algea scrubber

[williah]

Thanks for the picture sequence Turbo.

williah; It's not the absorption and then release, it's the absorption then letting the pods cut off sheets of algae that then decompose. Hence, returning all the various components back to the water column. If the screens are maintained properly, the algae is always physically removed, and the pods killed before this ever occurs.

Thanks kcress, I do agree. The first few lines were a butchered quote from Floyd R Turbo's earlier entry. I was thanking him for providing the reference to the paper.

Anyone who can get the article should read it. Excuse my oversimplification, but Semple and Cain basically are arguing the same concept that's being discussed here (concept, not the same system or interactions).

 

[williah]

I find the idea of an algae scrubber introducing harmful chemicals to be pretty laughable. I've been discussing mine with the environmental engineers in my office, seems they're used on large scales to clean agricultural run off and industrial heavy metal contamination out of water ways.

Check this page out http://www.algalturfscrubber.com/point.htm

Great reference Alaska_Phil. This is one of the first sites I found when I was looking for further evidence of ats viability.

 

[widmer]

Excellent photos Floyd. Is that a straight razor in the last pic?

 

[TheFishMan65]

I think it is the handle of the cutting board.

 

[widmer]

:idea:

 

[TheFishMan65]

And that was in answer to your question. In the bottom left corner is something which I think is a cut out for a handle of the cutting board with the edge of the sink showing through. I thought you thought it was a razor blade.

Unless of course you are talking about the purple thing. Back in the old days before tooth brushes had batteries well . . . Wait . . . straight razor are older than that

 

[Nathan.Titulaer]

I will say on the smell side mine stunk my living room up for the first three months and was not very effective until I changed the bulbs to brighter bulbs and went to a screen lit on both sides instead of one. The smell went away in a few days after the algae really took off.

In my personal experience if it stinks it is not set up right and you did something wrong not the scrubber.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Mine basically smelled like fresh smelling beach sand. I only smelled it when cleaning the screen, never during operation. And it was definitely not unpleasant (I actually looked forward to cleaning the screen because of the smell).

 

[kcress]

So Turbo, you aren't getting any nutrient spike from laying waste to both sides of your scrubber at the same time? Or have you not actually checked for one? Nice pics BTW.


I used a credit card to clean my screens. It seemed to work pretty well.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

No, none at all. This tank may be an exception however, because it has 2-3 lb LR/Gal and it's 3yrs + established. I took the skimmer off and the nitrates came up to 0.5 in a week (from 0). Phos bumped up in that time period also, but as of Friday it wsa down to 0.03 or less. Haven't tested yet today (took sample)

 

[Alaska_Phil]

I just finally got brave enough to take my skimmer off line yesterday. The pump is still running, but the air is shut off, so I can bring it back on-line in an instant.

 

[kcress]

He used plumbing unions.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Unions

Left side (front) lifts off

It was great in concept but acrylic absorbs enough water that it will warp/curl away from the side w/water on it, so the top doesn't hook over the back anymore. I hold it in place with a zip-tie. Design flaw.

I will be re-designing the box. Luckily my Dad makes acrylic stuff and I get it done for free.

 

[herring_fish]

That thing looks outstanding. Great work!

 

[Alaska_Phil]

That's a lot nicer looking than my set up.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

I've used both 3500K and 4100K 26W screw-in compacts with good growth from both.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I use these bulbs

http://www.aghydroponics.com/T5-2Ft-Grow-Bulbs-24W-HO-3000k-p/litbulbt5-pxfl24830.htm

They are a plant growth bulb and seem to work very well. You can get them for $4/each if you buy an 8 pack. Since you have to swap out every 3 months, this is extremely cost effective.

EDIT Sorry I didn't notice your "excluding" comment. Still, if you can find 3000K red/bloom CFLs that would probably work also. Algaescrubber dot net covers this - 3000-3500K is what you want.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

straight T5's like that should be good for a lot more than 3 months. 9 to 12 typically. The 3 month rule is for the screw in compact fluorescent type.

 

[widmer]

You still swap out the T5 every 3 months? I thought one of the big benefits of T5 is lumen maintenance ie over time there is very little loss in output.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

I'll have to check with SM on that. I thought it didn't matter what bulbs you used....