cannarella
New member
Ok so I have an algae problem. My water parameters are in spec. I am currently running in a 100 gallon rubbermaid as I find time to build my tank stand. So here is my bio load, 2 damsels, 1 chocolate chip star, 1 black spined sea urchin that craps a lot, 1 lawnmower blenny that I never see except for the occasional bite mark in the algae, 2 large serpent stars, a bunch of little white ones, some snails, and some hermits. I am running a XM 175 10,000K MH for light for about 5 hours a day and a MRC MR-2 for skimming along with a closed loop. I feed one cube a week to my inhabitants so I figure I am not over feeding. I am thinking that the sea urchin that craps a lot is the culprit. I really like him as does everyone else, but if his poop is feeding the algae what can I do besides removing him? I can stand to clean algae off everything in the effort to keep him.
OK now why this is in the DIY forum. I want to make a home made canister filter to suck up the algae as I clean. Here is what I have in mind.
1 â€"œ Mag 2 pump (already have)
1 â€"œ Canister for water filtration, something like this http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/am_plumber_housing_w34-pr.jpg (HD ~$18)
1 â€"œ Sediment filter for above to filter out the algae, something like this that would be easy to clean out. http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/am_plumber_cart_w30pe.jpg (HD ~$6)
1 â€"œ Python or other type siphon thing. (have knock off one)
Misc. plumbing fittings. (HD ~$15)
It would go like this, have the Python hooked to the inlet of the mag pump which pressure feeds the canister filter and traps the algae sending the algae free water back to the tank. This should get me some good suction to get aggressive with the algae. I could also rig up some valves to back flush the system to get rid of the algae off the filter so I do not have to open it every time to clean. I am thinking of mounting it on a board so it is portable so I can take it to the utility sink to clean it or back flush it depending on which way I go.
Andy
OK now why this is in the DIY forum. I want to make a home made canister filter to suck up the algae as I clean. Here is what I have in mind.
1 â€"œ Mag 2 pump (already have)
1 â€"œ Canister for water filtration, something like this http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/am_plumber_housing_w34-pr.jpg (HD ~$18)
1 â€"œ Sediment filter for above to filter out the algae, something like this that would be easy to clean out. http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/am_plumber_cart_w30pe.jpg (HD ~$6)
1 â€"œ Python or other type siphon thing. (have knock off one)
Misc. plumbing fittings. (HD ~$15)
It would go like this, have the Python hooked to the inlet of the mag pump which pressure feeds the canister filter and traps the algae sending the algae free water back to the tank. This should get me some good suction to get aggressive with the algae. I could also rig up some valves to back flush the system to get rid of the algae off the filter so I do not have to open it every time to clean. I am thinking of mounting it on a board so it is portable so I can take it to the utility sink to clean it or back flush it depending on which way I go.
Andy
