Waterfall Turf Algea Filter: CHEAP and EASY to build
- Thread starter SantaMonica
- Start date
Northside Reef
Premium Member
I contacted the manufacturer and sent them the specifics of the application.
They recommended this motor line:
http://www.servocity.com/html/dayton_gear_motors__12v_.html
could you possibly link a couple of dump bucket designs I would be interested in looking at more of those as well before I decide to take this route.
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
I might look into one of those motors if I ever need a replacement for my swirler stein. Good find.
Here's a *crude* rendering of a dump bucket. Water fills the wedge shaped container until the weight on the long end is enough to unbalance the load. The box rotates on the pivot point and spills into a container below. You could add an acrylic box of some sort with an outflow to a pipe or something. Splashing would be kept to a minimum that way...you could even mount it above your tank to take advantage of the surge.
Here's a *crude* rendering of a dump bucket. Water fills the wedge shaped container until the weight on the long end is enough to unbalance the load. The box rotates on the pivot point and spills into a container below. You could add an acrylic box of some sort with an outflow to a pipe or something. Splashing would be kept to a minimum that way...you could even mount it above your tank to take advantage of the surge.
customcolor
New member
if your looking for like a 3 rpm motor that is 110v, try a mirowave motor that turns the plate. i have one (ripped it out of my old microwave
) under my kaulk reactor always spinning. plus you can get them off ebay too. they work great and are strong
bbehring
New member
I first found this thread on another forum then migrated to this one to read through both. You all know there are stronger and usually more technical opnions and advice here on RC!
Well this is sure interesting.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...emover+Replaces+Skimmer,+Refugium,+Everything
The mod on the other reef board just goggled the thread title and it came up on mumerous reef boards. Same thread start, same guy. The question posed now is what is Santa Monica up to? Trying to gain info to mfr and sell these scrubbers? At any rate the other board has indicated the following:
"The [insert reef board here] Staff was curious and started an "internal investigation" and this was turned up. I am concerned about this thread very much as a result. We at [insert reef board here] do not subscribe to spamming on our site. It certainly feels like that to me here based on the results of the "investigation" and as such may take more action on this thread in the near future
All interesting. I'm still contemplating setting one of these up to try it?
Well this is sure interesting.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...emover+Replaces+Skimmer,+Refugium,+Everything
The mod on the other reef board just goggled the thread title and it came up on mumerous reef boards. Same thread start, same guy. The question posed now is what is Santa Monica up to? Trying to gain info to mfr and sell these scrubbers? At any rate the other board has indicated the following:
"The [insert reef board here] Staff was curious and started an "internal investigation" and this was turned up. I am concerned about this thread very much as a result. We at [insert reef board here] do not subscribe to spamming on our site. It certainly feels like that to me here based on the results of the "investigation" and as such may take more action on this thread in the near future
All interesting. I'm still contemplating setting one of these up to try it?
Mike O'Brien
New member
You have to access the whole world in order to find a handful of people who are willing to try turf filtration. That's all.
bbehring
New member
Well, I was definately intrigued by this. Not to run down the road to get rid of my skimmer, P04 reactor etc. Just to see if I can get the nutrient export equal to or greater than the cheato I have had floating in my fuge. I didn't have any space to build the full bucket, dbl sided screen version, So...
I've put together a simple version of the 1 sided, in sump floating version (similar to the photos shown earlier in this thread) to see if I can get the algae/turf to grow, and through the weekly cleaning of the screen, if it will infact impact my P04 and N03 parameters? I built a 1/4" PVC frame that is 9" x 7.5" square (just the right size to bearly fit into my fuge), bought some tank screen divider and super glued this to the 1/4" frame. SG'd a long fin onto the frame so I could clip this fin on to the side of the sump for depth adjustment under the water flow. I'm running my 26w CF bulb about 14 hours. After 4 days, I'm starting to see quite a bit of algae film and buildup. I am still running my skimmer and P04 reactor with GFO as well as a bag of carbon in the sump, just as I did with the cheato. I have no plans to pull the skimmer, po4 reactor or carbon off line and I plan to continue my weekly water changes. I have a small amoung of HA in the main display so I'll see if this might help get rid of that?
I've put together a simple version of the 1 sided, in sump floating version (similar to the photos shown earlier in this thread) to see if I can get the algae/turf to grow, and through the weekly cleaning of the screen, if it will infact impact my P04 and N03 parameters? I built a 1/4" PVC frame that is 9" x 7.5" square (just the right size to bearly fit into my fuge), bought some tank screen divider and super glued this to the 1/4" frame. SG'd a long fin onto the frame so I could clip this fin on to the side of the sump for depth adjustment under the water flow. I'm running my 26w CF bulb about 14 hours. After 4 days, I'm starting to see quite a bit of algae film and buildup. I am still running my skimmer and P04 reactor with GFO as well as a bag of carbon in the sump, just as I did with the cheato. I have no plans to pull the skimmer, po4 reactor or carbon off line and I plan to continue my weekly water changes. I have a small amoung of HA in the main display so I'll see if this might help get rid of that?
arc eye
New member
Santa Monica,
I have seen your threads on other forums in addition to this one and none of them have many (if any) actual pictures of display tanks using your methodology. Instead there are a ton of pictures of various scrubbers and the algae they produce.
Would you mind posting some pictures of display tanks employing this methodology? It think it would go a long way to prove or dispel your point with this thread.
I have seen your threads on other forums in addition to this one and none of them have many (if any) actual pictures of display tanks using your methodology. Instead there are a ton of pictures of various scrubbers and the algae they produce.
Would you mind posting some pictures of display tanks employing this methodology? It think it would go a long way to prove or dispel your point with this thread.
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
Not many pictures out there arc eye. There's one from Inland a few pages back. Before and after shots of Santa Monica's tank are a few pages before that. The Smithsonian tank was shown as a 'successful' example in another thread...dismal and disappointing to say the least.
There is supposed to be a nice tank in the Ultimate Marine Aquariums book. IIRC, that tank was running off of the strict Adey approach to ATS (MUCH different than what has been described in this thread). That tank has since been broken down though. If anyone knows more about it, I'm all ears. I don't have a copy of the book at this time.
Some people should be able to start posting results. A handful of people here on RC took SM's advice and set up a system based on his ideas. Anyone have any before and after pics/numbers?
There is supposed to be a nice tank in the Ultimate Marine Aquariums book. IIRC, that tank was running off of the strict Adey approach to ATS (MUCH different than what has been described in this thread). That tank has since been broken down though. If anyone knows more about it, I'm all ears. I don't have a copy of the book at this time.
Some people should be able to start posting results. A handful of people here on RC took SM's advice and set up a system based on his ideas. Anyone have any before and after pics/numbers?
1 or 2 on another site are suggesting their readings are falling, 1 said its down to 40, well mines at 0 so thats weird:lol: apart from that, there are some good ideas for homemade scrubbers, like plastic buckets with lights inside, sounds very safe, and there is a serious reefer now giving it a go, his name is johnt, if he starts to publish regular results i will let you know, his readings will have merit
PowermanKW
New member
So what is wrong with using a scrubber and protein skimmer??? I have been reading about turf scrubbers. All these threads on all the sites. Read this one too. Seems that (I'm a rookie) in most cases it is either or. Why not both?
I have a sump w/ my skimmer in it. I don't want to get rid of it, and it is good at what it does. But why not use turf to keep the N&P down? Seems easy. I don't want to get away from WCs either. I do 10% a week. I have no problems right now, but seems like a good way to remove N&P still use a skimmer to remove DOC.
I have a sump w/ my skimmer in it. I don't want to get rid of it, and it is good at what it does. But why not use turf to keep the N&P down? Seems easy. I don't want to get away from WCs either. I do 10% a week. I have no problems right now, but seems like a good way to remove N&P still use a skimmer to remove DOC.
PowermanKW
New member
Ya... and of course I've been reading up on fuges too. However, I don't really see how I can convert my MegaFlow3 W/D to a fuge. I have a Mag 9.5 for a return pump so the flow rate through the sump would be too high from my understanding. Plus I would really have to do a lot of modifications to put sand in. Hence the interest in turf scrubbers.
PowermanKW
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13481546#post13481546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Michael
id say a refugium and skimmer is better than a scrubber, certainely more reefers use them than scrubbing, wonder why
And why do you think that is? As far as nutrient export, both do the job and some argue turf is much more effective.
As far as a place to grow fauna that is desirable. The sand bed adds another element. I would say that a tanks for a fuge is an easier and more beneficial setup. The turf scrubbers seem more difficult to do right. I would say that has a lot to do with it.
arc eye
New member
PowermanKW (like electricity by the way?)
Just an FYI, you don't have to use sand in a refugium. I know a lot of people who run them bare bottom with live rock and macroalgae. That way you can siphon the sludge that will accumulate in your sump/refugium.
Also, if you have the space you could plumb a 10g or even a bucket to your W/D with a small pump to separate whatever you plan on doing for a refugium from the flow currently running through your W/D. Check out melevsreef.com for some options.
Then maybe you could do a W/D, Skimmer, Turf, and Refugium..........although probably not necessary.
Just an FYI, you don't have to use sand in a refugium. I know a lot of people who run them bare bottom with live rock and macroalgae. That way you can siphon the sludge that will accumulate in your sump/refugium.
Also, if you have the space you could plumb a 10g or even a bucket to your W/D with a small pump to separate whatever you plan on doing for a refugium from the flow currently running through your W/D. Check out melevsreef.com for some options.
Then maybe you could do a W/D, Skimmer, Turf, and Refugium..........although probably not necessary.
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