Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
srusso
Active member
You can start with this thread... Over 55 pages worth of useful information. I have done a lot of work gathering most of it here in this thread. Carefully I may add... Even at times asked the creators for approval to post the information here on RC.
That being said... People here have gotten in trouble for posting links or finding work-arounds to getting users to other sites that contain info. So I will not tell you how to do research but if you google, algae scrubbers. After you have read through this thread and have any specific questions I will happy to answer them the best I can.
srusso
Active member
Here are some pictures at cleaning time, today. Don't let the picture fool you it looks a little green in the picture but it's more yellow. Its actually pretty thick this week and really feels kind of like wool. I just want it to be green maybe I am just being too picky. I only did a light cleaning today(lightly with my finger tips). I also pulled a very thick piece of hair algae from the display and threaded through two of the holes in the screen. This is only a test to see what happens with some green colored algae.
I have been working with SantaMonica to troubleshoot my scrubber that grows the same algae. He believes I have a lack of flow and light. It does a wonderful job of scrubbing, so not a real problem... Just never liked that my scrubber grew differently then others. This was a video I sent to originally Floyd to get his take on it.
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The best description I can find the matches my findings is this one...
Taken from post #41 algae scrubbers.doc
Green Spaghetti/Confetti: This is the best type of growth, because the light-green color and open structure allow light and water to penetrate through all parts of the algae. Also, it is more firm and compact, like a sponge or chaeto, and will not let-go and clog drains as easily as long hair.
srusso
Active member
Nope, this is the one magic thread that we have done a very good job of keeping that fight closed. Not open for discussion... :wildone:
srusso
Active member
After:
Notice here, that algae only grows on the rock itself... not really on the sand, (it tries to spread to the sand but finds no fuel source). If the tank was suffering from from NO3 or PO4 problems with the fuel essentially floating in the water column, IE too much waste or food, etc. The algae would grow on anything, corals, sand, glass... basically anywhere lights hits... not the case here...
Mmmm, J-E-L-L-O! Is that your cleaning after 7 days? It seems really heavy with shallow roots. It must be "holding on for dear life" not to drop into your sump. It's interesting how all the water seems to be trapped behind the algae. Does it seem like this when it's running (most of the water runs behind not over top of the algae)? It's gotta be easy to clean...as long as the wife's not watching
Travis1787
Active member
Not to get off topic but jeremy 40 what kinda sweet coral is that on bottom left the blue candy cane lookin one next the the green brain that thing is awesome
dogstar74
Premium Member
Revision C for a 10 gallon
Revision C for a 10 gallon
Well here is the third itteration of my ATS. The first was just too noisy and not enough flow.
The second involved two screens and three bulbs squeezed into a marine Battery box. Problems included lights too close to the screens, and even with a MJ1200 power head, I think the flow over the screens was too little. After all I was using about 5 times the size of screen that I needed. :eek1: I believe to get all that into the battery box, I was "burning" the algae. Because after about 12 weeks, I still have slimy thin films of yellow algae. Nothing like the great green globs of algae you guys are getting. But I was starting to get green hair algae at the bottom of the screen the furthest from the bulbs and the constantly submerged part.
Soooo
Third attempt. I took the central bulb out, and replaced the T'd off screen supply line with a single line. I still have 2+ times the surface area I need for a 10 gallon tank, and the flow is amazing over the screen now. Plus the lights are essentially moved back from the screen 2-3 inches. This should increase the flow over the screen, and keep the algae from burning.
Here's a pic of the removed light.
Before:
After:
Here's the screens:
Before:
After:
That should work better. I'll follow up with my progress when I make some.
Cheers
Aaron
Revision C for a 10 gallon
Well here is the third itteration of my ATS. The first was just too noisy and not enough flow.
The second involved two screens and three bulbs squeezed into a marine Battery box. Problems included lights too close to the screens, and even with a MJ1200 power head, I think the flow over the screens was too little. After all I was using about 5 times the size of screen that I needed. :eek1: I believe to get all that into the battery box, I was "burning" the algae. Because after about 12 weeks, I still have slimy thin films of yellow algae. Nothing like the great green globs of algae you guys are getting. But I was starting to get green hair algae at the bottom of the screen the furthest from the bulbs and the constantly submerged part.
Soooo
Third attempt. I took the central bulb out, and replaced the T'd off screen supply line with a single line. I still have 2+ times the surface area I need for a 10 gallon tank, and the flow is amazing over the screen now. Plus the lights are essentially moved back from the screen 2-3 inches. This should increase the flow over the screen, and keep the algae from burning.
Here's a pic of the removed light.
Before:
After:
Here's the screens:
Before:
After:
That should work better. I'll follow up with my progress when I make some.
Cheers
Aaron
I read alot of the post but not all. So forgive me if this has been touched on. I had my scrubber going for 3 weeks and was getting great result as far as algae growth. I decided to tear it down do to some leacking plumbing. I am going to refigure my desing and use a pump instead of going off my return because I am limited on space under there. Anyways, since it is difficult to get undermy tank. I wanted to know if there is any way to "hook" the screen to the pvc. That way I don't have to pull off the PVC pipe everytime. I put in a union but was still jsut a pain to clean every week and it leaked if not put on exactly right. I jsut am looking for a better way to hook the screen up. I thought about little stainless "s" hookes but wasn't sure about any metals in my tank. I thought about something plastic and can't find anything. Has anyone done this? Or have an idea for my little promblem?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
You could use releaseable zip ties, or velcro straps. The releasable zip ties, as far as I can find, are a box of 50 for $10 or something, and I haven't been able to find them for less (quantity). The velcro straps you can get at wal-mart. Also look at post 1036 for the PVC pipe section idea. The issue is that you do need to clean the slot tube when you clean the screen. However you can use a paper towel to do that, and catch anything that might get into the sump/DT.
Ok I like the releaseable zip ties idea. We use those at work and never even dawned on me.
Next quesion
Can I use two pumps? I have a maxi jet 1200 laying around. What if I bought another 1200 and used two powerheads to the screen? I am using a 11 x 11 screen. That is flow of about 400 needed for the screen. The maxi jet with 0 head produces 260. Two would be perfect for flow. I could connect the two with a "T". Or put each pump on each side of the screen. Would this cause a promblem? Thoughts please?
Thanks
Actually it's just GSP thats not open yet...... Nothing special!!!!!!!
srusso
Active member
Mmmm, J-E-L-L-O! Is that your cleaning after 7 days? It seems really heavy with shallow roots. It must be "holding on for dear life" not to drop into your sump. It's interesting how all the water seems to be trapped behind the algae. Does it seem like this when it's running (most of the water runs behind not over top of the algae)? It's gotta be easy to clean...as long as the wife's not watching
Thats a little longer then 7 days, like 9 or so... The shallow sections are where my slot tune is not cut perfect... I have been meaning to fix that also... :lolspin:
As for holding on, it never has let go. I don't think it ever will. The algae unless agitated, also seems to become like a jello mold on to my screen. Thats why I posted that description of that algae.(Green Spaghetti/Confetti: This is the best type of growth, because the light-green color and open structure allow light and water to penetrate through all parts of the algae. Also, it is more firm and compact, like a sponge or chaeto, and will not let-go and clog drains as easily as long hair.)
I wouldn't say the water is trapped under the algae, more like how a sponge holds water... and as for cleaning it is very easy to clean. Yes it does seem to drive the wife extra batty when she sees me doing it... she hasn't seen me clean the screen in months... FYI
Yes, my scrubber is ghetto, poorly built, and has loads of problems that need to be fixed. It still is producing great results. I can only imaging if I had a fancy T5/Closed ATS setup....
Last edited:
Travis1787
Active member
noo jeremy not that haha to the right of the brain its got like for heads its blue mouth and purplish outside that's for the reply though......
Travis1787
Active member
I had mine good to go but I'm redesigning the stand and some plumbing so once on done I will get pics up can't wait to get it right and see some growth
Well here is the third itteration of my ATS. The first was just too noisy and not enough flow.
Aaron, what are you using to shield your lights? Looks like a jar?
dogstar74
Premium Member
Well, I just went to Wally World, and in the bottled water area, I looked for a bottle that would be large enough to not overheat and melt. I was just really looking for the shape of the bottle. I didn't want too many bends or contours and such.
One of these bottles has deformed just a bit due to the heat. The ballast on the base of the CFL was too close to the edge. But the other two are fine. I did drill holes in the top of the ATS to both connect the bottles to the top as well as vent the heat out.
Cheers,
Aaron
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