Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Which do you mean here, that you need a screen larger than your DT or smaller?
Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
Which do you mean here, that you need a screen larger than your DT or smaller?
TheFishMan65
New member
I would guess smaller since he is "cutting my [his] scrubber down by 1/3".
What would be wrong with cutting the whole length of the pipe on a table saw (no plunging required) and then sliding a coupler over it (or using the coupler/elbow/union to attach the parts together)?
However, a table saw is not really the correct thing for PVC. I forgot who told be but PVC when cut with a table/circular saw will fracture (for lack of a better word) and send pieces flying - go real slow.
What would be wrong with cutting the whole length of the pipe on a table saw (no plunging required) and then sliding a coupler over it (or using the coupler/elbow/union to attach the parts together)?
However, a table saw is not really the correct thing for PVC. I forgot who told be but PVC when cut with a table/circular saw will fracture (for lack of a better word) and send pieces flying - go real slow.
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Remember though that his was oversized by 2x
srusso
Active member
Screens could be smaller, ie: a scrubber built to handle 50 gallons, IMHO could easily run 75, 90 gallons. If "normally stocked" possibly even a 100. This is my opinion... No evidence to support that, just my 2 cents...
Edit: to further beat the subject into the ground... I don't believe one could put enough livestock in a tank that would give a well built algae scrubber a hard time keeping up. The livestock would kill each other before anything like that would occur!
IMO scrubber screens could be cut by 1/2 and most would be fine... Properly built of course.
Last edited:
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Well, that is actually true. The recommended screen size is 1 square inch per gallon of water, then 1 watt/square inch for optimum filtration, but 0.5 w/sq in for minimum filtration (low stock, etc), provided there is good light coverage. I don't know about shrinking the screen and wattage down together, but it makes sense that you can 'get away' with a smaller screen, given that you match 1W per square inch of screen as a rigid standard.
Having said that, from the perspective of tank safety (maintaining low N and P) it never hurts to oversize (or "properly" size) a scrubber, and it can definitely hurt to undersize one, if you then add too much stock or your fish grow larger than the system can handle.
Again, it's all about realizing the limits of your scrubber, and not exceeding them.
Personally, I find it better to recommend, in general, that the 1 gallon : 1 sq in : 1 W ratio be adhered to, because once you do that and realize how well a scrubber can work, generally most would then push to get the most out of their tank by adding corals, livestock, etc.
Having said that, from the perspective of tank safety (maintaining low N and P) it never hurts to oversize (or "properly" size) a scrubber, and it can definitely hurt to undersize one, if you then add too much stock or your fish grow larger than the system can handle.
Again, it's all about realizing the limits of your scrubber, and not exceeding them.
Personally, I find it better to recommend, in general, that the 1 gallon : 1 sq in : 1 W ratio be adhered to, because once you do that and realize how well a scrubber can work, generally most would then push to get the most out of their tank by adding corals, livestock, etc.
Waiting to go green...
My scrubber has been running for about 8 weeks. When I first started my nitrate was over 150 and within a few weeks it dropped to 40. It is now around 30 or so and I am sure that given time it will eventually go to zero.
I now want to see what I can do to improved my scrubber's efficiency. I to not have any green on my screen everything is either brown or almost black. My flow is good with a sheet flowing off the bottom of the screen. Lighting is 2, 23 watt 2300K cfl bulbs. Lightning is on the standard 18 on 6 off schedule. 1 week ago I changed out my spotlight CFLs for standard CFLs in reflectors. This has made a significant difference in growth rate requiring me to clean the black stuff every 3-4 days. previously I was cleaning every 5 days. The screen is 7 inches wide and 18 inches long (only a 7x7 portion is relay in direct light)
Please see pictures below.
Algae is not as yellow as it looks. it is more of a black brown. It looks this way because of the light shining through the screen.
So I am looking of any tips on getting the green stuff to start. I wonder if I will not be able to do this until my nitrate drops more but if there is anything else I can do I am interested,
My scrubber has been running for about 8 weeks. When I first started my nitrate was over 150 and within a few weeks it dropped to 40. It is now around 30 or so and I am sure that given time it will eventually go to zero.
I now want to see what I can do to improved my scrubber's efficiency. I to not have any green on my screen everything is either brown or almost black. My flow is good with a sheet flowing off the bottom of the screen. Lighting is 2, 23 watt 2300K cfl bulbs. Lightning is on the standard 18 on 6 off schedule. 1 week ago I changed out my spotlight CFLs for standard CFLs in reflectors. This has made a significant difference in growth rate requiring me to clean the black stuff every 3-4 days. previously I was cleaning every 5 days. The screen is 7 inches wide and 18 inches long (only a 7x7 portion is relay in direct light)
Please see pictures below.
Algae is not as yellow as it looks. it is more of a black brown. It looks this way because of the light shining through the screen.
So I am looking of any tips on getting the green stuff to start. I wonder if I will not be able to do this until my nitrate drops more but if there is anything else I can do I am interested,
srusso
Active member
Waiting to go green...
My scrubber has been running for about 8 weeks. When I first started my nitrate was over 150 and within a few weeks it dropped to 40. It is now around 30 or so and I am sure that given time it will eventually go to zero.
I now want to see what I can do to improved my scrubber's efficiency. I to not have any green on my screen everything is either brown or almost black. My flow is good with a sheet flowing off the bottom of the screen. Lighting is 2, 23 watt 2300K cfl bulbs. Lightning is on the standard 18 on 6 off schedule. 1 week ago I changed out my spotlight CFLs for standard CFLs in reflectors. This has made a significant difference in growth rate requiring me to clean the black stuff every 3-4 days. previously I was cleaning every 5 days. The screen is 7 inches wide and 18 inches long (only a 7x7 portion is relay in direct light)
Please see pictures below.
Algae is not as yellow as it looks. it is more of a black brown. It looks this way because of the light shining through the screen.
So I am looking of any tips on getting the green stuff to start. I wonder if I will not be able to do this until my nitrate drops more but if there is anything else I can do I am interested,
Move lights closer a little, clean black/dark growth every 3 days (i mean it...) and clean very well. Until your screen is mostly green growth starts. Your old lights may have been most of your problem though.
Edit: sorry, but black growth is very bad...
srusso
Active member
Use a brush, remove all black growth.
http://cgi.ebay.com/700-GPH-Aquariu...913?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fb1f3559
What do you think of this pump? Ebay item and cheap. I know it is probably not a "good" pump but it will last long enough where I can save up for a better one.
What do you think of this pump? Ebay item and cheap. I know it is probably not a "good" pump but it will last long enough where I can save up for a better one.
srusso
Active member
well i jumped in and joined the club yesterday. If you see anything that could use improvement let me know
I did add some acrylic covers to each side today to sheild any spray
Lights are a hair too close to the screen on clamped sides, leave it alone for now. Lets see growth pattern, you maybe fine...
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I would say that a 400 GPH pump should be about right. You may get a little extra flow, but that's good. If it's too much, you can add a ball valve and crack it back a bit. The 700 GPH pump is a little overkill if you're feeding the screen directly.
It looks like you are running the scrubber with a 2-lamp T5HO on one side, and a CFL on the other, correct? The T5 lights look a little blue, what K rating are they?
flyhigh123
funky member
should i put a light blocker between my fuge and my sump where my skimmer is? Does the lights cause unwanted growth in other areas?
The light will cause growth pretty much wherever it shines and that is submerged. If you don't want growth somewhere nearby, it's advisable to block somehow. However, I wouldn't fret too much if it's an area that's easy to reach with a scraper. I have some macro that's kept alive for the most part - Red Gracilaria. Chaeto, not so much.
srusso
Active member
The amount light spillage depends on your design. Blocking the light is not a bad idea.
No its a regular flourecent light. I am getting another cfl for that side but the lamp I ordered is not in. Should be in tomorrow sometime.
OodleyBoodely
New member
I finally got mine set up and running! It still needs some tweaking and another light, but, at least it it up and working. I have two 23w cf in the reflectors on one side and one led on the other. I'll add another led on the other side when I can. I did try to use the QuietOne 4000...but after cleaning water up off the floors 3ft from the tank, 
decided to use two Maxijets instead. Works much nicer! I'm using a MJ 1200 and 600 for a combined waterflow 455 or near enough after about 18" headloss. It seems to be a good amount for this screen, maybe even a bit much. Eventually I will replace the two MJ with a single more efficient pump, or if I can make it work, I'll run the scrubber off the siphon drain from my main display. Here are some pics of my set up. :wave:
decided to use two Maxijets instead. Works much nicer! I'm using a MJ 1200 and 600 for a combined waterflow 455 or near enough after about 18" headloss. It seems to be a good amount for this screen, maybe even a bit much. Eventually I will replace the two MJ with a single more efficient pump, or if I can make it work, I'll run the scrubber off the siphon drain from my main display. Here are some pics of my set up. :wave:Attachments
srusso
Active member
I finally got mine set up and running! It still needs some tweaking and another light, but, at least it it up and working. I have two 23w cf in the reflectors on one side and one led on the other. I'll add another led on the other side when I can. I did try to use the QuietOne 4000...but after cleaning water up off the floors 3ft from the tank,
Not bad, the two maxijets can work so long as your getting good coverage, and a slight sound of rushing water. Insure the lamps are ~4" away, and you should be good, once you get that second lamp of course...
Similar threads
