Algae Scrubber Basics

[kegogut]

And we're off and flowing. Only one light on it right now because I just wanted to get it set up and running but I plan on doing a light on each side with CFLs. I just gotta get to the hardware store tomorrow. Hopefully I'll start seeing a drop in No3 in the next couple months!

 

[salty joe]

You might get a better result with your light at a 90 degree angle from the screen.

 

[Editour2]

Anyone have a suggestion for the following:
I have my algae scrubber over my 40 gal refugium. Water is pumped out of the refugium and flows over the ATS screen and back into the refugium. In the refugium is chaeto macro...however it does not grow at all but does stay alive....I believe this is due to the scrubber and chaeto competing for nutrients. I want to maintain both since the refugium houses pods, sponges etc and is beneficial to my DT. Is there anyway to solve this and maintain both without separating the ATS and refugium?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Yes, you can just dial back the hours on your scrubber lighting. Looks like you are using LEDs, so a short burst of high-intensity light will keep the scrubber growing and doing it's job, but will leave a bit more for the macro in the fuge to keep growing.

Also increasing the intensity and photoperiod of the fuge lighting would bump that up a bit in production I would think.

 

[kegogut]

You might get a better result with your light at a 90 degree angle from the screen.

That was just a temporary light. I purchased some new ones today I plan on installing. Will post up a pic once thats done.

 

[kegogut]

Heres the lights now.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

They really need to be perpendicular to the screen, and closer. About 4" from the end of the lamp to the screen for CFLs

 

[Editour2]

Yes, you can just dial back the hours on your scrubber lighting. Looks like you are using LEDs, so a short burst of high-intensity light will keep the scrubber growing and doing it's job, but will leave a bit more for the macro in the fuge to keep growing.

Also increasing the intensity and photoperiod of the fuge lighting would bump that up a bit in production I would think.

Thanks ....I'll give it a try.

 

[kegogut]

They really need to be perpendicular to the screen, and closer. About 4" from the end of the lamp to the screen for CFLs

I'll get them as close as possible. Good lookin' out.

 

[mujtaba]

Hi, I am setting up a floating horizontal algae scrubber which I believe should work on same principle as traditional water fall algae scrubber but without the need for additional pump. I have attached the screen with two Styrofoam pieces to make it float.

 

[mujtaba]

A thin layer of water is moving over the screen

And It will be lit with 21W (3x7) 660nm LEDs.

 

[mujtaba]

Plz suggest improvements if you find flaw(s) in my plan

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Is the screen roughed up? You will want plenty of direct water movement across the screen, particularly on the top where the light hits the screen

 

[kegogut]

So here's an update.

Heres what my screen looks like after 1 week.

I cleaned it with slow running tap water and my fingers,although nothing really came off. I do plan on cutting my screen down to actual usage (which is 6x12 on both sides) and recutting the slot in the pipe from 12 inches to 6.5 inches giving me more flow over the screen (if needed)

Also I made some light braces with some scrap acrylic I had and moved my lights closer. At the moment I have them 12 on and 12 off.


Let me know what yous think. Am in the right direction?

Thanks!

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

For 1 week of growth, that is a very good start. Brown is the first stage, and if you can't swipe it off with you hand, that means that you have good attachment and a rough screen. Sounds like you are on the right path

 

[mujtaba]

Is the screen roughed up? You will want plenty of direct water movement across the screen, particularly on the top where the light hits the screen

Thanks for the reply. Yes screen is roughed up and it has good water movement across the screen.

 

[jeffkeith_us]

I haven't looked through every page of this forum and so may be beating an old drum. I place all my scrubbers over the light refugium which houses the deep sand bed. Here in the Philippines we have green plastic window screens of different mesh sizes, blue water pipes and link-together T-5, 6500K fixtures.
Also in my systems is incorporated a "Dark Refugium" or "Sponge Box" segregated by smoked glass.

 

[SantaMonica]

You'll want to dump your overflow directly onto the screen so as to get strong air/water interface turbulence.

 

[kegogut]

So I'm currently running my lights 12 on/off.

My question is,can I run my lights for a longer period ? What will happen if I run them 24/7 ?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

For CFLs you can run them 18/6, I've heard from people who run 24/7 and get good results but generally this is on a larger and very high bioload tank.