Algae Scrubber Pics!!!

Here you are Steve:



....with lights on 18hrs, 4-6" from screen



.....sits at tank level, clear hose is drain back into tank



...........black hose @ mid right is return back to far side of scrubber (where valves are)


Used a Rio 1400 mounted on MagMount for return. Specs are 35gph for every inch of screen. 11" of screen = 385gph. Black hose is about 4 1/2' & just about perfect flow from pump.

This is for a 55g tank. Specs are 1" width of screen for every 10 gallons of tank. But since this is a 1 sided scrubber, you have to double it....hence 11" width. And there you have it.

I'm glad to get your approval to Matt.

 

Thank you Seabass1

I also had the red x problem on original post, so appreciate the update and repost of missing pictures

so now, I have questions

1 - is it early days or can you give me an idea of nitrate reduction capablities of this unit
2 - is there an optimum amount of algae you need on the screen, hence you remove some each week?
3 is there a specific type of algae you culture and where did this come from?

apologies for this blatant display of ignorance - but Im very interested in this build

Steve

 

I'm also interested in building one. Although I wanted to do it on a smaller scale let's say a 5 gallon bucket? My tank is 100gal but I don't have much space below or around the tank to work with.
My other questions are what Steve just asked.

 

I also thought this was very cool, and I had the materials to build one of these just laying around! I took a look at a previous post here by santa monica, who also seems to be maintaining a site, should be the first one on google if you search for algae scrubbers. He answers alot of questions about them there. I have some space in my fuge so I'm going to go with the gravity fed in sump variety, rather than the above the tank variety.

 

I've been running an ATS for about 8 months now, and that is some GREAT growth for week 1.

The brown spots/ lighter algae spots are "burnt" algae. You should try moving the lights back a little bit or lowering your wattage.

 

Awesome design. Now another newbie ? for ya..Whats the lights for? and why on earth would you want algea growth?

 

Well:
1) AV8 inspired my interest because his ATS has been running for awhile.
His nitrates & phosphates have been running zero!!

2) Actually, the rule is to "harvest" weekly. Scrape excess & rinse with
freshwater. Removal of the top layer allows bottom layer to continue
growing.

3) You can buy an actual turf "culture" from a site, but the
recommendation is to use the specific algae growing in your tank. I just
pinched out as much as I could & smeared it onto the screen & turned
on the pump & set the lights. Supposedly with time, the screen
becomes covered with an actual mat of turf.

**See the Dr.'s post below. Theres a site if you google Algae Scrubber.
A guy named Santa Monica maintains the site and has all kindsa
specs, plans, recommendations & pics. He's been on our site too.
AV8Bluewater has some great modifications to his scrubber too.

 

Actually Siddique, I tried the bucket which packs a bigger wallop in a smaller space but I just couldn't get the spray bar right. The bucket method is a two sided screen. Check DaDaAtlanta's thread on scrubbers and Av8Bluewaters post. Av8 has the best plans and variations for that style. Although the rubbermaid tote was easy for me, I'll eventually go with the double sided spraybar method.

 

The lights are specific for algae growth....on 18hrs/day. Eventually, the scrubber will "suck" up all nutrients the algae in your tank are growing on, hence, no more algae problems. (Is your name short for Sebastian?)

 

Yeah, been 4 days since my first "scrape/harvest" & its almost all grown back!!
Although the bulbs are CF which give off very little heat, I'll see what happens if I move the lights back.
Thanks for your suggestion.