Algae Scrubber

[JetJumper]

So, I am tired of having the Algae in my Tank and want to try to reduce nitrates / phosphates as low as possible.  My system is an interesting system with multiple aspects all sharing a common sump.  I have a Display Tank (Roughly 90G with 110# of rock - Several fish/corals/etc..), A Frag Tank (Roughly 60G with 15# of rock - Few Fish and a Large RBTA in the corner), a refugium (Roughly 30G, Lots of Macro.  Few types of Caulerpa, Chaeto, etc...), and the Sump (50G Tank but only Half Full due to baffles/etc...)

So I decided to setup an Algae Scrubber.  I have a few pictures taken last night.  Obviously there is no algae on the scrubber yet as I just turned it on but I am hoping in a weeks time it will be seeded.  If not I will help it along.  In the attached pictures you can see that the scrubber is attached to a union for easy removal and cleaning.  The tank is just a small 10-15g tank I had laying around with a cracked side.  A bit of silicone and it holds.  Not to worried as the tank will never have more then 1.5" of water in the bottom so there is no pressure against the glass.  The other 2 pipe lines coming in are from my Frag Tank.  It drains into this tank as well to keep the water flow up and to cut down on the bubbles generated in my sump from the water drop.

Specs on Rev 0.1 Beta.

350GPH Pump Ehiem 1250 I think the model is.
Currently 2 23w Bulbs.  One is a 6500k the other is a 2700K  I will be adding more light in Rev 0.2 Beta.  Using a simple terrarium hood fixture on its side with directional reflectors.


Upgrade Path:
Rev 0.2 Beta will include:
2 Scrubber mats for increased surface area scrubbing.
Possibility of a larger pump if required
Lighting will be increased to 6 Bulbs.  2 on the outside of each scrubber and 2 in the middle of the scrubbers to cover the internal scrubbing surfaces. 

Quick guideline:
0.5 actual (not equivalent) fluorescent watts per gallon MINIMUM [0.13 watts per liter].
1.0 actual (not equivalent) fluorescent watts per gallon for HIGH filtering [0.26 watts per liter].
1.0 square inches of screen per gallon, with bulbs on BOTH sides (10 x 10 = 100 square inches = 100 gal)
[1.64 square cm per liter]
2.0 square inches of screen per gallon, if vertical but lit on just ONE side. [3.28 square cm per liter]
4.0 square inches of screen per gallon, if HORIZONTAL [6.56 square cm per liter].
1.5 actual (not equivalent) fluorescent watts per gallon if HORIZONTAL [0.4 watts per liter].
18 hours of lights ON, and 6 hours of lights OFF, each day.
Flow is 24 hours, and is at least 35 gph per inch of width of screen, EVEN IF one sided [60 lph per cm].
Very rough screen made of roughed-up-like-a-cactus plastic canvas.
Clean algae off of screen every SEVEN (7) days NO MATTER WHAT.
http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=487

[Hookup]

Cool Jet...

Question, what's in your system?  You have about 175gallons of water volume before displacement, which is very large by most standards... a good/average amount of live rock... running for 6-8 months or more...  I'm kind of suprised you have any nitrate...

what are you keeping?

[HappyGuppy]

Doh!  Wrote a long reply but got deleted accidentally.  Oh well, here is truncted version.

I am delighted that a friend close to home is doing this too.  I have been researching algae scrubbers a lot for the past few weeks, have innovated a version of my own design to work in tank, and already went to Home Hardware & Home Depot for the stuff.  Working on assembly.  I shall be following this thread with great interest.  For the past couple weeks had been growing the screens already by floating them under the lights, using new wine corks from defalcos, and powerheads flowing over them, but the turbo snails have already discovered this buffet table I created.  Oh well, they are already visibly seeded, so should be much faster to run once done assembly.

I had inadvertently been running a cryptic scrubber for the past several weeks, which I've only recently learned that it is an actual technique used by people.  My sponges have been growing outstandingly while I've been doing light carbon dosing.  My water has been testing zero across the board for nitrogen despite heavy feedings trying to encourage macroalgae growth.  BTW, I am now two marine tanks, and dedicating one tank to macro grow out, and main display will have the algae scrubber.

I won't thread hijack, but ask, do you mind if I share my innovated algae scrubber design here, or would you prefer that I start a new thread?  Regardless, I will certainly be lurking this thread a lot.

[HappyGuppy]

Oh, BTW, a few weeks ago I posted a "LF" for turf algae, to seed my screens with.  No one stepped forth, and the people at two local stores refused to share any of that "junk" with me.  Why am I writing this?  Well, from what I since learned it really isn't a big deal.  Given the right set of circumstances it will grow for you.  You already have the spores in your tank.  Rubbing some algae, which surely you must already have some in your tank, on the screen will leave plenty of tiny spores all over the mesh.  I'm sure you probably already know this, but sharing just in case you didn't (unlikely) but also as info for someone else who might find that tidbit of info useful.

[HappyGuppy]

Just voicing a slight concern that perhaps should be discussed in a new thread.  The algae scrubber will create an ULNT (ultra low nutrient tank).  Zero nitrogen across board.  Most corals and coraline should love this.  Only need to change water or adjust it for minerals, not to reduce nitrates.  However there is one problem that I have been having as a result of this; my tanks have been zero nitrogen for periods of time.  Apparently xenia will shrivel without any nutrients.  My first batch of xenia died "mysteriously" despite my other corals flourishing.  Now my second batch had been experiencing same fate... though with google I think it is because my tank is "too clean"!  I dosed some potassium nitriate and the xenia (tiny bit that I have left) perked up!  A day or two later the nitrates must be gone and it curls up again.  I am now boosting foods and keeping eye on ammonia... but having a ridiculous time even trying to raise my ammonia now!  Anyhow, before I get off into a tangent, the point is that I believe it is plausible that once you get your algae scrubber running that you might discover that your xenia might not be growing as fast, or even start curling up if you get your nitrogen to zero.

[JetJumper]

Cool Jet...

Question, what's in your system?  You have about 175gallons of water volume before displacement, which is very large by most standards... a good/average amount of live rock... running for 6-8 months or more...  I'm kind of suprised you have any nitrate...

what are you keeping?

Nitrates and Phosphates both read 0 on my test kits, however there is more Algae growth then I would like to have so I want to bring that down to a minimal.
Fish wise:

1x Yellow Tang (small)
1x Naso Tang (Small/Medium)
1x Mandarin
2x Anthias
1x Chromis
1x Tail Spot Blenny
1x Pink Spotted Goby (Large)
2x False Percs
2x Black Saddle Back
1x XXL RBTA (Which doesn't bubble.. GRR!)
1x Small Clam
1x Reef Lobster
1x Long Spined Urchin
1x Damsel
1x Cleaner Shrimp
2x Peppermints

I think thats the major Bioload.

The frag tank is SPS dominant so Nitrates / Phosphates are now priority 1.  I know I could setup a seperate system for it, but I like the challenge

[JetJumper]

I don't mind at all if you post your pictures / design here.  This is a good learning tool for everyone.  I do want a Low Nutrient tank and I don't think this scrubber will cause a Zero Nutrient tank due to my bio load which I have.  I want to increase feeding to keep everything healthy and happy. 

Xenia I have, its starting to become boarder line pest with the growth rates that it grows at so I really don't mind it shrinking   My Wife plans on having a tank of her own (WAHOO! Allows for me to have more leeeeway in things) and it will not be a "clean" system per say so Xenia will be moved to that system.

If anyone is actually using this form of nutrient export, feel free to share in this thread as well.  I am not dedicating it directly to my own design / experiences with it.

HappyGuppy, I have a question specifically for you.  Obviously I would love to see pictures But what I am curious is what light schedule are you planning on?  I know some people do 24/7 on or some 18/6 or 12/12.  I am learning more to 18/6.  I believe that plants should have a "rest" period and not just consistently growing.  I have found with plants at home if they are given rest periods they ultimately do better and are more healthy.

Thoughts?  Opinions always welcome.

[Hookup]

doesnt sound like a crazy bio-load, but you can see growth of algae so it's there...

I too read 0ppm but I have some recurring hair-algae in my sump/fuge (weird eh?) and therefore know that the "available phosphates" are 0ppm, but that the hair-algae is consuming as much as it can when it becomes available.

I harvest/remove the algae from my system ever 3 weeks for the past 9 weeks.... I got to fix that problem too..


Looking fwd to your results...

So many people swear by these style of nutrient removes...

[JetJumper]

I too read 0ppm but I have some recurring hair-algae in my sump/fuge (weird eh?) and therefore know that the "available phosphates" are 0ppm, but that the hair-algae is consuming as much as it can when it becomes available.

Thats the same with me.  I don't have any hair algae, but I do have worse.. Tuttle Weed AKA Maidens Hair AKA chlorodesmis fastigiata.  PAIN to get rid of.  Nothing eats it.. great for Pods but it looks horrible I find and you can't simple PULL it off because it is very tightly woven to the rockwork.  I don't want to tear down my rock work to get rid of it either so the only option I have is to starve it.  I want to starve all the algae in my tank.  (No offence HappyGuppy   I know you like Macro, but I like my corals better)

My kits all read 0 but I know for a fact there is nutrients in the water with the rates that the algaes grow at.  So yeah, the nutrients are all being consumed so the kit can't register it.  I just want to control where they are being consumed

[HappyGuppy]

Short reply on iPod. Jetjumper will get photos soon. Sorry procrastinated. You are welcome to visit if in Kanata.

Should have scrubber done weekend. Will take pics. In short it is a floating raft under lamp using air lift of water to screen. Very simple.

[Hookup]

HIJACK INCOMMING

Happy - go to AquaValley... check the back wall, the left side tanks... IMO, some awesome macro algae's... just awesome looking...

ps: Algae sucks...

haha... went to test my nitrate and phosphate tonight in hopes to start the battle... they expired last year.. (one in 2009 haha)... I'm going with the Hanna checkers...

[dan2x38]

Hey Jet interesting post researched this have consider it but I have no algae issues.

Jet what equipment you running? Using RO/DI? etc...

[JetJumper]

Hey Jet interesting post researched this have consider it but I have no algae issues.

Jet what equipment you running? Using RO/DI? etc...

Hey, I am using RODI water for my top up and for water changes.  Part of the problem I think in the beginning was no filter socks and a lot of stuff was piling up in the fuge since the main display dumped into there.  Now there are socks in place to catch a lot of the crap that makes its way out.

I am also rinsing food first now before putting it in and adjusted the skimmer to produce a more wet skim.

Update:

Here are some updated pictures of the Scrubber.  I added 2 more lights on the other side to help the process.
PS:  I seeding those 3 chunks to see if they would grow.  Its a caulerpa strain.

[JetJumper]

Double post.

[JetJumper]

Yet another photo update.  No change in the tank condition yet, but the scrubber is growing!

[NanoSF]

Any updates on this Jet? Also maybe I missed it in the posts but what do you use for the screen material? I am thinking of building a small one for my tank too, so I was following this topic to see if you had the success you were looking for.

[JetJumper]

So far I don't have any more photo updates.  I plan on changing the design today due to the fact that my lights are too far away.  I am getting growth, but nothing like what I should be as shown on other people's scrubbers found on the WWW.

Hopefully tonight I will have some pictures of it right now and after I make my changes.

[NanoSF]

Okay cool. Pictures are good but I really want to know if your tank is benefiting the way you hoped it would from this scrubber. Once you get it going full steam, let us know if you are reducing your algae in the display tank.

[JetJumper]

Okay cool. Pictures are good but I really want to know if your tank is benefiting the way you hoped it would from this scrubber. Once you get it going full steam, let us know if you are reducing your algae in the display tank.

Part of my problem was also direct sunlight.  I have since installed curtains

[JetJumper]

Any updates on this Jet? Also maybe I missed it in the posts but what do you use for the screen material? I am thinking of building a small one for my tank too, so I was following this topic to see if you had the success you were looking for.

The screen material is from walmart in the crafts section.  I don't know the name of it per say.  Knitting Screen?