Algae Scrubber Basics

Here it is, just a copy/paste basically of the one I maintain on my forum, so it still needs a serious update

http://algaescrubber.zohosites.com/

Now that is great! I read this and it totally answered a bunch more questions I had, plus you don't have to read through 300+ pages of the thread to find answers to questions you might have. Very concise with great pictures. Its folks like Turbo who take the time to go the extra mile to help noobies like me who make this forum an invaluable tool.
 
How-to guides should probably mention that all current waterfall designs that I did in 2008 will soon be updated, and thus you might wait to see the new designs before starting anything now. Much current stuff will be obsolete.

Of course also to mention is upflow styles, which can't dry out, take no space, are easier and cheaper to build, and technically perform better because of the extremely thin air/water interface of the air bubbles.
 
News is coming in from all over the world that LFS owners and patrons are reporting fish and inverts building statues of Floyd R Turbo.
 
Wow Floyd... When did you do all that?
I wrote that up I think in 2011, then revamped in 2012, haven't updated it a whole lot since then, the main things that changed have been LEDs and to a lesser effect the screen

News is coming in from all over the world that LFS owners and patrons are reporting fish and inverts building statues of Floyd R Turbo.
:lolspin:

How-to guides should probably mention that all current waterfall designs that I did in 2008 will soon be updated, and thus you might wait to see the new designs before starting anything now. Much current stuff will be obsolete.
Translation: as soon as my patent is filed, I'll tell you about it. Nothing wrong with that but I'm just calling it like it is. Otherwise you would have released a concept of your design/product instead of just saying "I've got something coming bwahahahahaa!! GET EXCITED OMG"

We've all heard that kind of hype before from you and let's just say I'll believe it when I see it and when there is rock solid proof that your claims hold true.

Until then, I know what works the most consistently.

Of course also to mention is upflow styles, which can't dry out, take no space, are easier and cheaper to build, and technically perform better because of the extremely thin air/water interface of the air bubbles.
I agree with everything except the last statement.

My opinion on UAS is that they are very effective for smaller and lower fed systems. But they don't scale up.

I don't write about UASs because I don't build them and that's not because I don't want to pay any fees or royalties. If I thought it was a million dollar idea I would have gladly found a way to pay for rights to mass manufacture them.

I'm going to also call a duck a duck. If the UAS is so superior, then why not go all in on that instead of going back to the waterfall design? I guess we'll have to just wait and see

Maybe I should just shut my trap. Making myself look bad. But, whatever. Either I'm totally right, or I might actually have real competition. Should be interesting.
 
You could both have pages and reference each other as an alternative (first page, same font size)... That way, it's a civil disagreement and the users can decide.

:D
 
While I'm preparing the first improved waterfall DIY instructions, here are some pics of upflow people's growth...
 

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I have both up flow (accidental) and waterfall (minimal). Both cost me nothing to set up.

The up flow I can never clean though since it is halfway up my 12' skimmer tube.
 
hey guys I just fired up my DIY up flow ATS. running 4 660nm reds. only been on a cpl days now but I hear one should use a light diffuser. when starting. what can i use?

I have been running it 12 to 15hr a day...
here are some build pics:
the algae grow area.
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20150623_181836.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20150623_181836.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150623_181836.jpg"/></a>
the leds ( all LEDs are on the metal HS. )
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20150623_182031.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20150623_182031.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150623_182031.jpg"/></a>

so again whats a good light diffuser?
 
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ok cool! i'll let it run and see what happens..
should it do the 1st cleaning on 7 or 14 days. I forget it been a while since I talked ATS
 
So what's a good size scrubber to start with, I'm not sure how much I will end up feeding, I have a 150 gallon tank.
 
^ Becks I am by no mean as expert and that's a tricky question. I would think about all the fist you want/think your going to have in there and go from there. also ask around ppl running ATS on that size and fish load to get an idea. this is just a guess but i would go just a lil bigger that you think.
3 -4 cubes a day??


wondering about light spill i do get alot of it. think its bad news for the sump or once the HA will grow in i'll be fine.
<a href="http://s1103.photobucket.com/user/devaji108/media/20160524_212944.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20160524_212944.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160524_212944.jpg"/></a>

maybe i need more magnets I only have 2 on the sides.
another silly question as I have been out of the ATS talk for a while is do I leave the air pump on 24/7?
thanks
 
Yes 24/7 air.

And now some Friday night upflow growth pics...
 

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No salt creep if the top of the container is kept 1" above the water line.

Little noise if you use smaller bubbles such as from an airstone.
 
Sorry if this has been asked. I have read through the zoho that was recently posted.

I will be building a system around a 1-1.5 cube a day feeding regiment. So I figured I should be fine to slightly oversize from 1 cube by going with a 6x6 single sided setup.

I have some extra LED bulbs from my hot pepper growing. They are advertised as 54w bulbs, using 18 3 watt leds. They are mostly 660nm with I think 4 blues, 1 white, and 1 880nm. I unfortunately have not seen my killawatt in years. It is packed away somewhere. I assume though that I am running about 30-36w.

Now the max on the zoho site says 0.5w per in. This should run about 1w per in. So that tells me I just need to move it further away, although LED light seems to not be affected by distance as much as other lights in my experience.

What would be your recommendations?
 
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