Algae Scrubber Basics

[scolley]

Hmmm... thanks. So my slot might be too wide now. Will have to tinker with it. Thanks.

And I'll have 60 sq. in. of wet mesh for my 29g tank, and 300 gph running over it. So I'm assuming I'm right in line with standard thinking. Please let me know if not.

Thanks!

 

[srusso]

Hmmm... thanks. So my slot might be too wide now. Will have to tinker with it. Thanks.

And I'll have 60 sq. in. of wet mesh for my 29g tank, and 300 gph running over it. So I'm assuming I'm right in line with standard thinking. Please let me know if not.

Thanks!

Post some pictures, the slit in your tube should be 1/8th of an inch wide and however long it needs to be to fit your screen.

 

[scolley]

...I've ordered some Far Reds that I had planned on putting on my Neutral White array that I'm running now. But honestly I don't see why I should bother. It's growing medium green colored hair algae like nobody's business. As far as I can tell, this little array is going to work just fine.

Oops! I misspoke!

The little array that is growing the lovely algae right now is NOT a Neutral White array - it's Cree XR-E Cool White. Sorry about that.

Also, I'm over driving them (shortening their life, and likely shifting their spectra) by using a Mean Well LPC-60-1050 constant current driver, instead of the LPC-35-700W that I should be using. It was a mistake initially. But it's groing algae so well, I'm going to leave well enough alone.

 

[scolley]

Here's pics. One of the whole screen, the other a closeup of the slot.

Notice the slot is a shade wider than the screen (because the screen is not in it, and I don't want water falling straight down without hitting the screen.)

So with the slot turned at the right angle, all the water should cascade down the front of the screen. Hope that makes sense.

 

[richierich2000]

I am thinking of starting one on my solona 34g it holds about 22 gallons with sand and rock so what size screen would I need to do a one sided scrubber?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Scolley, that should work fine actually because the water is pooling inside the tube, so it pours out evenly through the slot. Your flow is fine too, 300 GPH/10in = 30 GPH/in and 35 is what you're shooting for so you're just fine I would think.

I'd be interested to see your LED build.

The one on the algae scrubber site is the one called "ATS version 3, bigger, vertical, LED"

 

[scolley]

The one on the algae scrubber site is the one called "ATS version 3, bigger, vertical, LED"

Thanks. I'll make sure I've read that. Think I have, but I'll check.

That said, I'm frankly shocked that this little thing has bee growing the good kind of algae, and doing it so well. I was not expecting it to, but have been just hanging it over my refugium to test heat build up - fully expecting to have to swap out its cool whites for warm whites and deep reds. But to my surprise it's been growing algae like gangbusters. Granted, the array has been hanging 4" over some briskly flowing water (perfect conditions).

Time will tell how it does with the ATS.

I'd be interested to see your LED build.

Not much to show really. Uber simple.

Parts:

• 7 XR-E Cree Cool Whites
• 7 80 degree Cree XR-E optics
• 1 Mean Well LPC-60-1050
• 1 electrical cord
• 2 1.1" x 12" aluminum heatsink
• 8 2.5" pcs #18 braided wire
• 1 tube Arctic Alumina thermal adhesive
• 2 wire connector nuts
• 3 aluminum clips
• 2 3.5" threaded steel bolts (don't remember size, but clearly small)
• 2 nuts (for above bolts)
• 2 hollow aluminum spacers (bolt go thru them)

I picked nearly everything up from Rapid LED except the clips, bolts, nuts and spacers. Any hardware store will have those. I think the total was approx. $110.

Nothing really to explain on the build itself. Solder the wire to the stars. Test. Glue 'em down to the heatsink. Punch 2 holes through the heatsink fins with a drill, pop in the bolts (going through the spacers to keep the heat sinks apart). Then drill a few holes for the clips to provide the wires some strain relief. Screw 'em down. Connect the wires. Cover your eyes, and plug it in. :thumbsup:

The optics make the light on anything 4-6 inches in front of them pretty intense. I guess that's why it's growing algae so well. Oh yeah... it's growing some pretty intense coraline too.

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

Hi, I was thinking about using a 10 gallon for my ATS. It's 10 1/2" wide. So my lights would be 5 1/4" away from the screen, is this a concern or would I be fine?

 

[fppf]

Just an update on my scrubber.

I'm still figuring the lights out. I'm not really growing anything real. If I look really close at the screen before cleaning I can see very fine strains but they looked bleached.

So I started with 23 watt (100 watt) CFL 2700K and nothing really wanted to grow. Think to much light. So I dropped to 19 watt (75 watt) CFL 2700K and started getting a little growth. So this time I switched to 6500K CFL 15 watt (60 watt) bulbs.

I use the 6500K bulbs in my sump to grow macro algae so I will give that a go.

I don't think the "watts per gallon" thing really holds any water. Watts is not a measurement of light output. So depending on your setup, reflectors, and other factors your mileage may vary greatly.

We will see what happens this month.

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

Just an update on my scrubber.

I'm still figuring the lights out. I'm not really growing anything real. If I look really close at the screen before cleaning I can see very fine strains but they looked bleached.

So I started with 23 watt (100 watt) CFL 2700K and nothing really wanted to grow. Think to much light. So I dropped to 19 watt (75 watt) CFL 2700K and started getting a little growth. So this time I switched to 6500K CFL 15 watt (60 watt) bulbs.

I use the 6500K bulbs in my sump to grow macro algae so I will give that a go.

I don't think the "watts per gallon" thing really holds any water. Watts is not a measurement of light output. So depending on your setup, reflectors, and other factors your mileage may vary greatly.

We will see what happens this month.

Interesting, how long have you had it setup? The one thing that troubles me is how long it takes, but I heard once it's starts there's no stopping it lol

 

[salty joe]

Who performed the test showing that the algae for scrubbers grows best under 2700-3000K?

When was it done?

Will you please provide a link to the testing?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Thanks. I'll make sure I've read that. Think I have, but I'll check.

That said, I'm frankly shocked that this little thing has bee growing the good kind of algae, and doing it so well. I was not expecting it to, but have been just hanging it over my refugium to test heat build up - fully expecting to have to swap out its cool whites for warm whites and deep reds. But to my surprise it's been growing algae like gangbusters. Granted, the array has been hanging 4" over some briskly flowing water (perfect conditions).

Time will tell how it does with the ATS.


Not much to show really. Uber simple.

Parts:

• 7 XR-E Cree Cool Whites
• 7 80 degree Cree XR-E optics
• 1 Mean Well LPC-60-1050
• 1 electrical cord
• 2 1.1" x 12" aluminum heatsink
• 8 2.5" pcs #18 braided wire
• 1 tube Arctic Alumina thermal adhesive
• 2 wire connector nuts
• 3 aluminum clips
• 2 3.5" threaded steel bolts (don't remember size, but clearly small)
• 2 nuts (for above bolts)
• 2 hollow aluminum spacers (bolt go thru them)

I picked nearly everything up from Rapid LED except the clips, bolts, nuts and spacers. Any hardware store will have those. I think the total was approx. $110.

Nothing really to explain on the build itself. Solder the wire to the stars. Test. Glue 'em down to the heatsink. Punch 2 holes through the heatsink fins with a drill, pop in the bolts (going through the spacers to keep the heat sinks apart). Then drill a few holes for the clips to provide the wires some strain relief. Screw 'em down. Connect the wires. Cover your eyes, and plug it in. :thumbsup:

The optics make the light on anything 4-6 inches in front of them pretty intense. I guess that's why it's growing algae so well. Oh yeah... it's growing some pretty intense coraline too.

With the lenses, you're going to get spotty growth. I'd take them off and keep the lights far enough away for the light to blend. LEDs without lenses have pretty good light distribution actually, but it would probably help to put a diamond diffuser plate in between the screen and LEDs.

Hi, I was thinking about using a 10 gallon for my ATS. It's 10 1/2" wide. So my lights would be 5 1/4" away from the screen, is this a concern or would I be fine?

That is likely too far away, so if you do that, you will probably need to add an extra lamp. Are you using the 10g as you sump, or did you drill it to drain out into your sump?

Just an update on my scrubber.

I'm still figuring the lights out. I'm not really growing anything real. If I look really close at the screen before cleaning I can see very fine strains but they looked bleached.

So I started with 23 watt (100 watt) CFL 2700K and nothing really wanted to grow. Think to much light. So I dropped to 19 watt (75 watt) CFL 2700K and started getting a little growth. So this time I switched to 6500K CFL 15 watt (60 watt) bulbs.

I use the 6500K bulbs in my sump to grow macro algae so I will give that a go.

I don't think the "watts per gallon" thing really holds any water. Watts is not a measurement of light output. So depending on your setup, reflectors, and other factors your mileage may vary greatly.

We will see what happens this month.

If you're using the 23W 2700K lamps and not getting growth, then something else is going on. It's not the lamps. The Watts/gallon is a benchmark to standardize against, so I would argue that it does hold water. That being said, a CFL with no reflector will be much less effective than one with a reflector, and a bare T5HO will likely fall in between the bare and reflector CFL, with the T5HO w/reflector topping out all others. But, the reflector makes a difference too IMO. The Nova Extreme T5HO (model 1127) has individual reflectors, but they're small. The TEK-II from Sunlight Supply are super-efficient, and that's why I think I can get away with 4 lamps on a screen for a 125. But time will also tell...

 

[maglofster]

Just wanted to show my design for my 600 liter reef tank which is currently maturing. It has been running for 6 weeks now. I added an ATS after one week. I'm feeding very heavily, about 5-10 cubes of frozen ON per day.


The setup in the sump, the lights are IP44, rated for outside installation.


The fifth harvest. A lot of brown slime algae, but under there was a lot of GHA.

The screen is 75x35 CM's (29.5 x 13.8 inches) and the light is 216 watts of CPL lights.

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

How do all the bulbs and reflectors not get saturated in salt and ruin the efficiency? I see the majority of the people using scrubbers implementing these. I don't understand wouldn't a choice like this (http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html) be better so salt creep doesn't occur on the bulb/reflector? These are what I use and when I clean them I simply wipe down the plastic protector shield.

Also, I'm not sold on the 2700k spectrum. I've always used a higher one and have had my chaeto grow like crazy. Green hair algae doesn't need a different kelvin to grow properly, right? It's an algae as well just like chaeto. If you read up in the article I listed mark says 5500k-6500k is the best spectrum for growing algae. Do you have any articles stating it's better for algae growth. The article I have shows 2700k not being as effective as a higher spectrum like 5500k which is superior given the growth of the massive chaeto ball.

Do you happen to have a link to the article you were talking about?

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

On the tank I have the scrubber on, I've done 1 40 gallon PWC in 6 months and it's thriving. I dose Alk on a doser, Cal once a day, Mag when needed. I feed high-quality food that provides the trace elements. Tank is thriving

That's pretty incredible. Nice job. Can you actually provide trace element via food? Is it a new type of food or found in common foods? I feed my fish NLS, PE mysis, and garlic nori sheets.

 

[salty joe]

Just wanted to show my design for my 600 liter reef tank which is currently maturing. It has been running for 6 weeks now. I added an ATS after one week. I'm feeding very heavily, about 5-10 cubes of frozen ON per day.


The setup in the sump, the lights are IP44, rated for outside installation.


The fifth harvest. A lot of brown slime algae, but under there was a lot of GHA.

The screen is 75x35 CM's (29.5 x 13.8 inches) and the light is 216 watts of CPL lights.

What kind of lamp is CPL? I googled CPL and got a bunch of hits for pricey floor lamps. Would love to see a pic of the actual lamp element.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

How do all the bulbs and reflectors not get saturated in salt and ruin the efficiency? I see the majority of the people using scrubbers implementing these. I don't understand wouldn't a choice like this (http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html) be better so salt creep doesn't occur on the bulb/reflector? These are what I use and when I clean them I simply wipe down the plastic protector shield.

Also, I'm not sold on the 2700k spectrum. I've always used a higher one and have had my chaeto grow like crazy. Green hair algae doesn't need a different kelvin to grow properly, right? It's an algae as well just like chaeto. If you read up in the article I listed mark says 5500k-6500k is the best spectrum for growing algae. Do you have any articles stating it's better for algae growth. The article I have shows 2700k not being as effective as a higher spectrum like 5500k which is superior given the growth of the massive chaeto ball.

Do you happen to have a link to the article you were talking about?

That is a good style of lamp to use, because you are correct you don't need a reflector. They're just a bit more expensive sometimes.

You will get good growth results from the 5500K spectrum. I'm not saying don't use it. I'm just telling you what appears to provide the greatest growth, and that is the 2700-3000K spectrum. Although that link surely shows a good example of the higher spectrum working. I'll have to do a little digging. I've been recovering from 6 months of studying for an 8 hour exam that I had on Friday.

That's pretty incredible. Nice job. Can you actually provide trace element via food? Is it a new type of food or found in common foods? I feed my fish NLS, PE mysis, and garlic nori sheets.

I feed a DIY food which is a mixture of just about everything you can think of, very similar to Rod's Food except better, more of it, and 1/2 the cost. Our local reef club gets together every now and then and makes about 40 pounds of the stuff.

 

[maglofster]

What kind of lamp is CPL? I googled CPL and got a bunch of hits for pricey floor lamps. Would love to see a pic of the actual lamp element.

Sorry, should have been CFL..

I use this model: http://www.jula.se/proffsbelysning-i-aluminium-135051

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

Yeah, I'm thinking you may be right given all the experience you have regarding algae scrubbers and growing algae. I just thought from what I saw that the other spectrum looked like it was promising, but who knows? Don't worry about the link, take your time. What were you studying for? Seems like a long time of studying, wow!

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

Sorry, should have been CFL..

I use this model: http://www.jula.se/proffsbelysning-i-aluminium-135051

How's the scrubber working out for you? Looks like it's taking out some stuff.