Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Advanced Topics
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 01/13/2018, 01:42 PM   #9926
Nstocks
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 32
Could a box be filled with strings and a wooden air stone inside for a good algae scrubber?

Reason for the microbbbles from air stone is to prevent noise due to tank location.


Nstocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/13/2018, 04:41 PM   #9927
Nstocks
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 32
The biggest concern I have is the proximity of bare LED/wires near water.

In this build they have the lights 90 degrees from the screens which greatly reduced the electrical risk if a DIY LED panel was made.

Would this method be very inefficient though, even with 3 or 4 screens?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8UqBIEwSgQ (at 1:32)


Nstocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/13/2018, 11:07 PM   #9928
SantaMonica
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Santa Monica, California, USA
Posts: 2,511
Quote:
Could a box be filled with strings and a wooden air stone inside for a good algae scrubber?
The air stone is the limiting part. You need big air bubbles to move the algae around, and to remove the boundary layer on the air/water interface. Small bubbles do this less efficiently.

Quote:
In this build they have the lights 90 degrees from the screens
Those types lose a lot of effectiveness because almost all the light is at the "sunset" level. Much better to move the lights to the side, and only use one screen if you need to.


__________________
Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843
SantaMonica is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/14/2018, 04:45 AM   #9929
Nstocks
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 32
Possible found a solution for splash proofing the Led's.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whitefurze-...419158031&th=1


Nstocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/18/2018, 12:03 PM   #9930
lapoza
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 21
Well The Inland dump bucket has been going about 6 weeks now, maybe longer i cant remember when i actually started the tank up. Anyhow they gave me two seed screens when they closed to get it going, both covered in purple algae. I was using CFL lighting but they lamps had a date on them from 2011 so i decided to change to using a mars aqua 165W i just bought off of ebay. Within days GHA growth was explosive. I have been cleaning the screen weekly and it is overgrowing the old purple agae and will probably kill it off within the month.

I read through Turbos website on a DIY vertical style so i could get rid of the constant dumping noise. Found a DIY article on making a verticle scrubber out of PVC plywood. Ordered the Red and blue LEDS from Steves LEDS and have had it up an running for around 5 days, once again im not good at not taking so i dont know exactly how long it has been in operation. But it has gotten very good growth in a short time frame using a small seed screen of GHS from my dump bucket ATS. Once I feel confident that the vertical is adequate I will remove the dump bucket from operation.

The tank is fairly new but the Scrubbers have been keeping my levels at very good levels. Last nights readings were Alk 11.6 down from 12.5. Nitrate nitrite and ammonia at 0. The only issue Ive had has been phosphates from using tap water. I was at a .86 and it wouldn't drop until i changed to the mars Aqua. That dropped it to a .56 over a couple weeks. Two days ago I added GFO which dropped it to .21 overnight. I am hoping that within a week my phosphates are down to SPS coral levels.

Here are some pics of my DIY adventure. One thing i found very interesting is on the dump bucket scrubber the edge of the Mars Aqua LED the Alga quits growing almost in an exact perfect line. Definitely dependent on lighting for growth


Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_3624.jpg (51.0 KB, 68 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_3612.jpg (62.8 KB, 61 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_3627.jpg (106.8 KB, 71 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_3628.jpg (74.3 KB, 62 views)
lapoza is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/20/2018, 08:45 AM   #9931
SantaMonica
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Santa Monica, California, USA
Posts: 2,511
Yes the dump bucket had its day, but as you can see a waterfall, bubble upflow, or horizontal flowing river with constant flow and strong light will outgrow the dump bucket turf.


__________________
Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843
SantaMonica is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/25/2018, 02:37 PM   #9932
MSHUR
ugust 2011
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: brooklyn,ny
Posts: 2,595
For you all ATS gurus, can you tell me PLEASE what light and why is better for scrubbers?

WARM WHITE LED OR COMBO OF RED/BLUE


Thanks,

Mike


__________________
Manhattan Reefs TOTM -August 2011

Current Tank Info: Reef Savvy crystal glass, Profilux network system,PS -Diuna T5-10 bulbs, BK SM-300
MSHUR is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/25/2018, 08:27 PM   #9933
Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
 
Scrubber_steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Down Under
Posts: 676
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSHUR View Post
For you all ATS gurus, can you tell me PLEASE what light and why is better for scrubbers?

WARM WHITE LED OR COMBO OF RED/BLUE


Thanks,

Mike
Just red 660nm is all you need to grow green algae

0.25W to 0.5W per square inch, each side of screen.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg LED x 5.jpg (84.4 KB, 56 views)

Last edited by Scrubber_steve; 01/25/2018 at 08:39 PM. Reason: adding info
Scrubber_steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/26/2018, 10:45 AM   #9934
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
 
Floyd R Turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Posts: 4,265
Blog Entries: 15
http://algaescrubber.zohosites.com/lighting-led.html


__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho"
General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky)
--> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729
Floyd R Turbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 10:55 AM   #9935
LeJeune981
Registered Member
 
LeJeune981's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 747
I keep getting a dark red/brown algae growing on my screen.. it always has a white foam like consistency on the inside... anyone have an idea what this stuff may be... it always seems to appear a day or 2 before I clean my screen off..

Pictures are from yesterday... and also from a few weeks ago when my whole screen was covered by this stuff..and the white foam on the inside was about 1/2 inch thick.. it also has a pretty solid consistency

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk


LeJeune981 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 04:01 PM   #9936
Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
 
Scrubber_steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Down Under
Posts: 676
I'd be curious to see your entire algae growing setup?


Scrubber_steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 04:24 PM   #9937
LeJeune981
Registered Member
 
LeJeune981's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 747
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twinfallz View Post
I'd be curious to see your entire algae growing setup?
Not sure if you are referring to me or not.. but I'll snap a picture or 2 once I get home... it's my "a bit hillbilly" upflow ats lol

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk


LeJeune981 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 04:32 PM   #9938
Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
 
Scrubber_steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Down Under
Posts: 676
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeJeune981 View Post
Not sure if you are referring to me or not.. but I'll snap a picture or 2 once I get home... it's my "a bit hillbilly" upflow ats lol

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk
Had a feeling it might be an upflow


Scrubber_steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 07:15 PM   #9939
ali1
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 997
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeJeune981 View Post
I keep getting a dark red/brown algae growing on my screen.. it always has a white foam like consistency on the inside... anyone have an idea what this stuff may be... it always seems to appear a day or 2 before I clean my screen off..

Pictures are from yesterday... and also from a few weeks ago when my whole screen was covered by this stuff..and the white foam on the inside was about 1/2 inch thick.. it also has a pretty solid consistency

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk
Stranger things. Ask for 11


__________________
Originally Posted by Gogandantess

"I'm totally frustrated by this disease. My display has been fallow for 2 months now. If ich happened to mysteriously appear again, I'm giving up and going back to African Cichilds."
ali1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 10:52 PM   #9940
LeJeune981
Registered Member
 
LeJeune981's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 747
Quote:
Originally Posted by ali1 View Post
Stranger things. Ask for 11
Ask for 11?

It even has a dedicated clean up crew for the glass lol

The baby manderins in my fuge hang out in the ats most of the day as well

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk


LeJeune981 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/28/2018, 11:10 PM   #9941
Scrubber_steve
I'm really very likeable
 
Scrubber_steve's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Down Under
Posts: 676
I had a horizontal scrubber I made some years ago. It grew 'stuff' like you described - white creamy thick like yogurt under a thin layer of green.

The flow was too slow over my screens, the fluro lights weren't strong enough, far from enough water turbulence.

I've never used an upflow, & never intend too, but I'd say you need more bubbles for more flow & turbulence, & better lighting.


Scrubber_steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/29/2018, 10:25 PM   #9942
biecacka
Registered Member
 
biecacka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
i get various colors too, but i don't get the cream foamy looking substance.
what do the other colors mean?

corey


biecacka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/30/2018, 11:40 AM   #9943
bpnages25
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 177
Algae Scrubber Basics

Clear water scrubber has been up and running for a few months now. Growth seems to be very dark/reddish and not the bright green hair algae healthy growth. Lights are on for 15 hours.



Has anyone tried to cycle light on 6 hours, off 6hours.. ?









Last edited by bpnages25; 02/01/2018 at 03:47 PM.
bpnages25 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/30/2018, 07:26 PM   #9944
LeJeune981
Registered Member
 
LeJeune981's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 747
Quote:
Originally Posted by biecacka View Post
i get various colors too, but i don't get the cream foamy looking substance.
what do the other colors mean?

corey
Not sure.. I think some of my groth is cyano... but purple..when I scraped it off into a dish.. all the water turned purple lol

The foam stuff.. that baffles me.. under a mocroscope..it looks like just a bunch of bubbles..but a very spongy texture

Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk


LeJeune981 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/31/2018, 09:35 AM   #9945
biecacka
Registered Member
 
biecacka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
I'm running mine about 13 hours a day and am starting to see a small patch of cyano in the tank. Should I up my time to closer to 18 hours? I have a crazy amount of flow and really don't feed much but I did just try out the eBay hailide bulb so on 1 side of my tank where the algae is. So it could be the bulb possibly

Corey


biecacka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/31/2018, 10:36 AM   #9946
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
 
Floyd R Turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Posts: 4,265
Blog Entries: 15
Corey, cyano is usually the last thing to get out-competed due to the nature of it.

Before answering your question, how is the scrubber doing? Growing well?

How are your nutrient levels?

When you reference flow, is that in the tank or in the scrubber?


__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho"
General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky)
--> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729
Floyd R Turbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 11:10 AM   #9947
biecacka
Registered Member
 
biecacka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
The scrubber is growing great. I clean it about every 14 days and it grows pretty thick. Nutrient levels are N03 5-10, P04 .018. Reference to flow was in the tank. I'm getting about 350,400gph on the scrubber. The thing rocks!!! I don't feed a whole lot, Ehiem auto feeder for 2 turns per day, decent sized pinch per turn, frozen cube 2-3 times a week and I haveabout 30 fish in the tank,

Corey


biecacka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 11:21 AM   #9948
CoralNerd
Registered Member
 
CoralNerd's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: 92833
Posts: 1,099
Quote:
Originally Posted by biecacka View Post
The scrubber is growing great. I clean it about every 14 days and it grows pretty thick. Nutrient levels are N03 5-10, P04 .018. Reference to flow was in the tank. I'm getting about 350,400gph on the scrubber. The thing rocks!!! I don't feed a whole lot, Ehiem auto feeder for 2 turns per day, decent sized pinch per turn, frozen cube 2-3 times a week and I haveabout 30 fish in the tank,

Corey
what was your nutrients prior to the scrubber?


CoralNerd is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 12:10 PM   #9949
biecacka
Registered Member
 
biecacka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
About the same maybe a little higher. But I've ran a scrubber for almost 2 years. First a DIY, and now a REVL2 (I think). It works great helps keep things in order

Corey


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


biecacka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/03/2018, 02:09 PM   #9950
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
 
Floyd R Turbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Posts: 4,265
Blog Entries: 15
L3 Rev 3 actually


__________________
Algae Scrubber Basics!!! GOOGLE "algaescrubber zoho"
General Interest Forums --> Advanced Topics --> Algae Scrubber Basics (sticky)
--> POSTS #3251-64 (Basics), #5206 (Cleaning), #6884 (LEDs), #729
Floyd R Turbo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
algae scrubber/heavy metals charles matthews Randy Holmes-Farley 6 11/03/2016 08:32 PM
xenia scrubber instead of algae scrubber? dolt SPS Keepers 40 04/07/2011 11:34 AM
Try again: Is anybody running an algae scrubber as primary filter. Frick-n-Frags Reef Discussion 166 08/03/2008 03:58 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.