Algae Scrubber Basics

[Dave1NC]

Great build! That should be a great scrubber so long the lights are about 4" inches away. What size tank?

thanks srusso. coming from you that means a lot to me. i made sure the lights are 4 inches away. My DT is 240 gallons.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Awesome!

Those screens are going to get heavy with algae eventually. You will want to support the capped ends, but they look like they are directly above the edge of the tank below, so a simple PVC leg system will do fine.

 

[Dave1NC]

Awesome!

Those screens are going to get heavy with algae eventually. You will want to support the capped ends, but they look like they are directly above the edge of the tank below, so a simple PVC leg system will do fine.

Thanks Floyd. The end does extend to the other side of the tank, so I will definitely add some legs to add some support. I didn't think of that but I will build something ASAP.

Another question for you guys. I roughed the entire screen including the part the goes into the 1/8" hole. Will cause any flow issues or will the opening clog prematurely when the algae start to grow?

 

[srusso]

Another question for you guys. I roughed the entire screen including the part the goes into the 1/8" hole. Will cause any flow issues or will the opening clog prematurely when the algae start to grow?

I made the same mistake with my screen as well... Just use more elbow grease cleaning that part of the screen each week.

 

[Dave1NC]

This may seem like a silly question but how come I couldn't just use a simple garden hose to powerwash the screen? The idea is to get the algae off of it correct?

 

[srusso]

This may seem like a silly question but how come I couldn't just use a simple garden hose to powerwash the screen? The idea is to get the algae off of it correct?

I may do that very thing when it warms up here... I hope it works...

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

When the screen gets well grown in, the algae will require scraping to remove. You don't want to blast the algae off and end up with a pristine screen. You want to leave enough on so that it will continue to filter.

Also if you blast it too hard to early in the start-up cycle, it'll be like starting over from scratch.

In reference to the roughed up screen, it'd be a pain to buy a new screen and rough it up again. But you will end up with algae growing into the slot easier. So I would consider re-doing the screens. But, the other option would be to smooth that part back out by de-burring it. Also I would do what fppf did, take a tool and cut out the horizontal sections at the upper part and then the algae will have a very difficult time adhering to that part of the screen (at least, that would make sense)

 

[Dave1NC]

IMO Buffing up the screen was a PITA

Would you recommend just using some sandpaper to smooth it back down? I'm not sure I follow when you say it can be cut out. Wouldn't that prevent the flow from being even across the entire screen?

Did fppf post a pic of what he did? I am a visual kind of guy... If so, can you provide me with the page he posted it on? We got 30 pages going here now .

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

He posted a pic on this post

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18446136&postcount=517

oh yeah on the sandpaper. I don't know, it depends on how much you roughed up the screen. I tell you what I would do - if you have a piece of leftover screen, rough it up, then use a cigarette lighter and pass the roughed up area through the flame and see if you can melt the rough parts off without melting or damaging the screen. Turn it over several times - one quick pass with the lighter, then turn back over, quick pass, you get the idea. Maybe run under cold water in between passes too, so that you only melt away the rough parts.

EDIT:

hmmm...I just tried that...now it smells like burnt plastic. I wouldn't recommend...

Maybe you could take a new razor blade (the trapezoidal kind, like for box cutters) and try to shave off the burrs. That would be tedious too, but at least your whole arm and shoulder wouldn't ache afterwards.

 

[Dave1NC]

He posted a pic on this post

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18446136&postcount=517

oh yeah on the sandpaper. I don't know, it depends on how much you roughed up the screen. I tell you what I would do - if you have a piece of leftover screen, rough it up, then use a cigarette lighter and pass the roughed up area through the flame and see if you can melt the rough parts off without melting or damaging the screen. Turn it over several times - one quick pass with the lighter, then turn back over, quick pass, you get the idea. Maybe run under cold water in between passes too, so that you only melt away the rough parts.

EDIT:

hmmm...I just tried that...now it smells like burnt plastic. I wouldn't recommend...

Maybe you could take a new razor blade (the trapezoidal kind, like for box cutters) and try to shave off the burrs. That would be tedious too, but at least your whole arm and shoulder wouldn't ache afterwards.

That sounds like a plan. I think I'll wait to see what kind of growth I get in the next few days.

Have you ever known anyone who used hair algae from their DT to seed the screen? Also, I have bubble algae that grows in my overflows. Will this also disappear?

 

[travis32]

That is all brown algae right? I know you want to just let it grow, but allow the scrubber to do it's thing. Clean the scrubber under some running tap water and just wipe the algae off with your hand. Clean everything off that you can. While brown algae continues the screen should be clean every 3 days. This stage happens for most people for a week or, so...

So the brown algae is bad or unwanted? Only green algae is wanted?

 

[chrissu]

I may do that very thing when it warms up here... I hope it works...

I use a shop-vac sometimes and a garden hose other times. A garden hose works fine.

 

[Dave1NC]

Changes

Changes

What are thoughts about adding a 2 inch piece of new screen to the top and using zip ties to attach it.

 

[jake levi]

roughing up screen

roughing up screen

For roughing up the screen just take a few swipes across it with a flat hand rasp, it will get as rough as you want it with a few passes.

When Inland Aquatics first came out with this commercially there was a book mentioned and sold, I dont see it on the Inland site.

Does anyone here recall the title and author?

 

[fppf]

So far after cutting out the rows I have not had any issues with growth into the slot.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

What are thoughts about adding a 2 inch piece of new screen to the top and using zip ties to attach it.

That would work ok. Use very small zip ties, the smallest you can find. If the flow seems to be interrupted, then switch to heavy gauge fishing line.

That actually might be preferrable, because then if the top sections gets too nasty you can just replace it. But the smooth screen cleans off very well, so you probably wouldn't have to.

 

[mrbncal]

So the brown algae is bad or unwanted? Only green algae is wanted?

Any algae growth is good. Brown will give way to the green hair type after awhile. Brown is associated with new screens or tanks with a lot of phosphate leaching out of the rocks and/or the gravel.

 

[mrbncal]

Have you ever known anyone who used hair algae from their DT to seed the screen? Also, I have bubble algae that grows in my overflows. Will this also disappear?

I used hair algae from my tank and put it on the screen to "seed" it. I dont know if it helped all that much but why not try it.

And yes bubble algae will disappear . . . slowly. In my tank is seemed to hang on longer than the hair algae but eventually it has all but disappeared. I have some around the overflow that just wont die. But I dont see any on teh rock.

 

[fppf]

I'm finally starting to see little strings of hair forming.
I did notice the glass in the DT is not growing as fast as it used to. After about a week it used to be covered now there is only a film in the same time period.

I think I might start putting the second box in place soon. I bought the file container, mother inlaw had a 40% off coupon at Joann fabrics, they carry the same file box. I felt really dumb standing there with a file box, and a 40% coupon at the register. All the craft ladies where looking at me funny. Thinking what the heck is this 6' 1" guy wearing a greasy caraheart and ripped jeans doing here!

 

[travis32]

I cleaned off / washed off the brown algae as reccomended. Wow, that made a big difference on flow. I'm able to open the flow wide open now and no spray!! It flows down the screen nicely. The brown algae was clogging the flow in the pipe causing it to form preassure points and causing water to spray. Now it flows great and no issues.

Full flow now--- 475gph. And there's green under the brown algae forming. So, it's coming in.... Yaay. Now to wait another month.... Today is exactly 1 week of operation!