Algae Scrubber Basics

[Travis1787]

Yea floyd is right don't try it cause it won't hold I tried it and it fell apart rather fast lol and floyd it prob looks like silicone cause I never have used weld on before and I didn't expect it to be so runny but after a bit I got the hang out it lol ... ill be using a mag 5 for flow ill need at least 350 gph so the mag 5 should do the job my problem now is getting the slit right lol its a pain in the butt when ya don't have the right tools

 

[srusso]

No its acrylic .... can I put the that close? Only reason I ask is cause four inches off the screen is about 2 inches off the outside of the box... another question I had was if I have a hard time getting the light where I want it on the left side its the same style as the one that u see on the right side in the picture now could I use one of the lights like strusso uses on the left and then use the style I have on the right or would one out work the other?

Sorry I didn't read this sooner. The way I hang my lights is better then nothing, I can tell you that much... I think when you hang the lights the way I have them... you get a more even light coverage, however considering my scrubber is having light problems and I have a ton of light spilling into my sump... I cant say its perfect, but it does work. On a side note, it has created an amazing breeding zone for mysis shrimp in my sump... :lol2:

 

[pskelton]

Should you run carbon in an ATS filtered system?

Floyd, you mentioned a week ago that Carbon from Vodka dosing might slow algae growth in an ATS but what about granulated carbon in a bag? Could this in theory slow algae growth too?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Different carbon. Activated carbon absorbs waste, dosing carbon feeds bacteria.

Some people run carbon, some don't. People on both sides of the fence, regardless of any other filtration system in place.

It doesn't make much of a difference IMO with respect to an Algae Scrubber system.

 

[scott26]

This was the photo taken after the 2nd cleaning of the scrubber.

So far the design makes it really easy to take the scrubber screen offline and clean it. I really need to buy some of the reusable zip ties though. Trying to wedge a knife to release the tab and loosen the tie has already got me cut once.

I was also able to finally get enough time to take the scrubber offline for about 1 hour and get the other light set up on it. I was trying to figure out a way to mount the light so that it is exactly 4" away from the screen. So I came up with the idea to use PVC to make a mount that goes across the top of my stand and attach the lights this way. It works really well and I can now adjust it if I want to as well.

I also felt that it was time to take the GFO offline. Now that the scrubber has some good algae growth on it I feel it is not helping, but hurting by taking away nutrients from the scrubber.

I will see how this does but by the looks of it I might have an extra reactor now.

 

[srusso]

Different carbon. Activated carbon absorbs waste, dosing carbon feeds bacteria.

Some people run carbon, some don't. People on both sides of the fence, regardless of any other filtration system in place.

It doesn't make much of a difference IMO with respect to an Algae Scrubber system.

I run carbon 50% of the time, I only do it b/c I had a large amount given to me as well as having a ton o the stuff from my fresh water days... I guess I just can't seem to kick the stuff...! lol

 

[srusso]

This was the photo taken after the 2nd cleaning of the scrubber.

So far the design makes it really easy to take the scrubber screen offline and clean it. I really need to buy some of the reusable zip ties though. Trying to wedge a knife to release the tab and loosen the tie has already got me cut once.

I was also able to finally get enough time to take the scrubber offline for about 1 hour and get the other light set up on it. I was trying to figure out a way to mount the light so that it is exactly 4" away from the screen. So I came up with the idea to use PVC to make a mount that goes across the top of my stand and attach the lights this way. It works really well and I can now adjust it if I want to as I also felt that it was time to take the GFO offline. Now that the scrubber has some good algae growth on it I feel it is not helping, but hurting by taking away nutrients from the scrubber.

I will see how this does but by the looks of it I might have an extra reactor now.

Nice work!! That will work great for you! Thanks for posting, please keep us updated!

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

FYI I did find releasable zip-ties at Home Depot. There are 2 kinds, black and white.

The black ones are the same width as the normal ones, but the drawback is that if they are pulled really tight, you need a small screwdriver to push on the tab to release them, and once they are loosened, you can use your fingertip. If you watch my video I recently posted, you see what I'm talking about.

The white ones are similar to what comes with Seachem's "The Bag" for using Purigen, it's about 2x as wide as the black ones, but it has a very easy to use tab that you can press to release.

Both can be found in the ELECTRICAL section of Home Depot, near all the other zip-ties. It will be near things like metal conduit and conduit straps.

However, I have found that Velcro One Wrap straps are my new choice and I will be switching to this. Someone else posted a pic here or somewhere else of their Velcro straps, but until recently I haven't found a cheap source (but I haven't been looking really hard either).

This product is perfect, because it has the hooks on one side and the loops on the other. If you google "Velcro One Wrap" they make pre-made straps of varying lengths, as well as a 15 foot x 1/2" wide roll that you can cut to length. I got the latter at my local True Value Hardware for $10.

IMO, the velcro product beats out all others. Although, does anyone know if it's aquarium safe? I would think it would be - just plastic essentially. Maybe a little cloth type material in there, but it's not being immersed. Probably something to check on I guess....

 

[scott26]

Thanks I think I am going to take it all apart again this weekend and paint it all a satin/semi gloss white so that way all the PVC is the same uniform color.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I did some quick searching and all I could find on the safety of velcro was that most mag-float type of products tout use of "medical grade" velcro that is aquarium safe, but nothing that I've found that states whether it's the hooks/loops part or the adhesive that is considered toxic. Since the one-wrap has no adhesive, if it was that, it would be clear and safe...researching...

edit: I have a call into the Velcro corporation...

 

[srusso]

Thanks I think I am going to take it all apart again this weekend and paint it all a satin/semi gloss white so that way all the PVC is the same uniform color.

I would just skip that step... Not worth the risks in my opinion.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Thanks I think I am going to take it all apart again this weekend and paint it all a satin/semi gloss white so that way all the PVC is the same uniform color.

+1 bad idea. Leave the PVC alone. Nothing that is in contact with water should get painted.

 

[GeorgeDeg]

+1 bad idea. Leave the PVC alone. Nothing that is in contact with water should get painted.

Use Krylon Fusion paint if you really want to paint the pvc. I've used it submerged with no ill effects.

 

[scott26]

I have been using Krylon Fusion on my entire build process for all of my PVC it is safe for reef. Mainly because the paint actually bonds to the plastic.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I painted a spray bar for a FW setup with Krylon Fusion black and maybe I did it wrong but it eventually flaked off here and there, probably didn't harm the tank, but I would question whether it actually bonds to plastic that well. If I had to do it again I would just clean it well with PVC pipe cleaner and maybe sand it lightly and be done, and for in-tank just let coralline algae cover it.

So I take that back, Krylon yes. You said 'satin semi-gloss' and that just triggered my 'don't paint' reflex.

 

[srusso]

Another reason you shouldn't paint it now is you already have a started screen. What will you do with the screen while the PVC is being painted and drying?

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

You can stick the screen in the tank for a few days and it'll be fine. Mine was in it for a week. I just pointed a power head on it. It won't filter but it won't die. Do it after at least 4 days of growth so there's something furry on there.

 

[mrbncal]

. . . However, I have found that Velcro One Wrap straps are my new choice and I will be switching to this. Someone else posted a pic here or somewhere else of their Velcro straps, but until recently I haven't found a cheap source (but I haven't been looking really hard either).

This product is perfect, because it has the hooks on one side and the loops on the other. If you google "Velcro One Wrap" they make pre-made straps of varying lengths, as well as a 15 foot x 1/2" wide roll that you can cut to length. I got the latter at my local True Value Hardware for $10.

IMO, the velcro product beats out all others. Although, does anyone know if it's aquarium safe? I would think it would be - just plastic essentially. Maybe a little cloth type material in there, but it's not being immersed. Probably something to check on I guess....

Could you post pics of how you use these? Wondering if they would cause splashing due to the width of the strap?

 

[scott26]

You can stick the screen in the tank for a few days and it'll be fine. Mine was in it for a week. I just pointed a power head on it. It won't filter but it won't die. Do it after at least 4 days of growth so there's something furry on there.

Sounds like a god idea will do.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Green_Reefer]

FYI I did find releasable zip-ties at Home Depot. There are 2 kinds, black and white.

The black ones are the same width as the normal ones, but the drawback is that if they are pulled really tight, you need a small screwdriver to push on the tab to release them, and once they are loosened, you can use your fingertip. If you watch my video I recently posted, you see what I'm talking about.

The white ones are similar to what comes with Seachem's "The Bag" for using Purigen, it's about 2x as wide as the black ones, but it has a very easy to use tab that you can press to release.

Both can be found in the ELECTRICAL section of Home Depot, near all the other zip-ties. It will be near things like metal conduit and conduit straps.

However, I have found that Velcro One Wrap straps are my new choice and I will be switching to this. Someone else posted a pic here or somewhere else of their Velcro straps, but until recently I haven't found a cheap source (but I haven't been looking really hard either).

This product is perfect, because it has the hooks on one side and the loops on the other. If you google "Velcro One Wrap" they make pre-made straps of varying lengths, as well as a 15 foot x 1/2" wide roll that you can cut to length. I got the latter at my local True Value Hardware for $10.

IMO, the velcro product beats out all others. Although, does anyone know if it's aquarium safe? I would think it would be - just plastic essentially. Maybe a little cloth type material in there, but it's not being immersed. Probably something to check on I guess....

For hanging the screen, clear acrylic shower curtain rings are perfect, easy to clean and cheap.