Algae Scrubber Basics

[srusso]

Yes, I can get more of the smaller reflectors (there are 2 large and 2 small). I just thought the larger reflectors would better diffuse the light. Getting the scrubber out isn't terrible either - that whole L-shaped arm comes out via true union to the left. I did think about the design just a little

Yeah after I posted that I felt that I could have sounded like I was speaking directly to you... but I more so meant it in respect to all new comers.

Its hard to tell from your pictures how much space you really have to get in for maintenance. I have always disliked clip lights for use with an algae scrubber b/c I always saw myself knocking one off the sump and having an electrified lamp drop into the water... That is the reason I went with the drop lights.

The funny thing is... once you see how well they work... you will never stop reinventing the design in your head :lolspin:

 

[srusso]

Yea it opens up that chamber for cleaning and what not when the screen is removed.

I love the idea, I just feel like you may create a lot of head pressure with that design. Are you getting good screen coverage? If so, then your fine.

 

[srusso]

Does anyone have any pics of above tank scrubbers? I currently have mine in the sump, but it has greatly reduced the flow back to the DT. I was thinking of incorporating my current returns directly to a scrubber. The returns are in the overflow boxes that come up from behind the DT. I was planning on using my existing screens.

I drive my ATS from the overflows, and I think is the best design for energy savings and simplicity. Additionally b/c all water entering the sump must first pass through your ATS I think it has better filtering capacity... This is my opinion, I have no way of proving this though.

Above tank designs are nice but they require space on the top of the tank, which at least in an open design means its fighting for real estate for tank lighting. In a closed system, I makes an above design easier to accomplish. Just put it on a shelf above the tank, plumb it and your done.

 

[thefuz]

I get it - it's a great thing you guys are doing maintaining this thread.

Regarding the clip lights; I'm not sure what other's experience with them has been but just from my initial setup the springs seem quite sturdy (though the rear right reflector is hanging upside-down from the return pipe - I wrapped the cord around the pipe to prevent it from falling into the water just in case the clip lets go). Either way, I'm going with a different sump which will necessitate a redesign and I'll address the maintenance angle for sure then. It's been a good experience to set this up once before the tank is cycled though so I have a crack at a redo before things are too far along.

On a side note - I did dose ammonia and bacteria at lunch today so cycle is under way! Gotta build up some food for the algae

 

[scott26]

I love the idea, I just feel like you may create a lot of head pressure with that design. Are you getting good screen coverage? If so, then your fine.

The return pump that I am using is rated for 1170 gph on my 90 gallon so there is room to use up some gph and the head pressure on my pump is really good as well so no worries there.

Are there any tricks to making sure the water covers the entire screen on intial set up?

 

[Snookster]

I'm about 6 weeks in now, and just in the last 2 weeks I've started to see some really good growth. At first, I took the skimmer and the rowaphos offline, I did put the skimmer back online after 2 weeks. I had a pretty serious outbreak of cyano. Now, there is very little cyano left, I only have to clean the glass about every 4 days. I'm still battling bryopsis in the dt, but I'm pulling whatever I can every couple of days when I suck up any cyano. So far, so good. I harvested about 3/4 cup last week from one side. This week looks like more!

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Are there any tricks to making sure the water covers the entire screen on intial set up?

As long as your flow rate is adequate, the flow will even out over the course of the first week. Even a roughed-up new screen is pretty "slick" and the slime that initially builds up will distribute the water more evenly. As you get algae growth, it will even out quickly after a cleaning.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I'm about 6 weeks in now, and just in the last 2 weeks I've started to see some really good growth. At first, I took the skimmer and the rowaphos offline, I did put the skimmer back online after 2 weeks. I had a pretty serious outbreak of cyano. Now, there is very little cyano left, I only have to clean the glass about every 4 days. I'm still battling bryopsis in the dt, but I'm pulling whatever I can every couple of days when I suck up any cyano. So far, so good. I harvested about 3/4 cup last week from one side. This week looks like more!

Cyano is a tough battle. I beat it out in a FOWLR tank that I took over just over a year ago, but it took huge PWCs, sucking out the cyano, running a diatom filter (Magnum 330), adding a skimmer, adding a filter sock, adding a power head, cleaning the pump, running carbon, running Purigen...I think I missed something. Anyways, it's gone now, and has been for about a year! Now I just need to get a scrubber on that tank and knock down the DT algae and nutrients.

 

[srusso]

The return pump that I am using is rated for 1170 gph on my 90 gallon so there is room to use up some gph and the head pressure on my pump is really good as well so no worries there.

Are there any tricks to making sure the water covers the entire screen on intial set up?

It's all in the slot tube...

I would say plan on cutting three or four of them and chose the best one. Best being straightest, cleanest cuts.

 

[srusso]

I'm about 6 weeks in now, and just in the last 2 weeks I've started to see some really good growth. At first, I took the skimmer and the rowaphos offline, I did put the skimmer back online after 2 weeks. I had a pretty serious outbreak of cyano. Now, there is very little cyano left, I only have to clean the glass about every 4 days. I'm still battling bryopsis in the dt, but I'm pulling whatever I can every couple of days when I suck up any cyano. So far, so good. I harvested about 3/4 cup last week from one side. This week looks like more!

That's great news! Your ATS will take care of the cyano... It may take some time 3 - 4 months. It's best to allow it to happen slowly and choke it out. Manually remove large patches to speed up the process a little. The fact that your screen harvest is getting close to one cup are signs of your screen reaching maturity.

 

[Melifluonze]

Thanks for the very informative posts about the use of fluorescent tubes versus CFL. It doesn't look like we have the $0.97 per pack of 4, or even per bulb, at our HDs here in upstate NY.

Noticed through my research that plant growers use sodium and mercury lamps to grow with, but it doesn't look like the wavelength spikes are really in the optimum places...

Was also looking at adding my scrubber on the return line of my 230, since adding it to the drain seems to be potentially unsafe (if it clogs up and reduces flow from the tank). If I add it to the return through a tee, one way to the tank, one way to the scrubber, with valves to control what goes where, then a clog on the scrubber will just build up pressure to the tank and slow the pump down, which isn't a problem! (seems much better than having the pump load up the tank and run dry...) It looks like I have gpm to spare.

Still working my brain around a design...

 

[bucks448]

Was also looking at adding my scrubber on the return line of my 230, since adding it to the drain seems to be potentially unsafe (if it clogs up and reduces flow from the tank).

With a single drain this could be a problem, especially if you have an ATO. Without an ATO it would depend on how much water is available to the pump before it runs dry (probably not a good thing either). If you have more than one drain, its not really a risk.

 

[srusso]

Thanks for the very informative posts about the use of fluorescent tubes versus CFL. It doesn't look like we have the $0.97 per pack of 4, or even per bulb, at our HDs here in upstate NY.

Noticed through my research that plant growers use sodium and mercury lamps to grow with, but it doesn't look like the wavelength spikes are really in the optimum places...

Was also looking at adding my scrubber on the return line of my 230, since adding it to the drain seems to be potentially unsafe (if it clogs up and reduces flow from the tank). If I add it to the return through a tee, one way to the tank, one way to the scrubber, with valves to control what goes where, then a clog on the scrubber will just build up pressure to the tank and slow the pump down, which isn't a problem! (seems much better than having the pump load up the tank and run dry...) It looks like I have gpm to spare.

Still working my brain around a design...

Use the drain line... its safe. your cleaning the screen every seven days. It will not clog. As we all know water slips through even the smallest of cracks. I have let my screen grow even a week longer then I should have... no clogging... The algae will have to make way for the water as the pressure builds, even then the worst your going to get is a stream of water that shoots off the screen a little, and for that reason people have made simple enclosures to prevent that from becoming an issue.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

You have the same risk of a tube clogging as you do when something obstructs a drain completely at any point in any system. A slot tube is a self-controlling device. If algae grows into the slot, the water pressure increases, which prevents further algae growth. This is why it is especially important to make a very straight and even slot, the pressure will be distributed evenly.

 

[Melifluonze]

Good points! Rather have it in the drain anyways. Guess it's OK for it to go there. Kind of worried about the pump situation, as mine's not really allowed to run dry. Guess that's a problem for any pump though.

 

[michael_in_nc]

Great thread. I've been reading through this and I apologize if this has been answered through out the thread, but I had a few questions. I am currently building a large tank (250G) and I'm interested in the ATS. I plan to start with a skimmer since it's what I know, but try and experiment with the ATS to see if it's for me.

1. Any disadvantage to using both (skimmer & ATS)? Seems like the skimmer pulls alot of the organics out and the ATS can help reduce nutrient levels better than the skimmer alone.

2. What about refugiums and ATS? Refugiums provide other benefits, but it seems like nutrient export would be one of the key ones at least from my perspective. If I was only running a refugium for nutrient export, would it help to keep it with an ATS?

3. What about carbon dosing? I saw something about carbon dosing reducing the growth rate. Seems like the carbon dosing is really just reducing the nutrient level and keep the growth rate slower on the ATS, but it's still helping export residual nutrients?

Thanks for the inputs!

 

[dogstar74]

1. No problem using skimmer and ATS, I believe the ATS will pull out the things that the skimmer misses.

2. ATS will out compete refugium. The micro algae will outcompete cheto and gradually starve it out of exhistance. If you wanted to make a softy and sponge refuge, then I'd say go for it.

3. Carbon dosing uses denitrifying bacteria and requires a very powerful skimmer to reduce NO2 by physically removing the bacteria that use the NO2. I believe a decrease in NO2 may choke out the ATS and make it less effective or obsolete. But the problem with Carbon dosing is the measuring, the constant fiddling with the levels, and the threat of a crash due to a biomass bloom. These risks don't exhist with an ATS working properly.

HTH
Aaron

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

dogstar, very good explanation #3. But are you talking about Nitrite (NO2) or Nitrate (NO3)? I'm not very familiar with carbon dosing....

 

[dogstar74]

Oops, been a long day.

Nitrate, forget the nitrite.

Thanks

 

[kdirk]

Anyone run bio-pellets in a reactor with a scrubber?