DIY Algae Turf Scrubber - Page 2

subpotentjoe · 01/23/2012, 03:45 PM

That is a clean looking algae maker... Are you running a skimmer as well? I am very interested to hear how well this works for you because I have been considering building one for my tank. Tagging along.

ghellin · 01/23/2012, 04:56 PM

I am running a skimmer yes once the ATS is fully online and growing at its max I plan on making some changes like removing GFO and my refugium.

srusso · 01/24/2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghellin

I am running a skimmer yes once the ATS is fully online and growing at its max I plan on making some changes like removing GFO and my refugium.

Nice start! I like what you did with the plumbing! Of course if you plan to start removing other forms of filtration, you will need to make some additional adjustments. Mainly your screen will need more light and reflectors. Lighting would need better position, as well as have lights on both sides... etc, etc. An algae scrubber is all about balance, light with flow with nutrients. The level of filtration solely depends on how well you struck that balance.

ghellin · 01/30/2012, 12:01 PM

Week 3.

Ok i found I had a flow issue so this weeks growth was not as impressive, however flow has now been fixed and measured.

ghellin · 01/30/2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srusso

Nice start! I like what you did with the plumbing! Of course if you plan to start removing other forms of filtration, you will need to make some additional adjustments. Mainly your screen will need more light and reflectors. Lighting would need better position, as well as have lights on both sides... etc, etc. An algae scrubber is all about balance, light with flow with nutrients. The level of filtration solely depends on how well you struck that balance.

Yes the system will be balanced. I have plans for adding a LED fixture to give uniform light to the screen, however the amount of space in my stand is the limiting factor. Since overall appearance is important to me, I will be keeping my scrubber lit only on one side I have made up for this by doubling the surface area to 2 sq inches per gallon. (This falls under the acceptable guidlines for turf scrubbers). I am always open to change as I do not have an "absolute" end goal. So far I am very pleased with how the scrubber is progressing I am still in the beginning stages of algae growth, but I soon hope to have a nice green mat of GHA.

ghellin · 02/06/2012, 07:38 PM

Week 4 after I corrected the flow issue I am now getting tufts of green hair algae.

ghellin · 02/26/2012, 07:49 PM

Week 6 update a lot more algae has been growing now i scraped off a lot more this week.

TeHGuy · 02/26/2012, 08:08 PM

looks like success to me!

danielbui23 · 02/26/2012, 09:03 PM

Success will be in the NoPo & Nitrate test.

ghellin · 02/27/2012, 03:43 PM

0 nitrates, and 0 phosphates

danielbui23 · 02/27/2012, 03:48 PM

Sweet! When was the last time you ran GFO?

ghellin · 02/27/2012, 04:26 PM

Currently but it will be coming off very soon now that i have algae growing. While I know if defeats the purpose of the ATS I was not willing to lose all my corals from a simple experiment.

ghellin · 02/27/2012, 04:28 PM

I have plans to turn my GFO reactor into a CO2 reactor for my skimmer.

kenith · 03/03/2012, 01:14 AM

Looking good. I just finished a similar box that is lit by 4 cfls. Does your flow across the screen seem even? I cut mine perfectly and still have some dry spots at 550 gph (measured)

WCreef · 03/03/2012, 02:23 AM

Good Job on that scrubber you've definitely made some great adjustments....now if only I could get mine dialed in right..

---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.093939,-117.956974

srusso · 03/03/2012, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghellin

Currently but it will be coming off very soon now that i have algae growing. While I know if defeats the purpose of the ATS I was not willing to lose all my corals from a simple experiment.

Seems like you read the threads well, you understand the concept and implemented well... We could use your help back at the main thread answering peoples questions, if you have some time. Nice work

Bosco83 · 04/20/2014, 09:19 AM

How's the scrubber doing?

Ms Tanky Panky · 05/02/2014, 05:34 AM

I too am curious as to how it is doing. I was very much impressed with the build from the begining

ghellin · 05/05/2014, 02:55 AM

Was taken down almost 2 years ago.

Zoanut · 06/16/2014, 10:53 PM

Sorry read the above posts.

rhogeo · 06/23/2014, 08:40 AM

Curious, why was it taken down?

ghellin · 06/23/2014, 11:38 PM

Mag12 generated too much heat in a 58. Didn't want to buy a chiller just so I could run the scrubber.

Ms Tanky Panky · 06/24/2014, 06:04 AM

Were you happy with everything else then?

ghellin · 06/24/2014, 09:39 PM

Yes it was awesome and effective

Ms Tanky Panky · 06/25/2014, 05:31 AM

I was hoping you would say that

My tank is a little bigger so I'm going to give it a try myself and see if it works for me. Thanks for the instruction btw, it is appreciated

01/23/2012, 04:56 PM	#27
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	I am running a skimmer yes once the ATS is fully online and growing at its max I plan on making some changes like removing GFO and my refugium. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

01/30/2012, 12:01 PM	#29
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Week 3. Ok i found I had a flow issue so this weeks growth was not as impressive, however flow has now been fixed and measured. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

02/06/2012, 07:38 PM	#31
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Week 4 after I corrected the flow issue I am now getting tufts of green hair algae. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

02/26/2012, 07:49 PM	#32
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Week 6 update a lot more algae has been growing now i scraped off a lot more this week. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

02/27/2012, 03:43 PM	#35
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	0 nitrates, and 0 phosphates __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

01/23/2012, 03:45 PM	#26
subpotentjoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 51	That is a clean looking algae maker... Are you running a skimmer as well? I am very interested to hear how well this works for you because I have been considering building one for my tank. Tagging along.

02/26/2012, 08:08 PM	#33
TeHGuy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Peterborough, Ontario Posts: 127	looks like success to me!

02/26/2012, 09:03 PM	#34
danielbui23 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yukon, Oklahoma Posts: 154	Success will be in the NoPo & Nitrate test.

02/27/2012, 03:48 PM	#36
danielbui23 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yukon, Oklahoma Posts: 154	Sweet! When was the last time you ran GFO?

02/27/2012, 04:26 PM	#37
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Currently but it will be coming off very soon now that i have algae growing. While I know if defeats the purpose of the ATS I was not willing to lose all my corals from a simple experiment. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

02/27/2012, 04:28 PM	#38
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	I have plans to turn my GFO reactor into a CO2 reactor for my skimmer. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS. Last edited by ghellin; 02/27/2012 at 04:37 PM.

03/03/2012, 01:14 AM	#39
kenith Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 677	Looking good. I just finished a similar box that is lit by 4 cfls. Does your flow across the screen seem even? I cut mine perfectly and still have some dry spots at 550 gph (measured) __________________ 225 In Wall Starphire ATI 8x80W powermodule

03/03/2012, 02:23 AM	#40
WCreef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Covina Posts: 76	Good Job on that scrubber you've definitely made some great adjustments....now if only I could get mine dialed in right.. --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.093939,-117.956974

04/20/2014, 09:19 AM	#42
Bosco83 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Granite Falls, wa Posts: 199	How's the scrubber doing?

05/02/2014, 05:34 AM	#43
Ms Tanky Panky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: OKC Posts: 170	I too am curious as to how it is doing. I was very much impressed with the build from the begining __________________ Dreams it seems, never come with enough dollars, but never let that stop you from chasing them.

05/05/2014, 02:55 AM	#44
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Was taken down almost 2 years ago. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

06/16/2014, 10:53 PM	#45
Zoanut Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 317	Sorry read the above posts. Last edited by Zoanut; 06/16/2014 at 10:58 PM.

06/23/2014, 08:40 AM	#46
rhogeo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 9	Curious, why was it taken down?

06/23/2014, 11:38 PM	#47
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Mag12 generated too much heat in a 58. Didn't want to buy a chiller just so I could run the scrubber. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

06/24/2014, 06:04 AM	#48
Ms Tanky Panky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: OKC Posts: 170	Were you happy with everything else then? __________________ Dreams it seems, never come with enough dollars, but never let that stop you from chasing them.

06/24/2014, 09:39 PM	#49
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	Yes it was awesome and effective __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

06/25/2014, 05:31 AM	#50
Ms Tanky Panky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: OKC Posts: 170	I was hoping you would say that My tank is a little bigger so I'm going to give it a try myself and see if it works for me. Thanks for the instruction btw, it is appreciated __________________ Dreams it seems, never come with enough dollars, but never let that stop you from chasing them.

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