3D Algae Scrubber

[jnad]

Hello!

I am making an horisontal algae scrubber beacuse i dont have the possibility too make an vertical scrubber.

Is it possible to follow this procedure to get the algae growing:

First place the algae screen in a slight angle and let the water flowing over the screen, just like a standard algae scrubber. Then when the algae is growing on the screen place the screen under water (just some centimeters). The algae will then rise (not lay down like on a regular flat screen) and water will then flow inn and out of the algae and the light will reach further into the algae?? Doesent turf algae grow under water in the sea?

Jnad

[Floyd R Turbo]

Horizontal scrubbers work, but the screen needs to be 4x as large (length x width) as a vertical double-lit screen. So a 100 gallon system would need a 400 square inch screen and 400 watts of lighting. Keep that in mind. How you start it probably won't matter that much. Horizontal scrubbers need turbulent flow, which is why most are dump-style scrubbers or slanted troughs. Turf grows underwater, but that is usually accompanied by turbulent wave action. Horizontal screens have problems with channeling of the water around the algae. Do your best to find a way to build one vertical. Post pics of your setup, there may be a way you haven't thought of.

[SantaMonica]

Actually lights are 1.5 X, which would be 150 watts.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Oh, I think I misunderstood. I thought that you were supposed to match the wattage to the square inches of screen. So for a 100 gallon scrubber, horizontal, the screen needs to be 400 square inches, but you still only need 150 watts of lighting? I guess that makes sense, match wattage to tank, match screen size to tank and adjust for orientation...

[SantaMonica]

Yes that's what has worked for a few people.

[jnad]

Yes that's what has worked for a few people.

Hello!

Thanks for your answer, but is this an answer for my question or to Floyd R Turbo reply?

Jnad

[Floyd R Turbo]

He was responding to mine (look at the posts, we went back and forth on the subject of watts per square inch on horizontal)

[jnad]

He was responding to mine (look at the posts, we went back and forth on the subject of watts per square inch on horizontal)

Ok, thanks, my english is not so good.

And thanks for your replies to my first question.

Jnad

[jnad]

Hello!

If the algaescreen is placed under water (for some centimeters) so that the algae is rising up from the screen, is it the requirements to the amount of flow?

jnad

[SantaMonica]

Probably not. You need rapid flow.

[jnad]

Probably not. You need rapid flow.

Thanks for your answer!

I see my English writing faild again :)

What i tried to write was: is it the SAME requirements to the high amount of flow with algae rising up when screen is placed under water as algae laying flat on the screen when placed up in the surface? Both exampels with horisontal screens.

Jnad

[SantaMonica]

I don't know.

[jnad]

Hello!

If a algae scrubber is build to do 3d scrubbing as the SM25 is when the lower drain is clogging up. There will be no differense in the scrubbing effect if the srubber is bulidt as an horisontal or vertical scrubber? Beacause the scrubber is filled up with water.

Is my reasoning compleatly wrong?

Jnad

[SantaMonica]

I think it is wrong.