Algae Scrubber Basics

[jerseypete]

Was looking to try an algea scrubber. I had an idea to make one out of stuff I already had laying around. My idea was to use a 20 gallon tank with the ruffed up screen about 8-10 inches under the surface of the water. Laying horizontal. From end to end of the tank. And putting 2 large airstones under it and I have a mars aqua 165w. The tank is plumbed to my system already. Wondering if this would work. The screen would be approximately 12 x 20. It would be lit from the top.
this is a really bad drawing. But this is just thinking and scratching things down. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[jerseypete]

Was looking to try an algea scrubber. I had an idea to make one out of stuff I already had laying around. My idea was to use a 20 gallon tank with the ruffed up screen about 8-10 inches under the surface of the water. Laying horizontal. From end to end of the tank. And putting 2 large airstones under it and I have a mars aqua 165w. The tank is plumbed to my system already. Wondering if this would work. The screen would be approximately 12 x 20. It would be lit from the top.
View attachment 338926this is a really bad drawing. But this is just thinking and scratching things down. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Was going to make a frame out of pvc for the mesh. So the air bubbles have to travel through the mesh. Not around. Also the tank is blacked out on 3 sides.

 

[biecacka]

My screen that I'm roughing up is 13x8.5 inches. Is that big enough? I'll probably start with CFL lighting on both sides, how many do I need? 1/2 per side. Any links for some good cheap LEDs pre made that ppl are having success with?

Corey

 

[SantaMonica]

biecacka you could put some strings on some eggcrate and set it in there, and put a light on top. Can add air bubblers too if you really want growth.

Can I use smaller than recommended algae scrubber and keep using my skimmer?

Yes, any export is better than no export. But to be able to stop waterchanges, or remove other filters, the scrubber(s) need to be larger.

Is the algae scrubber meant to replace carbon, phosphate remover media?

Activated carbon has no effect on a scrubber and does not remove nutrients; it just make the water a bit more unaturally clear. Phosphate remover however will slow your scrubber, and is expensive.

HOG. How do you cut your air tube?

A long cut, with several cross cuts.

Laying horizontal. From end to end of the tank. And putting 2 large airstones under it

Not the best plan, because the bubbles will soon be blocked from getting through the screen. Instead just put the screen vertical, over the bubbles. The Mars light would probably work if you dimmed it and made it more red.

 

[jason2459]

So was off work today.....been researching ATS and want to try one. Well I had some extra acrylic around from my baffles, went over to American plastics had them cut it for me. Got a piece off their scrap rack that he cut for me. They drilled a few drain holes for me and I grabbed some Weldon and stuff. Never doing this before I wasn't sure how it would go so I figured what the heck. I text GEO a few questions and went to town......

To this...

Almost done...

Letting it rest for now, GEO said I could assemble it all today and let it sit for a day or 2. I'm not sure how it will look or turn out for that matter, but it's DIY right!!!!:lol:


Corey

That's awesome and George, I assume you're talking with there, is a great resource. This thread is also a great resource with lots of helpful people in it that know a lot about acrylic
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1056956&page=183

 

[biecacka]

Yeah George is a buddy of mine. He built my entire set up so I have watched him work a bit. Is is my first try at working with acrylic but George responded right back to me and confirmed that I was capable of doing it. It's done now, going to let it sit for a day or so.
I have read that thread a number of times as well! :lol: so much information in it.
Now I must figure out the lights for a sheet my size.

Corey

 

[jason2459]

Yeah George is a buddy of mine. He built my entire set up so I have watched him work a bit. Is is my first try at working with acrylic but George responded right back to me and confirmed that I was capable of doing it. It's done now, going to let it sit for a day or so.
I have read that thread a number of times as well! :lol: so much information in it.
Now I must figure out the lights for a sheet my size.

Corey

That's awesome. I've heard nothing but good things about GEO products. Hit up Turbo Floyd here as I think he still has a lot of stock for the light/splash guard blockers that go over the PVC pipe that holds the screen.

 

[biecacka]

Yea I plan on that. I was thinking of taking the 1in PVC and placing it inside a larger pipe and using it as a splash gaurd but I'd rather have his contraption is possible. I'll ask him on lighting too.
As far as Geo products go....I cannot speak highly enough of them. He is literally a 1 man show who cranks out amazing products. Whatever my next need is, I'll ask him to build it first. Been thinking of a sump really. I like those custom sumps for sure. They can be pretty sweet. But my 75 works just fine.

Corey

 

[Crusinjimbo]

Jerseypete, I think that once your screen fills in with algae growth the air bubbles from below will be forced around the screen as opposed to through the screen and algae production will suffer from insufficient laminar flow. Having a 20G plumbed in to work with offers you much better (more productive/efficient) design options than the one you depicted.

 

[Jade5051]

I would caution that I do not see any indication that the LED's are mounted on a heat sink? I would be interested in hearing if the 1 watt per LED would be sufficient power?

Isn't the PCB board the heat sink?

 

[Jade5051]

Would these LED strips work on either a waterfall or upflow scrubber?

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/331616010901

 

[hkgar]

Would these LED strips work on either a waterfall or upflow scrubber?

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/331616010901

1m (3 foot) long seems to be far more than needed. I am not sure how you could mount them to ca=over a rectangular screen.

 

[Jade5051]

1m (3 foot) long seems to be far more than needed. I am not sure how you could mount them to ca=over a rectangular screen.

You can split them into shorter lengths of about 4-6". I was more worried about the lumens/wattage being enough.

 

[SantaMonica]

They tend to be very low power; you would need a lot of them.

 

[hkgar]

You are getting 60 leds and 14.4 Watts at 1 M. That is only .24 W per LED. I think Floyd recommends 3 W per Led. For my screen size (7x8 waterfall) I would need 15 3 watt LEDs per side or 45 watts. I don't think those would give you enough punch.

Plug your parameters (amount fed) in here and see what it says.

https://docs.zoho.com/sheet/published.do?rid=b0tmj6d91ce368ee542aba6b2b670ae00412b

 

[Jade5051]

White reflects light and black absorbs light. So, why are so many algae scrubbers made with black acrylic?

 

[AZRippster]

You don't want algae growing where you don't want it growing. For example, the waterfall pipe groove, bad place. Bottom line, you want algae to grow on the mesh, if possible, no where else.

 

[SantaMonica]

Because adding white to the black is a hard extra step.

 

[ecotanker]

White acrylic will let some light through. It does not reflect all of the light back. One person on the algae scrubbing forum has build a scrubber with white acrylic and that is what they observed.

White reflects light and black absorbs light. So, why are so many algae scrubbers made with black acrylic?

 

[biecacka]

So for my screen how many CFL bulbs per side? How many LEDs? Screen is about 12x8. And maybe a link to some bulbs to start. Like from HD. Or par 38 type LEDs they gave or Amazon maybe.
Thanks
Corey