VuME3A
http://youtu.be/wX4pmsMW6Oo

What do you guys think? Any suggestions to improve design?

Bulbs running are 20 Watt CFL's @ 2700K

 

[nanomania]

nice idea....... how have u connected from inside? as the water wud come out.....

 

[srusso]

ok here are pics of my first prototype Algae Turf Scrubber made from 22mm Flo-Plast pipe and connectors connected to a D-D Upflow 2000 Pump.

Project not complete: Still need 1 More CFL Bulb / Holder and reflectors aswell a splash guard (Acrylic??)

Heres some Porno for y'all:

Full ATS with Pump attached

Close up of ATS Legs made from same pipe as the ATS itself, 22mm Floplast Pipe from wickes so durable you can cut it with scissors, ATS Screen slots inside the central pipe that has holes drilled along length of slit. Drilled Holes minimize chance of water spraying out of slit where Screen connects to scrubber. So you get a calm water fall flow effect when pump is on over the screen.

This has been custom fitted to stand over first compartment of sump, you can see the notches in each ATS leg fits nicely onto baffles

Light clipped onto the side of one leg, will be another light on other side

Final Installation Pose

Needs reflectors for the lights. Everthing else looks good.

 

[blackwidow]

nice idea....... how have u connected from inside? as the water wud come out.....

Well if you look at the ATS I have made it is hard to see but the only pipe that has water running through it is the central pipe connected to the pump which has a slit along the under side of it with holes drilled along every CM of the slit to allow water to flow out and on the scrubber mesh!

The 4 Legs of the Algae Scrubber which are made of the same 22mm PVC Pipe as the Central Feed Pipe are just glued to the Central Pipe and only act to support the structure on top of the Sump Baffles.

At the end of central feed pipe I have blocked it off with 2-part Epoxy Putty which when mixed together forms a rock hard water proof seal:
http://www.fast-lad.co.uk/store/product_info.php?products_id=13240
However you could also use another seal / cap to block the end off!

 

[blackwidow]

Needs reflectors for the lights. Everthing else looks good.

You can follow my build thread and comment here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2261943

Can I say though that using 22mm PVC Pipe make for such an easy material to work with as it flexible strong but can be cut with scissors :lol2:

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

+1 on needing reflectors, do you have these but just took them off for the video?

 

[nanomania]

Well if you look at the ATS I have made it is hard to see but the only pipe that has water running through it is the central pipe connected to the pump which has a slit along the under side of it with holes drilled along every CM of the slit to allow water to flow out and on the scrubber mesh!

The 4 Legs of the Algae Scrubber which are made of the same 22mm PVC Pipe as the Central Feed Pipe are just glued to the Central Pipe and only act to support the structure on top of the Sump Baffles.

At the end of central feed pipe I have blocked it off with 2-part Epoxy Putty which when mixed together forms a rock hard water proof seal:
http://www.fast-lad.co.uk/store/product_info.php?products_id=13240
However you could also use another seal / cap to block the end off!

thts nice..... is the putty reef safe?

 

[blackwidow]

+1 on needing reflectors, do you have these but just took them off for the video?

No I dont have reflectors as I am still still deciding which ones to use spotlight style or halide style reflectors? For me, weight is the problem this whole design is light weight, so to do the reflectors have to be :idea:

thts nice..... is the putty reef safe?

Yes it is, Fish Safe if thats what you mean!

 

[crn005]

My opinion is that the skimmer into the scrubber would be ideal... Do you have enough flow through the skimmer to supply the scrubber? Instead of 'free airing' onto the screen, I'd plumb into the scrubber somehow... If not enough flow via skimmer by itself, maybe combine/'Y' the output together with a pump to feed directly into the slotted scrubber pipe.*

I have been thinking about how to get the skimmer to flow into the scrubber but I'm almost certain that the water coming from my overflow (feeding the scrubber) or a pump is just going to be too much water pressure. It's going to force water back into the skimmer. I guess I'll just have to run them as separate units.

Remember that in a new tank, it's easy to start out with scrubber-only and see how it goes. You can add your skimmer (if you made space for it) later if you decide you want to remove the food particles from the water.*

Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking. I want to let the scrubber have first go at the goods then let the skimmer clean up the rest, if needed. As soon as I'm done redoing my stand and drilling the tank we will see what's going to be needed!

 

[ReefKeeper64]

Gorgeous 427 gal SPS reef filtered by an ATS, Bio-pellets, Skimmer, and Carbon.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/1/aquarium

 

[nanomania]

hey floyd turbo, i recently read ur post on UAS and liked it..... since i tried the waterfall one, but my biggest issue is space, i cant go for it and since horizontal ATS is also not a good option, can i go for UAS? are u still using it? also would like to know any thread with before after pics of DT tank with algae...... i dont care about the test results, coz iv seen tanks with 0 N and P, with algae still growing......

 

[_shorty_]

hey floyd turbo, i recently read ur post on UAS and liked it..... since i tried the waterfall one, but my biggest issue is space, i cant go for it and since horizontal ATS is also not a good option, can i go for UAS? are u still using it? also would like to know any thread with before after pics of DT tank with algae...... i dont care about the test results, coz iv seen tanks with 0 N and P, with algae still growing......

Hey, nano... I know you didn't direct your question at me, but just thought I'd share. I also don't like the space the ATS takes up (nor do i like dealing with the slotted pipe or salt creep) and would like to free that part of my sump up for other stuff as well as use that pump for something else. Over the past couple months I've been maturing UAS screens, so technically running both ATS and UAS currently. I know im getting close to being able to make the transition, but I'm apprehensive. My findings so far (even though NOT compairing apples to apples due to lighting differences and screen material differences and such) are that I'm actually getting better actual GHA on the UAS as apposed to the ATS. The ATS is getting more slimy bright green growth now that the UAS has been catching up. I'm guessing that's due to over all screen size being too large for the system with the combination of the two scrubbers, But can't say for sure. Maybe someone else will chime in there... My system is far from ideal, but I believe I'm making improvements. And I'm hoping the UAS is going to cut it, because I like the trade offs so far. You might read more about UAS on the .net site... Don't know if I can post that here...

 

[Vlado4x4]

Has anybody used Coral Complusion 21w led refugium grow light ?

http://coralcompulsion.com/led-21w-REF-GRO

I have a 250G reef tank, mainly sps and lps. And was wondering in doing a scrubber using these lights. If so ... how many should i use ?

 

[nanomania]

Hey, nano... I know you didn't direct your question at me, but just thought I'd share. I also don't like the space the ATS takes up (nor do i like dealing with the slotted pipe or salt creep) and would like to free that part of my sump up for other stuff as well as use that pump for something else. Over the past couple months I've been maturing UAS screens, so technically running both ATS and UAS currently. I know im getting close to being able to make the transition, but I'm apprehensive. My findings so far (even though NOT compairing apples to apples due to lighting differences and screen material differences and such) are that I'm actually getting better actual GHA on the UAS as apposed to the ATS. The ATS is getting more slimy bright green growth now that the UAS has been catching up. I'm guessing that's due to over all screen size being too large for the system with the combination of the two scrubbers, But can't say for sure. Maybe someone else will chime in there... My system is far from ideal, but I believe I'm making improvements. And I'm hoping the UAS is going to cut it, because I like the trade offs so far. You might read more about UAS on the .net site... Don't know if I can post that here...

do u need to take a different screen size? any pics of ur uas if possible? before after dt pics?

 

[_shorty_]

do u need to take a different screen size? any pics of ur uas if possible? before after dt pics?

No change before and after DT pics, really, in just a couple months. I was running the ATS before adding the UAS. For now the UAS is just in addition to the ATS in hopeful preparation for a transition to only UAS scrubbing.

I believe I currently have too much total screen size, I have noticed a reduction in GHA melting from the DT and even a tiny bit of algae growth in new areas of 0the DT but not enough to raise too much concern for me. I probably need to go ahead and make the transition, and keep the old ATS screen around just in case. However my N and P testing is still good with current setup.

I can show the current setup though. I only in the past week added the second half of the UAS 'screen', so I need a longer air stone, however the new half is still in initial 'maturing' stages of growth despite that.

I'll try to take pics of my 'screens' to show how they are different than normal when I get home tonight. It's basically acrylic sheets with velcro stuck to them (similar to kress's horizontal setup). So far the GHA that actually grows on them seems thicker than the stuff that grew on the ATS. It's almost hard to get off (I really have to scrape them), since it gets rooted so strongly on the velcro.

Last I read, sizing guidlines are the same, but UAS tend to be one sided - which effectively doubles your total screen size.

 

[nanomania]

im feeding 2 pinches a day, but i want to get rid of algae, so will make a bigger 1 first, then ill cut the screen to smaller size....

 

[SantaMonica]

Coral Complusion 21w led refugium grow light

Good wattage, but they are really close together... designed to hang overhead. When put up near a vertical scrubber screen, it will burn in the middle unless you really diffuse it or back it way up.