Algae Scrubber Basics

[karimwassef]

That was the plan...

So.. 1/4" or 1/8" slit?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Let see. with a 1/8" slot, and a screen that is basically 1/16" thick (#7 canvas) that leaves you 1/32" on each side as your laminar flow source. With that setup, 35 GPH per inch of width seems to be a pretty good target number for flow in general.

If you increase the slot width to 3/16", that basically doubles the gap on either side and with flow dynamics you will almost always more than double the capable flow when you double the opening, especially a small one to begin with.

So it's fair to assume that even at 80+ GPH/in you will still have even flow across the screen with 3/16" slot.

So 36" wide slot and 3000 GPH, that is....well how lucky am I, 3000/36 = 83.3 GPH/in bam.

I would start with 3/16". You can always increase but it's much harder to decrease...

 

[jason2459]

I got my Turbo L3 going again!

The Turbo Aquatics ATS L3 is going to fit perfectly on top of the sump. No extra supports needed.

The pump that just stopped running just needed some TLC. Overnight soak in some vinegar cleaned it all up.

The pump and its main bottom drain are in the sumps first section where the display drains into. The. It straddles over the middle and the emergency overflow drain is in the return section. So far this sump design is working out exactly as planned. Very happy.


Now I just need to make the wiring to the drivers longer and get it all plugged in.

Let there be light

I had some 14-2 wire around and used it to extend the length of the ATS LED driver wiring.

Now I have to go back and read my and more importantly Bud's posts on how to get this going again. I notice the screen is all kinds of warped though. Probably from getting baked.

 

[jason2459]

Hey Turbo any chance you have any L3 screen left? My original is kinda warped from getting baked I think

You can kind of see it in the pic above it waving back and forth. Does it matter?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I don't know that it matters a ton. Do you only have one light on in that pic? You can't see the LEDs lit up on the board you can see...

 

[jason2459]

I don't know that it matters a ton. Do you only have one light on in that pic? You can't see the LEDs lit up on the board you can see...

Yep, one light was one in that pic as I just got it wired up with the 14-2 extension splice and tested it out.

 

[karimwassef]

ok. Here's today's progress:

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5975_zps3tmvr63z.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5975_zps3tmvr63z.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5975_zps3tmvr63z.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5974_zpsjbufasgq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5974_zpsjbufasgq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5974_zpsjbufasgq.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5978_zpsz5bg2ggq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5978_zpsz5bg2ggq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5978_zpsz5bg2ggq.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5976_zpskj7epcdx.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5976_zpskj7epcdx.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5976_zpskj7epcdx.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5979_zpsmfbd7pf5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5979_zpsmfbd7pf5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5979_zpsmfbd7pf5.jpg"/></a>

The zip tie stitch stresses made the screen bow

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5981_zpsedf4qpvk.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5981_zpsedf4qpvk.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5981_zpsedf4qpvk.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5985_zpsyusaehif.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5985_zpsyusaehif.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5985_zpsyusaehif.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5986_zps5iqgoigy.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5986_zps5iqgoigy.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5986_zps5iqgoigy.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

here it is running


<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5987_zps3wvpg5yw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5987_zps3wvpg5yw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5987_zps3wvpg5yw.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5988_zpszkezhamp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5988_zpszkezhamp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5988_zpszkezhamp.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5989_zps9oqyikgl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5989_zps9oqyikgl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5989_zps9oqyikgl.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5990_zpsdqwjrbbz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5990_zpsdqwjrbbz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5990_zpsdqwjrbbz.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

I took a video since it may be hard to see the water flow in still images

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MAFG6dvERds" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

and for those who like more of a walk through "documentary"

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TU9x10B86N0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Have fun roughing that up man! I'll be glad I'm not you on that day.

I would recommend a light blocker at the top, otherwise I think any growth in the slot is going to push water to the end pipes. Really nice build. Monster. Did you consider the weight factor? that thing is going to grow pounds and pounds of algae....

 

[karimwassef]

Thanks. I have a metal brush wheel on a drill still a pain I know

Good idea on the light blocker!!

PVC is very strong in tension it can probably carry 50lbs

I used a dremmel cutting wheel to cut the grooves.

So. How about the non-uniform flow? I was going to put caps or PVC bottom edge to better guide the flow? I'm also thinking of adding a diffuser plate/pipe in the top pipe?

 

[jason2459]

That looks awesome. I hope it works out after getting weighed down with Algae.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

So. How about the non-uniform flow? I was going to put caps or PVC bottom edge to better guide the flow? I'm also thinking of adding a diffuser plate/pipe in the top pipe?

That will likely even out once you rough up the screen and it starts to grow anything. I wouldn't worry about it until you have growth and it's not even.

 

[karimwassef]

First Attempts at light (front only first)

First Attempts at light (front only first)

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/14583228-1594-46AE-B753-FE2F8FE664B7_zpsoxwbrtvr.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/14583228-1594-46AE-B753-FE2F8FE664B7_zpsoxwbrtvr.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 14583228-1594-46AE-B753-FE2F8FE664B7_zpsoxwbrtvr.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/C2D22A5B-2B39-43EB-AD07-103FFE98F2A2_zpsld7ypmau.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/C2D22A5B-2B39-43EB-AD07-103FFE98F2A2_zpsld7ypmau.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo C2D22A5B-2B39-43EB-AD07-103FFE98F2A2_zpsld7ypmau.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/40A275C4-9B59-4109-838F-1B07881C8441_zpsdhueonss.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/40A275C4-9B59-4109-838F-1B07881C8441_zpsdhueonss.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 40A275C4-9B59-4109-838F-1B07881C8441_zpsdhueonss.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/67EE343F-94B3-47EC-A703-8E38843D3610_zpsyiyuhcbv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/67EE343F-94B3-47EC-A703-8E38843D3610_zpsyiyuhcbv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 67EE343F-94B3-47EC-A703-8E38843D3610_zpsyiyuhcbv.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/FBE0A75C-9CBB-42D4-8829-FF23EAD3E353_zpsvpglp4o7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/FBE0A75C-9CBB-42D4-8829-FF23EAD3E353_zpsvpglp4o7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo FBE0A75C-9CBB-42D4-8829-FF23EAD3E353_zpsvpglp4o7.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/207305ED-E232-4F27-A9D3-6EA4924FE118_zpsitgezmkt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/207305ED-E232-4F27-A9D3-6EA4924FE118_zpsitgezmkt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 207305ED-E232-4F27-A9D3-6EA4924FE118_zpsitgezmkt.jpg"/></a>

and here's a closeup

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/67D86CB6-5434-4C7A-A4B8-82F351A4352B_zpsmpx7clfh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/67D86CB6-5434-4C7A-A4B8-82F351A4352B_zpsmpx7clfh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 67D86CB6-5434-4C7A-A4B8-82F351A4352B_zpsmpx7clfh.jpg"/></a>

Here's the current bulb ~ 125W CFL 6400K

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG1IH4M

But I'm switching it over to a 200W CFL 6500K

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01315VOO6

but that requires a mogul to medium adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UK2O2A

and here's the reflector

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4KXWOG

So 125W CFL now going to 200W CFL

 

[karimwassef]

I have less room in the back, so I'm going LED strips on a metal back

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NFBG1O0/

The 7020s are ~300mW/LED x 36 LED/strip x 10 strips ~100W

 

[SantaMonica]

How do you get the screen out of the slot for cleaning?

 

[karimwassef]

The PVC pipe separates and the screen slides out of one end.

There's a plastic screw that holds the PVC sections in place when reassembled. You can see it on the top right hand side (over the 1" elbow)

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5987_zps3wvpg5yw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5987_zps3wvpg5yw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5987_zps3wvpg5yw.jpg"/></a>

Here is the mesh sliding in

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/IMG_5978_zpsz5bg2ggq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/IMG_5978_zpsz5bg2ggq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5978_zpsz5bg2ggq.jpg"/></a>

Also, the entire assembly is connected with a 1" union. That can be unscrewed directly and the entire assembly (screen and PVC) can be removed. Given the screen size and relative ease of just removing and laying the entire assembly down, I'm going to look at scraping the growth without removing the screen from the PVC. If it's too cumbersome, I unscrew the plastic screw, separate the PVC and pull the screen out.

I am a lazy reefer though. If I can do it with less time and effort, I'll find a way.

 

[karimwassef]

I have some concrete left over from my reefscape project. Maybe I'll impregnate mesh with a slurry of concrete. The built in phosphate should get things going fast!

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Per Paul's comment on this, I don't think concrete works well, you need mortar.

I recently recorded a video of applying the mortar, I'll try to post it soon. Just one of those things to do...

 

[karimwassef]

Ok. Moment of ignorance: what's the difference between concrete and mortar again?