My diy algae turf scrubber
- Thread starter brettinteriors
- Start date
lostmyz
New member
From what I read you need to put the directly in front of the sheet that the water trickles down from for optimum growth (unless you moved it to take a photo of course than I'll shut up... hehe). I also thought ou wanted to have light on both sides of it but i could be wrong.
Otherwise looks great. What light are you using for it currently?
Otherwise looks great. What light are you using for it currently?
brettinteriors
New member
I moved the light to take pic but the light is el cheapo grande cfl from home depot. Defiantly need something stronger. Maybe one of those par30 or 38?led. Any suggesions
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brettinteriors
New member
Maybe I'll just get a 6500k for the other side . I'll have to go home depot led I think they are more directional. I can't fit another reflector. I'm thinking the cfl really need the reflector.
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brettinteriors
New member
Will do. I'm thinking it will be a few weeks for it to "warm up". I actually got the idea from sea. They seemed so simple and I already had an existing valve in my system. I used smaller tubing and made it more compact.
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I have the smaller one made by SEA. It has been on my sump for less than 2 weeks and already shows signs of algae growth. Used the clip on lighting system from Home Depot with a 10 watt energy saver bulb ( equals 40 w standard ). I tapped my return line, cut the plastic screen 1" below the water line, adjusted the valve for a gentle cascade of water and away I went. Every article I have seen about scrubbers talk about the algae eating the phosphates and nitrates as a food source thus lowering the levels in the tank. All natural and an easy fix to a troublesome problem. I see no reason for it NOT to work.
From what I read the mesh should be the white/clear one in order for the light to penetrate/reflect and make the scrubber even more efficient.
Also, did you "scuff" up the mesh? It looks intact from the picture. If it is indeed intact, the algae won't have anything rough to grab on to and will have a very hard time growing. What I did was get a whole saw and just run it up/down and side/side like a cross sort of to give it a good rough surface for the algae to grab on too and grow nicely.
I am not sure if you turned down the water flow for the picture but there should be water completely covering the whole screen in order for the algae to grow throughout the whole surface area of the screen.
Looking good though!
Also, did you "scuff" up the mesh? It looks intact from the picture. If it is indeed intact, the algae won't have anything rough to grab on to and will have a very hard time growing. What I did was get a whole saw and just run it up/down and side/side like a cross sort of to give it a good rough surface for the algae to grab on too and grow nicely.
I am not sure if you turned down the water flow for the picture but there should be water completely covering the whole screen in order for the algae to grow throughout the whole surface area of the screen.
Looking good though!
brettinteriors
New member
Thank you for the tips. When I built it I didn't have time to go to a fabric store to get the crochete matte or whatever it is so I just got what I could at ace, if I don't get good results I will change it out. Do you think the white stuff is a lot more effective? I used a fabric screen. It does stay wet everywhere . I roughed it up as much as possible with a miter box saw and I think I'm started to see a little funk on it:dance:
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Read the Algae Scrubber Basics posts in the thread/posts listed in my signature below. I see many things that need to be done differently.
brettinteriors
New member
Thank you, I'll switch over to the knitting mat and put in lower kelvin bulbs and on both sides. Im at max size that i have room and is part of the big picture of filtration for me. I will also make the slit bigger and ad spray light blockerFlow is adjustable and I turned it down for the pic.
Last edited:
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
If space is an issue, make sure to go over the feeding based screen sizing guidelines.
brettinteriors
New member
I'm still going to change the lights and screen but I am getting growth. The screen has stuff all over it.
brettinteriors
New member
brettinteriors
New member
D0GFISH
New member
I checked Lux values with 3 different bulbs (all 6500k) for chaeto growth. A T5, a 23W cfl in a cheap 12" round reflector and a 23W cfl in a similar 'shop light' as you are using. T5 had the best bang for your buck and was very even. The round reflector was much brighter than the shop light but uneven compared to the T5. Hydroponics stores carry cheap 24" T5s if you have room. Otherwise I'd consider one of the $10 round reflectors from big box stores. Big difference in light output.
brettinteriors
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OysterGurth
New member
What is this for/do?
