Algae scrubber who uses one and why

[jgraz]

I w

Extremely easy to make.

As looking around for some plans. But haven't seen much yet. You have something?

 

[jgraz]

I w

As looking around for some plans. But haven't seen much yet. You have something?

Scratch that, that's way to small for my system.
I'll have to see what you come up with for your design.
I came across one that has a stand that attaches to the rim of a tank. Was thinking that might work for me, but now I can't find it.

 

[ecam]

I’ve been considering this too. But I have a clarisea filter on. Would the scrubber be redundant ? I don’t really buy into the no water change hyper. Just want have a good clean tank

 

[Hockeynut]

Scratch that, that's way to small for my system.
I'll have to see what you come up with for your design.
I came across one that has a stand that attaches to the rim of a tank. Was thinking that might work for me, but now I can't find it.

Send me a picture of your sump John and I’ll see what I can come up with. I’m making a couple so maybe I can make one to hang on the sump some how

 

[DangerDave]

@Hockeynut i was looking at threads on reef2reef, and I found a scrubber photo that looks to be a great design if this is going over your sump. If I move forward, this is the designs I’m going to use, just expand to a full sheet of plastic canvas.

 

[Hockeynut]

@Hockeynut i was looking at threads on reef2reef, and I found a scrubber photo that looks to be a great design if this is going over your sump. If I move forward, this is the designs I’m going to use, just expand to a full sheet of plastic canvas.

View attachment 28478

Yea Dave that’s what I’m building. I was thinking the same. The only difference I want is flex connections so it is easier to remove for maintenance. I dint mean to clean screen I mean to clean whole unit and to be able to get into the sump.

 

[jgraz]

Send me a picture of your sump John and I’ll see what I can come up with. I’m making a couple so maybe I can make one to hang on the sump some how

Here you go Rob.
Poor planning at it's best.

 

[Mark_C]

I did this on a previous tank and it worked incredibly well.
Just needed a scraped up piece of plastic mounted in the sump near a light source.

DIY Easy cheap algae scrubber

So, I found a pack of a dozen these at AC Moore, in the needlepoint area, for $4 or $5... Tried to use them for some projects in the past, but recently decided to try something as simple as possible. I took a butter knife to them and roughed them up... Then I clipped it in my fuge...

www.njreefers.org

I also did an upflow that I'll look for the links for.

 

[Mrx7899x]

How about a floating algae scrubber

 

[DangerDave]

I started making one last night. I used an acrylic box that was made for displaying cereal boxes (who does that?). I need to make a better seal, the corners aren’t fully glued. I’ll probably just silicone it, but if I get to Home Depot by the time I’m done I’ll get the acrylic stuff. It’s a very small leak, but if it works I will have it in a table next to the sump, so leak must go. My only other worry is that it’s only 1/8 thick acrylic, so it may warp. The last one I made had hanging 1/8 splash shields. They warped but I was using 150watt cfl bulbs, and We’ll see.

It’ll fit a full 13x10.5 sheet of plastic canvas.




im going to use these 36watt grow light sets, 3 on each side.



I need to drill in some bulkheads tonight, and I’ll be ready for the lights by Friday.

 

[Hockeynut]

I started making one last night. I used an acrylic box that was made for displaying cereal boxes (who does that?). I need to make a better seal, the corners aren’t fully glued. I’ll probably just silicone it, but if I get to Home Depot by the time I’m done I’ll get the acrylic stuff. It’s a very small leak, but if it works I will have it in a table next to the sump, so leak must go. My only other worry is that it’s only 1/8 thick acrylic, so it may warp. The last one I made had hanging 1/8 splash shields. They warped but I was using 150watt cfl bulbs, and We’ll see.

It’ll fit a full 13x10.5 sheet of plastic canvas.

View attachment 28786


im going to use these 36watt grow light sets, 3 on each side.

View attachment 28787

I need to drill in some bulkheads tonight, and I’ll be ready for the lights by Friday.

Looks good Dave,I thought about using display boxes also but opted to just buy the acrylic. I was also worried about it warping.
Here’s what I bought. At Lowe’s for 26.00 per sheet it’s 18”x24” need 1-1/2 sheets to build it.
its 1/4” thick.
what size bulkheads are you going to use?

 

[DangerDave]

I’m going to use 2 1”. One for flow, the second halfway up for emergency overflow

 

[Mark_C]

While you're at this stage.
Think that I hate about the scrubber is disconnecting the central pipe and hauling the whole piece ove to the sink.
Might be wirthwhile to find a simple way to hook the screen to the cross pipe so when cleaning time comes, you can just disconnect the screen.

Just a thought.

 

[Hockeynut]

While you're at this stage.
Think that I hate about the scrubber is disconnecting the central pipe and hauling the whole piece ove to the sink.
Might be wirthwhile to find a simple way to hook the screen to the cross pipe so when cleaning time comes, you can just disconnect the screen.

Just a thought.

Now that’s helpful from a real user.

 

[DangerDave]

While you're at this stage.
Think that I hate about the scrubber is disconnecting the central pipe and hauling the whole piece ove to the sink.
Might be wirthwhile to find a simple way to hook the screen to the cross pipe so when cleaning time comes, you can just disconnect the screen.

Just a thought.

That’s how my last one was. It was a pin in the butt. I’m going to add a union right on the cross bar so I can disconnect at the scrubber and carry over. Plan B (if it too bulky) is nice soft silicone tubing that comes on and off easy, just release the clamp. I have the gfo reactor set up in this manner.

 

[Hockeynut]

That’s how my last one was. It was a pin in the butt. I’m going to add a union right on the cross bar so I can disconnect at the scrubber and carry over. Plan B (if it too bulky) is nice soft silicone tubing that comes on and off easy, just release the clamp. I have the gfo reactor set up in this manner.

View attachment 28805

That silicone hose is great. Soft and easy.

 

[Mrx7899x]

Instead of pulling it of the barb fitting you can use one of these union barb fittings.

Barbed Straight Union

This is the straight hose barb union that we use on our Vibe reactors. The threaded side is 1/2" NPT. Select the barb fitting's tubing inner diameter size below. Color is black.

www.avastmarine.com

 

[DangerDave]

Instead of pulling it of the barb fitting you can use one of these union barb fittings.

Barbed Straight Union

This is the straight hose barb union that we use on our Vibe reactors. The threaded side is 1/2" NPT. Select the barb fitting's tubing inner diameter size below. Color is black.

www.avastmarine.com

I like this idea. It’s the same fitting on my kalk stirrer. How do I get this to attach to the pvc spray bar though? It looks one sided, like it should be glued into something.

 

[DangerDave]

That silicone hose is great. Soft and easy.

lol soft east and expensive!

 

[Mrx7899x]

I like this idea. It’s the same fitting on my kalk stirrer. How do I get this to attach to the pvc spray bar though? It looks one sided, like it should be glued into something.

They have one that is threaded on one side so you could screw it in to the pvc.