Author Topic: Kenn inspired Algae Turf Scrubber Discussion (Read 9316 times)

DarinSchmidt · « **on:** May 10, 2011, 15:00:20 »

Some of you may not knwo what an algae scrubber is, or if you do, wonder what my obsession is with it. It's about 10til i leave from work so i'll prob have to finish this when i get home.

I like my algae scubber because of several reasons.

1. It uses less energy than a skimmer
2. Its less bulky (personal likeness)
3. I dont have to worry about microbubbles
4. I can use it as a food source for fish and other critters
5. no worries about overfilling the skimmer cup or fluxuations in water leves. (I've had my skimmer just start pooring in clean water into the cup and over fill. Always had to mess with the water level adjustment in my $180 skimmer form the LFS)
6. It cleans out Ammonia, P04, Nitrates and Nitrites
7. Helps balance PH levels at night
8. Can use it to fertilize your flowers, garden, etc.
9. It costs me about 50 bucks in modifications to set it up
10. I have gone months without water changes because it keeps the balance in the tank

theres more, but i got to leave.

Kenn · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2011, 15:15:07 »

Thank you for the honorable mention

This will be a great post

Myreef55 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2011, 15:39:56 »

Is there a build thread on these?

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2011, 15:46:00 »

Give me a couple hours and ill explain everything.

Viggen · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2011, 16:20:26 »

it is a nice alternative for filtration..... or just doing a algae filter, a cheaper/simpler version which also produces food

If I recall one of the tanks at the Newport Aquarium uses a Turf Scrubber

Boonjob · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2011, 17:07:27 »

ROFL, amazing name

I set mine up last night and it cost me less than 50.00 and that was including the pump. I will try to post some pics of mine as it progresses from new to mature

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2011, 17:49:41 »

here are the pics of mine with the cheato in the refuge. It runs off the drain/return pipe 1.5". slip on coupler and a slip on end cap for easy removal for cleaning. Its held in the tube using zipties. the slit is a little over 1/8" wide all the way to one end to slip the screen out. Gets about 35-40gph flow per inch across. The screen needs to be 2 1sq" of screen per gallon. Oversize it for flexibility for more fish later on. Mine is sized for 380 gallons and i have a total water volume of about 350. My screen is pretty clean since it was out of water while i was building my new tank. I have 4 23w CFL 2700k bulbs lighting it.

Boonjob · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2011, 18:03:26 »

After seeing yours I am going to make some mods to mine tonight... I glued mine altogether and cut a slit in the pipe but I didnt cut the slit starting from the end to allow the sheet to slide out mine pushes up into the pipe and then I affix the zip ties to hold it on on the outside the pipe... I like the idea of having it all internal and being able to completely disassemble for cleaning as I only left one end open to slip a pipe brush through... thx for the pics

Myreef55 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2011, 09:27:26 »

Where did you get the screen material?

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2011, 12:20:42 »

Hobby Loby. Its the crochet plastic screen. You have to seriously rough upthe screen so the algae will hold onto the screen

Kenn · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2011, 13:31:14 »

Great post Darin

Myreef55 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2011, 13:36:39 »

You just use sand paper to rough it up?

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2011, 14:08:01 »

actually, i used a jig saw blade. I'll take a pic of the contraption i made and post it. it helped make it a lot easier. You need something jagged to run over the screen that will make gashes. I tried some 80 and 40 grit sand paper, didnt do so well. The jigsaw blade did the best.

Kenn · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2011, 14:57:03 »

When you mention you have gone months with out a water change I presume that you are using supplemental additives?

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2011, 15:14:51 »

Yeah. I dose alk and calc and mag

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2011, 18:32:29 »

here is the tool that i made to rough up the screen

i made an acrylic case for it to prevent splatters since my screen doesnt touch the surface of the water below. I left the one side open so that it's still easy to remove for cleaning.

lazylivin · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2011, 20:20:42 »

The acrylic case is going to get splatters and salt creep significantly cutting down light. Consider having the screen extend down into the water and then you wouldn't need the acrylic case and would be getting much more light on the algae, better growth or could use less wattage lamps to reduce energy consumption.

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2011, 20:29:22 »

it hardly gets any splatters on the side walls. mainly from underneath where the light doesnt matter so much. I'll keep an eye on how much salt builds up on the sides, it might not be so bad as to clean it with a bottle brush once every couple weeks to a month. I'll keep you posted on how it does. I agree that it will block some light, but i already have 23w (100w equivalent) CFLs on there which is more than enough. I'll keep track of its effectiveness and let you know. If within a month i find it troublesome, i may remove it.

Though, like you said, making the screens longer may solve all my problems and the screens are less than 2 bucks each.... hmmmm.... I'll see how well this works out.

harleyrider · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2011, 20:55:43 »

Even if there is no splatter, your going to build up salt creep rather quickly do to evaporation of your water most of you salinity stays in the water but you still have some that rises up and out of your tank ,you want as much of your light as possible on it. and you will want to clean it at least once weekly if set up and producing right, if you dont it stinks very quickly, and will spread through your system. and beleive me that sucks!!

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #19 on:** May 11, 2011, 20:59:15 »

lol, like i said, i'll keep an eye on it and if it becomes a problem i'll extend the screen

Cole Harlow · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2011, 07:33:21 »

would it be possible to use red leds to grow the algae insted of metal halides

DarinSchmidt · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2011, 09:25:11 »

Leds are still experimental so I can't say if it works well or not

Reefpete · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2011, 10:58:23 »

The wheels are turning already for my next filtration set up w a ATF! Thanks for the post!

Boonjob · « **Reply #23 on:** May 13, 2011, 22:50:47 »

I can not for the life of me get the water to run down evenly on both sides(front and back) of the sheet... is it ok to have the water running down primarily one side? it's only 5" wide and I am throwing 230gph at it, so it has plenty of flow and the slit was 1/8" but that just caused it to spray everywhere so I widened it quite a but but the water still refuses to flow on both sides

Kenn · « **Reply #24 on:** May 13, 2011, 22:58:56 »

Quote from: Boonjob on May 13, 2011, 22:50:47

I can not for the life of me get the water to run down evenly on both sides(front and back) of the sheet... is it ok to have the water running down primarily one side? it's only 5" wide and I am throwing 230gph at it, so it has plenty of flow and the slit was 1/8" but that just caused it to spray everywhere so I widened it quite a but but the water still refuses to flow on both sides

What about droping the far side of the pipe a 1/4"or so ??

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Kenn inspired Algae Turf Scrubber Discussion (Read 9316 times)