Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
Brummie
Member
Algae Scrubber Basics
Don't think it'll be phytoplankton, as such. Not sure but maybe damaged filamentous algae that's leaking it's cell contents. If it is, then I imagine it wouldn't store very well. May be worthwhile culturing some from an identified pure source if that's what you fancy. Don't suppose you've got a microscope?
Don't think it'll be phytoplankton, as such. Not sure but maybe damaged filamentous algae that's leaking it's cell contents. If it is, then I imagine it wouldn't store very well. May be worthwhile culturing some from an identified pure source if that's what you fancy. Don't suppose you've got a microscope?
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Fun weekend reading: Comparing the first type of DIY scrubber:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843
With the most recent:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2421899
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843
With the most recent:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2421899
Brummie
Member
Algae Scrubber Basics
You seem to have favoured single sided substrates recently. How do these compare with the double sided screens? which, let's face it, was the major difference between the scrubbers of old, and your version.
You seem to have favoured single sided substrates recently. How do these compare with the double sided screens? which, let's face it, was the major difference between the scrubbers of old, and your version.
Last edited:
knight2255
New member
What are some good quick disconnects for the wiring on my diy scrubber?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
google "automotive weatherpack"
PS you'll need a crimp tool for most of these. Mine cost about $80 but I have gone through about 1000 connectors of the past 2 years
PS you'll need a crimp tool for most of these. Mine cost about $80 but I have gone through about 1000 connectors of the past 2 years
knight2255
New member
awesome, thanks!
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Single sided are the only choice in an enclosed easy-to-build box, unless you add strings to make them double side, which takes more work.
The major difference between my original waterfall design and my current upflow design is that the waterfall must still go above the water.
Brummie
Member
Algae Scrubber Basics
I found the opposite when using appendages. It robbed light from the screen and effectively reduced overall growth, but mine is horizontal so may work differently I suppose.
The appendages used by Adey were to promote reduced flow in filamentous diatom dominated systems, not in GHA systems. I'm struggling to see how this correlates in any way with bubbly scrubbers, but hey ho;
I found the opposite when using appendages. It robbed light from the screen and effectively reduced overall growth, but mine is horizontal so may work differently I suppose.
The appendages used by Adey were to promote reduced flow in filamentous diatom dominated systems, not in GHA systems. I'm struggling to see how this correlates in any way with bubbly scrubbers, but hey ho;
jalisco
New member
My apologies for asking a question I'm sure has been answered but I cannot find in any post on any site. Pointing me to the thread or post will be just as appreciated.
I haven't set my tank up yet but I thought I could set up my quarantine tank with a surf2. How do you get an ats going without fish? Do I mix water, put in fish, scrubber and ammonia alert and do water changes until the ats kicks in?
I plan on quarantining all fish for three months. During that time I planned on setting up my DT with 1" of reef flakes aragavive and a turbo rev3 L2 or L3 in the sump as sole filtration and use the DT as a qt for inverts and coral. How do I get the turbo going with no fish?
Thank you guys in advance for any direction or advice?
I haven't set my tank up yet but I thought I could set up my quarantine tank with a surf2. How do you get an ats going without fish? Do I mix water, put in fish, scrubber and ammonia alert and do water changes until the ats kicks in?
I plan on quarantining all fish for three months. During that time I planned on setting up my DT with 1" of reef flakes aragavive and a turbo rev3 L2 or L3 in the sump as sole filtration and use the DT as a qt for inverts and coral. How do I get the turbo going with no fish?
Thank you guys in advance for any direction or advice?
jalisco
New member
Couldn't you make the floating box of the SURF2 deeper to accommodate a second waterproof led pack which goes in first facing up, then a wad of green grabber material followed by the second led pack facing down?
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Adding strings does makes it 2-sided, yes.
You qt can be started with some fish and scrubber; keep feeding until the scrubber gets some growth, and then take the fish out. The scrubber will die of slightly and this will recycle nutrient to grow again, waiting for the next fish. Or you can just keep a fish in there.
You qt can be started with some fish and scrubber; keep feeding until the scrubber gets some growth, and then take the fish out. The scrubber will die of slightly and this will recycle nutrient to grow again, waiting for the next fish. Or you can just keep a fish in there.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Anyone want to build a tang feeder? Just make a floating surface scrubber but make the drain holes in the bottom a bit bigger, maybe 3/4", so the tangs can reach up inside. This way they don't have to wait for algae to flow out of the holes before eating it, like they do now with mine because the holes are smaller.
You might never get a harvest but that wouldn't be the purpose. At the very least, the harvest would be much less.
You might never get a harvest but that wouldn't be the purpose. At the very least, the harvest would be much less.
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
Different Kinds of Sand Beds
Different Kinds of Sand Beds
jalisco,
Again I to like sand beds as, “Part of a good breakfast.” …I mean as part of a well rounded system. ATS proponents like them and so to the Berlin skimmer fans. I am chiming in just to add some information and spur some thought.
I am having a heck of a time finding the article by Dr. Charles Matthews who is, I believe the inventor of the reverse flow under gravel filter that was mentioned earlier. I just don’t remember where I filed the PDF. The part that I liked about it is that it actually dissolves coral sand in addition to processing waste. This desolation helps stabilize water chemistry by adding whatever is in the sand to the water column, calcium, trace elements etc.
The important feature, as I see it, is that you have the same size outlet and inlet so that there as very little water pressure is exerted against the bottom of the deep sand bed. This causes a very slow migration of water through the bed which allows the bacterial processes to be effective.
He is a medical doctor so as much as he knows about organic chemistry, he only offers observational results as evidence that it works. He told me that he has to add sand to the bed regularly to replace what is dissolved.
OK I’m now going to add another cog in the wheel. I will talk a little about another kind of sand bed.
Many years ago, the so called Jaubert Plenum system was popular. It was an adaptation of Dr. Jaubert’s larger display system. It was purportedly a primary system but was later regarded as more of a secondary because some people felt that the primary method of waste removal in his system was actually water changes.
Never the less, the small tank adaptation bore his name and because of the interest in the subject, I published a couple of article Fresh Water and Marine Aquarium and Marine Fish Monthly. Not that I was an expert on the subject but I thought I could cut through the chatter and help some people build the most excepted version of it. http://asaherring.com/Reef/Sandsetup.pdf10 years ago or better, I consolidated them both together into one article for easier access and posted it on my web site. I am dyslexic so there are a few “typos” that the editors never had a chance to get rid of as they crept back in but it might be of help.
Basically, it had an open space of semi-static water beneath a coral gravel layer, with a coral sand layer on top. These three zones were separated by screen to keep the bugs and critters out of the two lower areas of the bed.
The idea was that the top was aerobic because of the churn of the bottom dwellers, the middle was a bug free transition zone and the plenum was and aerobic zone. Each zone was supposed to work on different waste products. Water moved through the entire bed very slowly through simple migration, not pumps. Desolation was also suppose to happen but wasn’t shown much.
I had it in my ATS tank and used it by itself for about 3 month when I left the tank unattended. I simple had someone add top off water for me. When I came back, I cleaned the glass and checked the water parameters. They were pretty good.
Different Kinds of Sand Beds
jalisco,
Again I to like sand beds as, “Part of a good breakfast.” …I mean as part of a well rounded system. ATS proponents like them and so to the Berlin skimmer fans. I am chiming in just to add some information and spur some thought.
I am having a heck of a time finding the article by Dr. Charles Matthews who is, I believe the inventor of the reverse flow under gravel filter that was mentioned earlier. I just don’t remember where I filed the PDF. The part that I liked about it is that it actually dissolves coral sand in addition to processing waste. This desolation helps stabilize water chemistry by adding whatever is in the sand to the water column, calcium, trace elements etc.
The important feature, as I see it, is that you have the same size outlet and inlet so that there as very little water pressure is exerted against the bottom of the deep sand bed. This causes a very slow migration of water through the bed which allows the bacterial processes to be effective.
He is a medical doctor so as much as he knows about organic chemistry, he only offers observational results as evidence that it works. He told me that he has to add sand to the bed regularly to replace what is dissolved.
OK I’m now going to add another cog in the wheel. I will talk a little about another kind of sand bed.
Many years ago, the so called Jaubert Plenum system was popular. It was an adaptation of Dr. Jaubert’s larger display system. It was purportedly a primary system but was later regarded as more of a secondary because some people felt that the primary method of waste removal in his system was actually water changes.
Never the less, the small tank adaptation bore his name and because of the interest in the subject, I published a couple of article Fresh Water and Marine Aquarium and Marine Fish Monthly. Not that I was an expert on the subject but I thought I could cut through the chatter and help some people build the most excepted version of it. http://asaherring.com/Reef/Sandsetup.pdf10 years ago or better, I consolidated them both together into one article for easier access and posted it on my web site. I am dyslexic so there are a few “typos” that the editors never had a chance to get rid of as they crept back in but it might be of help.
Basically, it had an open space of semi-static water beneath a coral gravel layer, with a coral sand layer on top. These three zones were separated by screen to keep the bugs and critters out of the two lower areas of the bed.
The idea was that the top was aerobic because of the churn of the bottom dwellers, the middle was a bug free transition zone and the plenum was and aerobic zone. Each zone was supposed to work on different waste products. Water moved through the entire bed very slowly through simple migration, not pumps. Desolation was also suppose to happen but wasn’t shown much.
I had it in my ATS tank and used it by itself for about 3 month when I left the tank unattended. I simple had someone add top off water for me. When I came back, I cleaned the glass and checked the water parameters. They were pretty good.
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
Sorry Double Post
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
After 3 days of looking, I finally found the RFlowDSB article by Dr. Charles Matthews.
This is an article for an Up Side Down Sand Bed (USDB)
Marine Fish and Reef 2005 Annual
SUMP IMPROVEMENT
By Dr. Charles Matthews
It is eight pages but it is mostly pictures. Sorry, I don't have a pdf of this.
It starts with some discussion of sumps.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image(1).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (2).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (3).jpg
The upside down sand bed actually starts here.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (4).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (5).jpg
Then it moves on to other ideas but has a cool picture of a water flow test.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image(6).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image7.jpg
Another test with different construction.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (8).jpg
This is an article for an Up Side Down Sand Bed (USDB)
Marine Fish and Reef 2005 Annual
SUMP IMPROVEMENT
By Dr. Charles Matthews
It is eight pages but it is mostly pictures. Sorry, I don't have a pdf of this.
It starts with some discussion of sumps.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image(1).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (2).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (3).jpg
The upside down sand bed actually starts here.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (4).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (5).jpg
Then it moves on to other ideas but has a cool picture of a water flow test.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image(6).jpg
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image7.jpg
Another test with different construction.
http://asaherring.com/reef/covers/Image (8).jpg
Last edited:
