??? NANO-sized TURF SCRUBBER ???

[castorpollux]

I just had an idea occur to me with the mods that people have been doing recently with the aquaclear HOB filters. what about converting a penguin bio-wheel system into a turf scrubber, similar to the eco wheels being made by aquatic engineers only it wouldn't be driven by air.

this is what thiers looks like:<br><br><img src="http://www.aquaticengineers.com/images/Pic00004.jpg"

the penguin bio-wheel systems create surges as well. I previously had a large model on a 10g and the water flow seemed to be fine.

this is the one that im thinking about because the top is clear:<br><br><img src="http://www.marineland.com/products/consumer/pic2/con_pic2_newpenguin.jpg">

so in theory the algae that they use (i can't remember specifically what it is but i know they sell it in sheets). It could be super glued in fine strips to the bio-wheel and cultured with a hang on light and harvested that same as with any macro when it gets overgrown.

basically you can still put all the media in the back that you want (carbon, bio-media- lava rock, bio-rings, etc) and still have the benefits of the nutrient export of a turf scrubber.

<b>so you can cram this:<br><br><img src="http://www.aquaticengineers.com/images/Is_it_real_or_eco-wheel_curacao.jpg"> <br><br>into this:<br><br><img src="http://www.petdiscounters.com/files/images/d_5070.jpg"></b>

any thoughts? i get my pico tank for my office tonight from "isthisnametaken? and i think i might attempt this new "experiment" of mod that im thinking of...

Mike

 

[midknight]

Hey Mike,

I was working what to do with the Bio-wheel on my old Emperor 280. I am using it as part of a 2 part refugium system on my thread.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=831443

I would think it could work but what would be best to attach to the wheel?

Dan

 

[castorpollux]

i am thinking plain old super glue gel just like for frags, i believe they use witches hair for thier macro on thier turf wheel scrub system, i dont think you would need the turf scubber though if your going to have built in refugium... i personally believe that they skim a bit though with the bio-wheel

 

[midknight]

Well I was just going to remove the wheel and lay down a strip of micro filber and have the spray bar shoot at that. But if I can get something that would work with the wheel I might try that.

 

[bil2k]

It was my understanding that bio wheels trap nitrates in SW tanks. Maybe replace the fin material with something very smooth?

 

[castorpollux]

i am not sure about that, but it could be true as bio-balls do the same, maybe gluing an acrylic mesh together which is what the big scrubber systems are made out of and then gluing the algae on to let the water "flow" through.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Why bother is my thing. I mean why not just do a modified aquaclear refugium. I would think a refugium with Chaeto or some other type of macro would suck up more nutrients anyway.

 

[midknight]

"Why Bother???" Because Devil, then we can say we did it and it worked. Also if you have an old filter laying around why bother going out to buy a new one to "modify".

 

[castorpollux]

i second that midnight! i have always wanted to try an algal scrubber anyways

 

[midknight]

Thanks Castor, us mad reefers have to stick together. Who else will try our crazy ideas.

 

[MandM]

I had an algal scrubber and didn't know it! Running a Penguin 330 and an Emperor 400 on the back of my 55gal, turf algae began to grow on the overflow into the tank. I ran without bio-wheels, the algae grew right on the plastic in a nice lawn. My herbivorous fish munched on any turf that hung down into the tank. You wouldn't get the same thing using sheets of nori, different algae and dead when you buy it in sheets. If you have light on the overflow area the algae will start to grow or a fellow reefer will no doubt donate some turf to get you started.
You can run the filter media in the back with or without carbon. It makes a good refugium to grow 'pods.