thejuggernaut
Member
+1. That setup would make it very hard to evenly light the algae.
Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
+1. That setup would make it very hard to evenly light the algae.
srusso
Active member
The short answer is no... several things cause this not to work very well.
I know the thread has become a monster, have a look at these posts. Should catch you up very quickly.
--> POSTS #3251 through 3264
--> Post #5206 Screen Cleaning
Kyle461
New member
Thanks! Clears up all my questions.
Triggerfish
Active member
overlooked the fact of changing bulbs every 3 months and changed after 9 months or so... algae went from lighter green to very dark green after the change. also went from the 23w to the one below as they were much cheaper. doesn't seem to have slowed down the growth at all.
also moved the light away a bit more and on an angle.
getting full screen coverage now instead of the yellow bare spot in front of bulb.
also moved the light away a bit more and on an angle.
getting full screen coverage now instead of the yellow bare spot in front of bulb.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
If you put some strings and air bubbles there, it will work.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Just shape it to fit in the baffles, and so it can slide out. A narrow version of this:
thejuggernaut
Member
What heatsinks do you guys recommend. I need 2 that are 4"X12" and preferably slotted. But all the ones I am seeing are $50 a piece. Surely they aren't all that expensive?!
Raoul5Duke
Active member
Just thought I would post a recent finding regarding scrubbers, which I have been using for a couple of years now to supplement nutrient export. I recently set up a pod farm in an extra 2.5 gallon tank I had. I pulled some algae from my scrubber and put it in the pod tank and the pods went nuts and devoured the algae. So now I have a free source of food for my pods. Maybe this was well known, but new for me. Just another reason that I prefer a scrubber to the traditional refugium, smaller, more effective and a food source for herbivores.
Swope2bc
New member
SantaMonica
Well-known member
You could use a strong top-down waterproof LED plant light, and attach it to the top of one of the baffles. Maybe one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251320043955
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161252647371
Yes, feeding your animals with algae eliminates adding any new nutrients to the system.
thejuggernaut
Member
I understand what they are for, what did you use to make them? As in, what are they?
They are made by Floyd for this purpose. He designed them and had the manufactured. PM him, he sales them by the foot.
Maximus
Active member
I understand what they are for, what did you use to make them? As in, what are they?
Yes, sorry, I didn't make them. The scrubber is an L2 by Turbo Aquatics.
New scrubber, 2nd time.
New scrubber, 2nd time.
So I built scrubber several years ago for my 75g, with the old guidelines. Long story short, built a new stand, moved the tank. Old scrubber didint fit. Threw some Chaeto in the sump under a couple clamp lights. Between my wife being sick with an auto immune disorder, as well as house remodels, the tank has been on minimum maintenance to keep it alive. The algae in the display is starting to take over. My wife is healthy now, so a bit more time and money to put into the tank right now(until the baby arrives....:eek2
I decided to build a new scrubber based on the new guidelines. Tank is 75g with about 20g sump. 2 medium clown, 1 medium anthias, 1 medium sand sifting goby, 1 small mandarin. I 1 cube a day and occasionally some coral food. I decided to do about a 4 cube screen size, due to the older dirty rocks, and to be able to feed more in the future. Measured my flow, did a screen thats 6 1/4 x 8ish effective area. Put it together very simple and cheap. Union on one side supported by the drain pipe thats secured to the wall, opposite side held up with a loop of plastic plumbers strap that it can just slip out of for cleaning. Splash guards are acrylic sheet just hung over the top. Drains into 5gallon square jug with no top, and holes in the side, that serves as a simple bubble separater. (My drain pipe used to drop into it tumbling chaeto.). Thas sitting in a rubbermaid tub.
Lights are currently 1 23w actual CFL per side, in home depot shop light reflectors, painted gloss appliance enamal white inside. The reflectors are a bit bigger than my screen. they are set up with the bulbs centered on the effective area of screen. They are hopefully temporary. I plan to eventually do LED. But I had the reflectors already, and bulbs are $12 for a 4 pack. I hope it should get me going. I may build some new reflectors that will hold the bulbs parallel to the screen if these dont seem to work.
Critiques and concerns are welcome.
And some before tank shots.
New scrubber, 2nd time.
So I built scrubber several years ago for my 75g, with the old guidelines. Long story short, built a new stand, moved the tank. Old scrubber didint fit. Threw some Chaeto in the sump under a couple clamp lights. Between my wife being sick with an auto immune disorder, as well as house remodels, the tank has been on minimum maintenance to keep it alive. The algae in the display is starting to take over. My wife is healthy now, so a bit more time and money to put into the tank right now(until the baby arrives....:eek2
I decided to build a new scrubber based on the new guidelines. Tank is 75g with about 20g sump. 2 medium clown, 1 medium anthias, 1 medium sand sifting goby, 1 small mandarin. I 1 cube a day and occasionally some coral food. I decided to do about a 4 cube screen size, due to the older dirty rocks, and to be able to feed more in the future. Measured my flow, did a screen thats 6 1/4 x 8ish effective area. Put it together very simple and cheap. Union on one side supported by the drain pipe thats secured to the wall, opposite side held up with a loop of plastic plumbers strap that it can just slip out of for cleaning. Splash guards are acrylic sheet just hung over the top. Drains into 5gallon square jug with no top, and holes in the side, that serves as a simple bubble separater. (My drain pipe used to drop into it tumbling chaeto.). Thas sitting in a rubbermaid tub.
Lights are currently 1 23w actual CFL per side, in home depot shop light reflectors, painted gloss appliance enamal white inside. The reflectors are a bit bigger than my screen. they are set up with the bulbs centered on the effective area of screen. They are hopefully temporary. I plan to eventually do LED. But I had the reflectors already, and bulbs are $12 for a 4 pack. I hope it should get me going. I may build some new reflectors that will hold the bulbs parallel to the screen if these dont seem to work.
Critiques and concerns are welcome.
And some before tank shots.
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