Santa Monica100 Algae scrubber!!

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Thatgrimguy, Aug 17, 2011.

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  1. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    Very cool! This thread made it on Facebook! Thanks Matt!
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Anya

    Anya Bristle Worm

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    I feel so lost reading this post...what's an n and p? And what is this unit supposed to do?
     
  4. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    N = No3 = Nitrate
    P = Po4 = Phosphate

    This unit allows water to flow over a rough course material while a high powered, low kelvin light sits on each side. This causes Algae to grow on the screen in very large amounts (Green hair algae being the goal).

    This algae absorbs Nitrate and Phosphate in order to grow, effectively out competing problem algaes in the display. Each week I will clean the screen by removing the algae's allowing me to effectively remove the nitrate and phosphate it consumed to grow!!
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2011
  5. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    Quick recap of the benefits an algae scrubber provides...

    Benefits

    - Removes Inorganic Nitrate

    - Removes Inorganic Nitrite

    - Removes Inorganic Phosphate

    - Out competes problem algae in your display tank

    - Naturally boosts PH (can be used to minimize or even end the diurnal ph swings that many tanks experience)

    - Increase dissolved oxygen content of your water to a point of full saturation!! Hooray photosynthesis!

    - Removes Co2

    - Removes metals (like copper, aluminum and iron)

    - Removes ammonia/ammonium

    - Adds millions of baby amphipods and cope-pods

    - Can be used for some serious evaporative cooling (take the lid off and point a fan at it if this is needed)

    - Removes tinting from the water improving water clarity

    - Infuses the water with these moleules - Carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, enzymes, lipids, and these amino acids: valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, alanine, and proline.



    all while using no chemicals and without removing any food from the water!! And since it's just algae.. there is really no down side (besides the cost) Though you could build one your self for $100 easy
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2011
  6. Anya

    Anya Bristle Worm

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    Wow, that sounds pretty good. Didn't realize green algae can be useful, other than food for crabs.
     
  7. SkyFire

    SkyFire Clown Trigger

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    Sounds cool, I may have to get a set of their plans and DIY one.
     
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  9. chappy85

    chappy85 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    curious as to how this happens?
    this thing is sounding pretty amazing
     
  10. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    The way I understand it is very similar to the way the Zooxanthellae provides food to corals. Algae is what provides "trace elements" to the ocean! I don't know the exact manner in which this happens though.
     
  11. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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  12. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    AAAANNNDDDDDD... She's plumbed!!

    Observations:
    Silent operation with the lid on.
    Lots of bubbles coming out the bottom.
    Extremely easy to plumb.. I could have done it myself.
    My LFS is awesome, they came and plumbed it for free even though it wasn't bought from them!!!

    Approximately 900gph coming from my return pump (measured by using a 1gallon bucket and stopwatch.

    Lights are on for 18 hours a day. Counter the daytime lights.
    Currently, It's throwing some serious bubbles in the tank, I'll have to play with it to fix that. Add some plumbing that will look like a Tie Fighter from Star Wars.
    I'm going to try and use a PVC T that will then flow to a t on each side with one end above the water line, the other aiming straight down into the water... hopefully that will fix it.

    I have about 15 nitrate and Phosphates are unknown. I pulled my GFO over a week ago to help with my clam not opening. So I have a pretty decent amount of Diatom algae on the sandbed/glass/rocks.