caolewis Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 (edited) I want to achieve fat fishes and rich color corals, but tank keeps on P&N spiking and some struggling without running reactors. Looking into Algae scrubber but they cost $$. So started DIY, under $100 and will see how this will go in few days or weeks if reaching goals. 1. No water change ( some minor water changes due to craps from snails in frag tank) 2. More heavy feeding to have fat fishes. 3. More balance/stable on P&N and no chemical reactors Edited July 11, 2016 by caolewis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattv Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 How many light strips did you put in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 If it's just the one in the pic, I don't think you have enough light. http://www.santa-monica.cc/GEM5-high-power-underwater-refugium-algae-scrubber-reactor-and-hydroponic-light-5-real-watts-EACH-LIGHT-10-watts-other-LEDs-20-watts-CFL_p_84.html Here are some submersible LED strips that can be used for this. They are $ but might help if you find your setup underpowered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattv Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Lots of light! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Lots of light! Is that your algae scrubber, Matt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caolewis Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 If it's just the one in the pic, I don't think you have enough light. http://www.santa-monica.cc/GEM5-high-power-underwater-refugium-algae-scrubber-reactor-and-hydroponic-light-5-real-watts-EACH-LIGHT-10-watts-other-LEDs-20-watts-CFL_p_84.html Here are some submersible LED strips that can be used for this. They are $ but might help if you find your setup underpowered. http://www.ebay.com/itm/291717714983 I run just 1, and i picked red color. Algae does not need much light, I think and I run 2 air stone to generate tone of oxygen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caolewis Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 (edited) Lots of light! Dam, looking like a subwoofer box :-) Edited July 11, 2016 by caolewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 http://www.ebay.com/itm/291717714983 I run just 1, and i picked red color. Algae does not need much light, I think and I run 2 air stone to generate tone of oxygen. You can grow some algae without much light, but in order to grow enough to make a difference with Nitrate and Phosphate in your tank, you will want more light. I would use at least 5 of those strips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher15 Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I am not sure why you are using this design. A waterfall type scrubber is much easier to build and the specifications for the screen size, the amount of flow and light have all been pretty well defined. No need to re-invent the scrubber. Here is my screen: My lights: IF you go to this site, you will learn a lot. https://www.algaescrubbing.com/threads/algae-scrubber-basics.264/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattv Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Is that your algae scrubber, Matt?Yes this is my recently acquired turf scubber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunpeal Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Nice day job. I agree with needing more light. I have a 'red' led flood light on each side. I think they were 15watt (Chinese watts ????) each. My regret was not upping the lights. My man's intuition tells me that more light helps the algae react quicker to surges in nutrients. I'd bet a six pack of cheap college beer that if you up the lighting your spikes will go away. The lights I bought were ~$20 each from aliexpress I think. I keep thinking of buying two more and doing two per side but haven't gotten around to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Yes this is my recently acquired turf scubber. Where did you get it from? Is it DIY? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattv Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Where did you get it from? Is it DIY? It was from 302 aquatics but I cannot recommend them as the customer service was less than desirable. Definitely something that would be easy to build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I am not sure why you are using this design. A waterfall type scrubber is much easier to build and the specifications for the screen size, the amount of flow and light have all been pretty well defined. No need to re-invent the scrubber. Here is my screen: My lights: IF you go to this site, you will learn a lot. https://www.algaescrubbing.com/threads/algae-scrubber-basics.264/ Nice looking reef room, allot of details in that scrubber that are appealing! Have more pics of the room? What goes inside that wood painted box along with the lights? An acyrlic box with the spray bar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher15 Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 The Clark, I am into raising fish and I have a 100 gal sump, 5ea 20 gal breeders, a 40 gal grow out, and a 135 gal all on one system. A second system consists of a BRT and a 50 gal sump for raising Larva. I feed very heavily and wanted a way to control algae and water quality. I built the cabinet so I could run the scrubber on off hours and not keep the fish awake. The scrubber is glass with very heavy DIY LED lighting. I can adjust both flow and light intensity as necessary. Here is the BRT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesmiles902 Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Good Job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caolewis Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 I am not sure why you are using this design. A waterfall type scrubber is much easier to build and the specifications for the screen size, the amount of flow and light have all been pretty well defined. No need to re-invent the scrubber. Here is my screen: My lights: IF you go to this site, you will learn a lot. https://www.algaescrubbing.com/threads/algae-scrubber-basics.264/ The showering style required some plumbing and I think I have done enough plumbing to stay away from it as much as I could. This design a lot quicker and easier and could be a lot more affective with rich oxygen from air stones. Will see how it go next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexinverts Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 The showering style required some plumbing and I think I have done enough plumbing to stay away from it as much as I could. This design a lot quicker and easier and could be a lot more affective with rich oxygen from air stones. Will see how it go next week What does the oxygen do? Oxygen will not help algae growth. The flow you get from an air stone is important, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caolewis Posted July 12, 2016 Author Share Posted July 12, 2016 What does the oxygen do? Oxygen will not help algae growth. The flow you get from an air stone is important, however. Stay tune, will give some theory answer in 2 weeks :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher15 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Yes, I am interested in how oxygen helps the algae grow as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninjabeaver Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I thought the airstone pushed water up thru the screen to bring nutrients to the alage. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramy Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 The air stone creates a oxigen rich environment which promotes the rapid growth of nitrifying bacteria think trickle tower or wet dry filter which rapidly convert the ammonia and nitrite into nitrates and the algae is then consumes them. At least that is my theory I have no proof but it makes sense to me =) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher15 Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 "Algae reproduce very quickly and need only sunlight (or another form of energy, like sugar), water, carbon dioxide and a few inorganic nutrients to grow." If you want to build an algae scrubber, you need to understand how they work. You set up an area that algae will preferentially grow in and that stops most algae growth in your tank. But to do this you must understand what makes algae grow. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.