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05/04/2011, 09:06 AM | #1251 | ||
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05/04/2011, 09:11 AM | #1252 |
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You have two legs going down into the sump. At the top of one of them is a T with a hose barb for the incoming water. What If you had designed it as follows:
- Replace the T with an elbow. = Move the hose barb to one end of the support feet. (Or T off the vertical further down. Seems like this would mean less flexible piping and might make the alignment easier.
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05/04/2011, 09:12 AM | #1253 |
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Yes, I can get more of the smaller reflectors (there are 2 large and 2 small). I just thought the larger reflectors would better diffuse the light. Getting the scrubber out isn't terrible either - that whole L-shaped arm comes out via true union to the left. I did think about the design just a little :P
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05/04/2011, 09:24 AM | #1254 |
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I had to redo it since I had the supply tee at the top if I ever wanted to clean the screen by unscrewing the unions I would have to cut the supply hose off so I moved it below the union so now it is just unscrew and take to the sink.
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05/04/2011, 09:27 AM | #1255 | |
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70 Gallon Oceanic | Coral Reef | Apex Controller | Algae Scrubber |Started 8/14/2010 General Interest Forums > Advanced Topics > Algae Scrubber Basics Thread Basics Write Up - Post #1 | Quick Troubleshooting - Post #1902 | Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723 | Latest Summary - Post #3251 - #3264 |
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05/04/2011, 09:43 AM | #1256 |
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scott - Great idea. Does it also make the area under the tank easier to manage?
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05/04/2011, 09:43 AM | #1257 | |
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As Srusso said, yes it is possible to build one in an overflow. The 'surging' you're talking about it probably because your standpipe wasn't tuned properly, so it was filling up the overflow box and then flushing out. Not really what you want, but it's just a noise factor. For an overflow scrubber to work, you would have to have the light vertical and strapped to the outside of the overflow, and it would have to be accessible (to change lamps every 3 months) and protected from water splashing during maintenance of the tank and scrubber. The screen would by definition be one-sided, which limits your scrubber size to the width and height of the overflow box. In theory though, if you didn't have a need or desire for other filtration, you could build one in an overflow box and plug the holes, and just put your return pump in the overflow and go sumpless.
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Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
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05/04/2011, 10:20 AM | #1258 |
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05/04/2011, 11:02 AM | #1259 |
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Does anyone have any pics of above tank scrubbers? I currently have mine in the sump, but it has greatly reduced the flow back to the DT. I was thinking of incorporating my current returns directly to a scrubber. The returns are in the overflow boxes that come up from behind the DT. I was planning on using my existing screens.
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05/04/2011, 12:37 PM | #1260 |
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Update 7 weeks of algae scrubber on a 10 gallon. I posted these photos in my build thread as well, so if you've seen them there as well, I'm sorry.
Before the ATS 7 weeks of running my ATS! Woo Hoo! Nearly completely algae free in the DT. I have purposefully avoided large water changes and purposefully avoided manual pruning to any great extent.
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05/04/2011, 01:35 PM | #1261 | |
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Its hard to tell from your pictures how much space you really have to get in for maintenance. I have always disliked clip lights for use with an algae scrubber b/c I always saw myself knocking one off the sump and having an electrified lamp drop into the water... That is the reason I went with the drop lights. The funny thing is... once you see how well they work... you will never stop reinventing the design in your head
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05/04/2011, 01:40 PM | #1262 | |
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70 Gallon Oceanic | Coral Reef | Apex Controller | Algae Scrubber |Started 8/14/2010 General Interest Forums > Advanced Topics > Algae Scrubber Basics Thread Basics Write Up - Post #1 | Quick Troubleshooting - Post #1902 | Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723 | Latest Summary - Post #3251 - #3264 |
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05/04/2011, 01:46 PM | #1263 | |
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Above tank designs are nice but they require space on the top of the tank, which at least in an open design means its fighting for real estate for tank lighting. In a closed system, I makes an above design easier to accomplish. Just put it on a shelf above the tank, plumb it and your done.
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70 Gallon Oceanic | Coral Reef | Apex Controller | Algae Scrubber |Started 8/14/2010 General Interest Forums > Advanced Topics > Algae Scrubber Basics Thread Basics Write Up - Post #1 | Quick Troubleshooting - Post #1902 | Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723 | Latest Summary - Post #3251 - #3264 Last edited by srusso; 05/04/2011 at 02:39 PM. |
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05/04/2011, 01:50 PM | #1264 |
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I get it - it's a great thing you guys are doing maintaining this thread.
Regarding the clip lights; I'm not sure what other's experience with them has been but just from my initial setup the springs seem quite sturdy (though the rear right reflector is hanging upside-down from the return pipe - I wrapped the cord around the pipe to prevent it from falling into the water just in case the clip lets go). Either way, I'm going with a different sump which will necessitate a redesign and I'll address the maintenance angle for sure then. It's been a good experience to set this up once before the tank is cycled though so I have a crack at a redo before things are too far along. On a side note - I did dose ammonia and bacteria at lunch today so cycle is under way! Gotta build up some food for the algae |
05/04/2011, 04:05 PM | #1265 | |
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Are there any tricks to making sure the water covers the entire screen on intial set up? |
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05/04/2011, 05:43 PM | #1266 |
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I'm about 6 weeks in now, and just in the last 2 weeks I've started to see some really good growth. At first, I took the skimmer and the rowaphos offline, I did put the skimmer back online after 2 weeks. I had a pretty serious outbreak of cyano. Now, there is very little cyano left, I only have to clean the glass about every 4 days. I'm still battling bryopsis in the dt, but I'm pulling whatever I can every couple of days when I suck up any cyano. So far, so good. I harvested about 3/4 cup last week from one side. This week looks like more!
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05/04/2011, 05:59 PM | #1267 | |
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Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
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05/04/2011, 06:05 PM | #1268 | |
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Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho" General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky) --> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729 |
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05/04/2011, 10:34 PM | #1269 | |
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I would say plan on cutting three or four of them and chose the best one. Best being straightest, cleanest cuts.
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70 Gallon Oceanic | Coral Reef | Apex Controller | Algae Scrubber |Started 8/14/2010 General Interest Forums > Advanced Topics > Algae Scrubber Basics Thread Basics Write Up - Post #1 | Quick Troubleshooting - Post #1902 | Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723 | Latest Summary - Post #3251 - #3264 |
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05/04/2011, 10:45 PM | #1270 | |
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05/06/2011, 01:14 PM | #1271 |
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Thanks for the very informative posts about the use of fluorescent tubes versus CFL. It doesn't look like we have the $0.97 per pack of 4, or even per bulb, at our HDs here in upstate NY.
Noticed through my research that plant growers use sodium and mercury lamps to grow with, but it doesn't look like the wavelength spikes are really in the optimum places... Was also looking at adding my scrubber on the return line of my 230, since adding it to the drain seems to be potentially unsafe (if it clogs up and reduces flow from the tank). If I add it to the return through a tee, one way to the tank, one way to the scrubber, with valves to control what goes where, then a clog on the scrubber will just build up pressure to the tank and slow the pump down, which isn't a problem! (seems much better than having the pump load up the tank and run dry...) It looks like I have gpm to spare. Still working my brain around a design... |
05/06/2011, 02:09 PM | #1272 | |
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05/06/2011, 03:06 PM | #1273 | |
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70 Gallon Oceanic | Coral Reef | Apex Controller | Algae Scrubber |Started 8/14/2010 General Interest Forums > Advanced Topics > Algae Scrubber Basics Thread Basics Write Up - Post #1 | Quick Troubleshooting - Post #1902 | Alternate/Updated Sizing - Post #2723 | Latest Summary - Post #3251 - #3264 |
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05/06/2011, 10:26 PM | #1274 |
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You have the same risk of a tube clogging as you do when something obstructs a drain completely at any point in any system. A slot tube is a self-controlling device. If algae grows into the slot, the water pressure increases, which prevents further algae growth. This is why it is especially important to make a very straight and even slot, the pressure will be distributed evenly.
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05/07/2011, 04:37 PM | #1275 |
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Good points! Rather have it in the drain anyways. Guess it's OK for it to go there. Kind of worried about the pump situation, as mine's not really allowed to run dry. Guess that's a problem for any pump though.
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