Algae Scrubber Basics

Discussion in 'Turbo's Aquatics' started by Turbo's Aquatics, Aug 4, 2011.

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  1. Turbo's Aquatics

    Turbo's Aquatics 3reef Sponsor

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    The only add-on I have for this is that some kind of step should be taken to keep the black plastic (or saran wrap for that matter) in place no matter what. Something dislodging that piece of material, say after a power outage where it dried out or something like that, would be a total disaster. I follow Murphy's Law when it comes to these things!!
     
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  3. reefermadnes

    reefermadnes Bristle Worm

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    I know you build your scrubber based on how much you feed, but what if your system isnt completely stocked. I have a 240 and im running rowaphose and want to take that off line if this scrubber works. Im feeding 1-2 cubes a day and about 5 mils of liquid food every three days right now with a farely light stock.
     
  4. Turbo's Aquatics

    Turbo's Aquatics 3reef Sponsor

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    You can always add capacity later. I would size the screen for feeding now, and increase the size if needed later.

    You could also overbuild and shorten the photoperiod. If you make the lighting to match the double-intensity rule, so you have a total of 2W per sq in (LxW) of screen, and make the screen sized to what you think you might be feeding, you could run the lights proportionally less according to what you are now feeding.

    So let's say you want to feed 4 cubes/day. You make the screen 48 sq in and put 96W of CFL on it, 48 on each side. Then feed 2 cubes/day and run the lights 4-5 hours/day. When you increase feeding, you increase hours to 9 hours/day.

    The key is in the intensity, and if the lights are on for too long, you will get yellow growth. Too little, it turns dark brown/black.

    There's more than one way to skin a cat...
     
  5. reefermadnes

    reefermadnes Bristle Worm

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    I figured maybe a 9x9 to cover about 3-4 cubes plus whatever liquid food I use once or twice a week. With a flow of 320 or more. I was planning on using red and blue 1w leds, 6 reds with one blue on both sides. Instead of lenses I was wondering if those plastic diffusers they use in offices for the florescent lights would spread the light out better. Then start with a photoperiod of 6hrs on, run it for a week or two and see if i need to increase or decrease the photoperiod. Does sound about right? Overbuilt, underbuilt?
     
  6. Turbo's Aquatics

    Turbo's Aquatics 3reef Sponsor

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    9x9=81, 81/12=6.75 cubes/day. So if you're going to feed 3-4 now, and possibly more later, that would be right.

    Per reflectors, yeah I've built almost 50 scrubbers this way, I put the exact diffuser you describe in front of the LEDs then put them about 2 inches from the screen. But make sure it's clear prismatic, with no opaque quality to it. Plaskolite with the green and white sticker at Lowe's.

    LEDs I use 6 660nm red to 1 455nm blue. I have been buying Philips from Rapid but Steve's LEDs has better ones for less (670nm true deep red and better bin) so I will probably be switching.

    For a 4x6 screen I have been using 2 fixtures, each having 6 reds and 1 blue on each side, 2" on center in a rectangle with a blue in the middle, with a diffuser in front of the LEDs and running it 9 hours or less for <2 cubes/day. LEDs wired in a single series of 14 powered by a MW LPC-35-700. I have found though that even with the diffuser, the blue is overpowering and I'm having to put a little dot of tape on the diffuser in front of it so that the screen will fill in. That may be also because (if you read the basics) I am using roughly 4x the LED density of the recommended minimum, but I was going for even coverage and full use of the high-light rule. Time will tell if I can establish a new rule for screen size that is not only based on feeding, but light intensity, since mine has a light intensity that is easily 2-4x that of T5HO and spectrum specific. It's so intense that I grow algae inside the slot tube, on the smooth section of screen - I had to switch to electrical schedule 40 PVC to block the light.

    All that being said, I know that Ace25 on the Algae Scrubber site uses 6 reds and 1 blue on a 10x10 scrubber on a tank that he feeds 8-10 cubes/day, his lights are backed off quite a bit more, and he says he has excellent growth.

    So there are many ways you can do it, but for me I will never go back to a fluorescent scrubber.
     
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  7. reefermadnes

    reefermadnes Bristle Worm

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    Well I definitley think I have a pretty good starting point after reading this thread and 153 page one on rc lol. I will get one setup and post what I find out on here and rc I appreciate your time and advice.
     
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  9. reefermadnes

    reefermadnes Bristle Worm

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    Once I get this thing all dialed in and grm green turf then I should be able to take my gfo offline? Thats what Im goin for since that gets a little pricey for a big tank.
     
  10. Turbo's Aquatics

    Turbo's Aquatics 3reef Sponsor

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    In case no one noticed, this thread got moved over to my sponsor forum when I became a sponsor. I'm not sure if the re-direct is still in place after the xenForo transition.

    That being said, you don't have to be a customer or potential customer for me to help you with any Algae Scrubber related questions or issues. I'm here to help anyone who needs it!

    Even though this thread is now in my sponsor forum, I will try to refrain from plugging my products too much. All you have to do is go up one level to see that. I would like for this thread to remain a general Q&A, similar to the other threads like this one that I have started on other forums.
     
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  11. Turbo's Aquatics

    Turbo's Aquatics 3reef Sponsor

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    Just a quick announcement!

    I decided to separate my product website and my forum. I'm keeping www.turbosaquatics.com and will be making this my product website, and the forum has been migrated over to www.algaescrubbing.com

    I will be making some necessary modifications to the forum structure and content in the coming months so that it is less associated with my products. I will still use it to support my products of course, but the hope is that this separation will create a more neutral area for people to learn, help others, post Q&A, or just show off their DIY builds without feeling like they are intruding or being intimidated because they are not a customer.
     
  12. Turbo's Aquatics

    Turbo's Aquatics 3reef Sponsor

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    I have added the Algae Scrubber Basics as Resources on my forum, so instead of re-posting any updates from here on out, I will just post a notification in this thread when a section is updated. That way, you're never reading an outdated guideline :)
     
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