Reef Reactor
Member
I am thinking to cover the bucket internally with a reflector material, then place the bulbs hanged from the top and protected from water. Will that work? I asume I need a flow of 480gph at least, correct?
Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
that would probably work, as long as the lamps are shielded and the sockets are watertight, because you're going to get a lot of spray.
For flow it's a minimum of 35 GPH per inch of screen width, so 8x35=280, and eventually you might plan for 60 GPH/in or 480, but not initially. Too much flow on a new screen can deter initial growth, as can too much light. Once it's mature you can bump these up.
For flow it's a minimum of 35 GPH per inch of screen width, so 8x35=280, and eventually you might plan for 60 GPH/in or 480, but not initially. Too much flow on a new screen can deter initial growth, as can too much light. Once it's mature you can bump these up.
Reef Reactor
Member
Thanks Floyd, I will start to work on it and pictured process.
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I usually recommend a 2 cube/day minimum scrubber size, if you can fit it. Then for a larger tank, right about the 150-180g point is where you should start making it larger based on size alone. For a 300, making it big enough to handle about 4 cubes/day (even if you only feed 2) is a good rule of thumb. Width vs length depends a bit on your lighting and space available. Try to make it as wide as possible (within reason, of course)
Mike Ordner
Active member
will this bulb work for scrubber?
will this bulb work for scrubber?
TaoTronics® E27 12W Led Grow Light Red Blue LED Lights for Plants in Garden Greenhouse(TT-GL20)
http://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-C2...p/B00GNWK2XO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
will this bulb work for scrubber?
TaoTronics® E27 12W Led Grow Light Red Blue LED Lights for Plants in Garden Greenhouse(TT-GL20)
http://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-C2...p/B00GNWK2XO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
SantaMonica
Well-known member
It's a bit focused, but it will work for a 12w LED = 24 watt CFL.
Mike Ordner
Active member
Recommendations on a better light with more spread?
Brummie
Member
Algae Scrubber Basics
I've got one similar and the lenses just come straight off, which gives more spread. You could glue a bit of Perspex in to stop any salt spray/creep.
I've got one similar and the lenses just come straight off, which gives more spread. You could glue a bit of Perspex in to stop any salt spray/creep.
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Scrubber is 5 days old now.
Stuffs growing great so far. Need to hit the green stage ASAP...
Hold the phone - are your lamps touching the saran wrap? If so, you need to correct this!!! CFL lamp get hot, hot enough to melt things like this. This is a fire hazard, no CFL elements should be in direct contact with anything!!
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Also, it looks like the majority of the spiral part of the CFL is actually protruding from the reflector. This means your screen is getting about 10% of the light output by the lamps, because it is all going sideways.
You need to get better reflectors, even if you have to DIY them. Can you post a different pic of the step, looking parallel to the screen so I can see the lamps and reflectors?
IMO the best way to use CFL is to hang them vertically with a curved reflector behind them. The majority of the light for sprial CFLs goes sideways, so it makes sense to take advantage of direct light most. Then you place a curved reflector behind the lamp and re-direct the back and side light forward.
You need to get better reflectors, even if you have to DIY them. Can you post a different pic of the step, looking parallel to the screen so I can see the lamps and reflectors?
IMO the best way to use CFL is to hang them vertically with a curved reflector behind them. The majority of the light for sprial CFLs goes sideways, so it makes sense to take advantage of direct light most. Then you place a curved reflector behind the lamp and re-direct the back and side light forward.
DavidinGA
Active member
No nothing is touching the bulbs; it's just the angle of the pic that makes it look that way.
DavidinGA
Active member
Here's a straight on shot.
I have two of those and then on the other side of the screen I have two of the smaller light fixtures that hang vertically like you were mentioning...
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Here's a straight on shot.
I have two of those and then on the other side of the screen I have two of the smaller light fixtures that hang vertically like you were mentioning...
When you post anything via tapatalk, you have to select the post and "edit" it, and then save it again or else it does not show up right when viewing from a PC. It shows up normally when viewing the post you just made via tapatalk, but on a PC it's just text and you see the QUOTE bbcode. Just FYI
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Ok I see it now. I was seeing the reflection of the lamps. Looks good now that I see that.
DavidinGA
Active member
Ya I have some of that clear plastic sheeting (lexan) on both sides of the scrubber to protect the bulbs from any water. Those sheets are really reflective and messed up that first pic pretty bad...
Would a 36" x 12" screen double sided to big for 16-20 cubes a day? Classic waterfall design, would be lite by 4x 36" T5 HO with reflectors, thinking ~ 3000k temp. Flow from a Jeabo DC 12000.
Also, does having the bulbs 6" from screen vs. 3" or so really make a huge difference? I've got a sump basically I'd be using and it's 12" wide. I'd rather not cut 6" out of it width wise.
Also, does having the bulbs 6" from screen vs. 3" or so really make a huge difference? I've got a sump basically I'd be using and it's 12" wide. I'd rather not cut 6" out of it width wise.
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Normally the guideline at play is no more than double the size of what you feed. But there is a bit of diminishing returns that goes on when you get to super-huge sizes. So if you feed 20 cubes/day, 20x12=240, and that's a really big screen already. If you were to use the same flow as a 36" wide screen on a 24" wide screen, you would likely get thicker growth, plus 24" lamps are a lot more common than 36" (and less expensive)
You're going to be replacing lamps like mad and that is going to add up. I would seriously consider DIYing this in LED, it will most definitely pay for itself in the long run.
You're going to be replacing lamps like mad and that is going to add up. I would seriously consider DIYing this in LED, it will most definitely pay for itself in the long run.
