Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
Triggerfish
Active member
started reading zero nitrate at about the 3-4 week point. still zero. 19 fish in a 110g.
If I remember the yellow in the center of screen is too much light directed there?
If I remember the yellow in the center of screen is too much light directed there?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
As long as it's not all yellow I think you're fine. That yellow there does indicate too much light compared to nutrients delivered, but around the outside it's green and looks good. I don't know that I would change much, but just to make sure I'm not missing something:
What lamps are you using (color temp and wattage)?
How close are they to the screen?
How many hours/day are the lights on?
What is flow across screen?
How long has the scrubber been running?
What lamps are you using (color temp and wattage)?
How close are they to the screen?
How many hours/day are the lights on?
What is flow across screen?
How long has the scrubber been running?
DavidinGA
Active member
Hmm... I have some yellow on mine. Too much light huh?
Just cleaned the screen last night and had some yellow
Last edited:
SantaMonica
Well-known member
David's seems fine. There will be variations from week to week anyway.
speedo2wet
Sharks!!!!
Well happy to report that after cleaning and checking my scrubber the opening was way to small. I ended up using a 1/8 drill bit to open it up. Found out my pumps flow is about 275gph and I need about 175gph. So everything seems to be flowing nice now and we'll see what happens
Triggerfish
Active member
reelredfish
Member
I am interested as for I would love to ensure this is the only place algae grows. But I have spent 7 months on doing my new in wall 180 and my small fish room with sump is nice and clean. So I would want one of the box type I have seen a few posts on. Just no sure if someone makes them?
Brummie
Member
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
1/8" is ideal. Getting it straight and even is a bit tricky. After the initial cut, this 'relaxes' the pipe and it can pinch closed. So check it and trim as needed. I use schedule 80 myself, it holds up better IMO
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
I don't know which of the two scrubber threads to put this in but I am going to repackage my dump bucket style ATS. I have had it for 20 years and I still like it.
I had lots of CLF's on my old version. Since I am starting a new tank from scratch, I think that I will employe the lighting and the box while I have it torn down.
The screen is 6 inches by 48 inches. The light will be about 2 or 3 inches above the water line. Of course this is a one sided ATS. I'm thinking about getting some of those Chinese grow lights. What size do I need and how many should I use?
I plan on having a mixed tank with lots of non-photosynthetic coral so the number of cubes that I will use is not a great question. I will be throwing the kitchen at the tank, as I always have. My scrubber always rose to the level that was required. when I was really over feeding I had as much as for VHO's on it. I even had to add fish fertilizer to keep from over scrubbing when I did that.
I may add dimmers for when I start out or when I cut back on feeding.
So I guess a better question how much would just be the max that I should put on the scrubber.
Do I use two 20 watt lamps?
or three 10 watt lamps?
Or something else?
I had lots of CLF's on my old version. Since I am starting a new tank from scratch, I think that I will employe the lighting and the box while I have it torn down.
The screen is 6 inches by 48 inches. The light will be about 2 or 3 inches above the water line. Of course this is a one sided ATS. I'm thinking about getting some of those Chinese grow lights. What size do I need and how many should I use?
I plan on having a mixed tank with lots of non-photosynthetic coral so the number of cubes that I will use is not a great question. I will be throwing the kitchen at the tank, as I always have. My scrubber always rose to the level that was required. when I was really over feeding I had as much as for VHO's on it. I even had to add fish fertilizer to keep from over scrubbing when I did that.
I may add dimmers for when I start out or when I cut back on feeding.
So I guess a better question how much would just be the max that I should put on the scrubber.
Do I use two 20 watt lamps?
or three 10 watt lamps?
Or something else?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Herring I would use 3x10w just for better coverage. The china LED lights are hit or miss. Why not just build something? 6" wide is perfect for a MakersLED heat sink and an array of LEDs on stars.
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
Hit or miss? What ...some are low quality, just don't work or what?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
Algae Scrubber Basics
There is quite a variance in spectrum and intensity mixture. Really the only way to know for sure what you are getting is to build it yourself. There is a lot if value added in doing that, and not much gained by buying it.
There is quite a variance in spectrum and intensity mixture. Really the only way to know for sure what you are getting is to build it yourself. There is a lot if value added in doing that, and not much gained by buying it.
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
Hmmm thanks.
I didn't want to hear that.
I don't know much about LED layouts. What would I need for a high a powered 6 by 48?
I didn't want to hear that.
I don't know much about LED layouts. What would I need for a high a powered 6 by 48?
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
I guess in just a big fan of even coverage, and when it comes to premade LED fixtures you tend to not get that so much. Let me think about it and ft back to you
herring_fish
Crazy Designer
Thanks
I'm going to get ready for bed. Tomorrow, I'll start to do some research but I'll need to know about quantities and ratios.
I'm going to get ready for bed. Tomorrow, I'll start to do some research but I'll need to know about quantities and ratios.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
The Chinese lights work very good. Many are waterproof, ready to use, and rectangular shaped to match your screen. Generally you need 1/2 the wattage of CFL's. Here are some examples:
http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-LED-Spotlight-Bulb-TriBand-Spectrum---ONE.asp
http://www.lightinthebox.com/e27-pa...rds_shopping&gclid=CPOBj9Cw-7gCFVCf4AodvisA-A
http://www.amazon.com/Counts-Lot-Hy...3TPE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1376758798&sr=8-6
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-plant-li...UG/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1376758798&sr=8-12
http://www.accesshydroponic.com/led-grow-lights/index2.html
http://www.thelashop.com/led-grow-lights/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L5GQ1M/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
BEST:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12W-40W-6...e_Warmers_Coolers_LE&var=&hash=item3a83d789b3
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