I'm new! Nano scrubber for 5g

[alex leblanc]

I've read this forum for a while and I decide to try the scrubber. I keep tanganyikan cichlids for 10 year but I'm new to reef, but I've read on it everyday. I want to try with a 5.5 gallon tank, I will do the DIY nano scrubber kind of Santa. If I understand it right, I was thinking of having a one side 5x5 in screen, with a 200gph pumps (maybe a bigger pump). For the light I'm not sure, I would like to go with Led. I was thinking this led from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Red- ... 336ca82f56 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Red-Grow-LED-650-660nm-w-Driver-Heat-Sink-12VDC-Input-Aquarium-/220866293590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336ca82f56) but I don't know if only one set would do the trick or if I should go for 2. And if I need something else to plug this led. Sorry for my poor english!!!

[kerry]

I would go with 2 (6 of them total) to be sure you have enough. I have a 2.75x6.75 single sided screen and barely get by with 4 of them. I will be upgrading it to a dual sided screen soon though, mine is on a 10G nano.

[Marksfish]

I have just purchased 6 of these items and they are great :). I am using only one at the moment on my old scrubber to see the effects (and waiting for the others to arrive). I was originally going to use 2 on either side, but have now decided on 3 each side as the light spread at 3" from screen isn't great. I am also running mine without the lenses on a recommendation from Kerry, as otherwse the light would be too focussed in one area. The lenses just screw off. The seller told me that a laptop charger would provide enough power to run 4 of these units.

This is what my screen looks like with just the 1 unit running:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/MFUK/DSCF1083.jpg

Good value for money in my opinion.

Mark

[kerry]

Good looking out Marksfish, I forgot to mention the lens's burning the algae!!! That is great growth you have to!!!!!!

[alex leblanc]

Thanks, I will buy 2 set from start. Do you have any pic of how you plug them, I'm not really good at DIY thing but I want to learn and this led seem easier to install. I want to go with DIY led for the tank too but I'm kind of scare to build it, I'm still looking on all tutorial I could find! This site is really driving me nuts with salt water!!! Thanks alot for your quick respond! I'll post pic once I've start but for now I only have the tank!

[Marksfish]

When the LEDs arrive, they look like this:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/Scrubber/DSCF1034.jpg

The plug on the end is one of these:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/Scrubber/DSCF1035.jpg

I have the one at the moment running off a 12v 1A adaptor at the moment. I will be wiring my lights in parallel by cutting off the plugs and using connector blocks.

When lit, they look like this (with lenses fitted):

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/Scrubber/DSCF1032.jpg

HTH

Mark

[Marksfish]

Can't find the edit button at the moment. On the screen, they look like this

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/MFUK/DSCF1036-2.jpg

[alex leblanc]

Thanks alot, where my credit card, I buy them right now!

[Marksfish]

For the price, I think they are good value and well worth the money :). Delivery is about 2 weeks to the UK, so probably similar in Europe. Can't say about the rest of the World though.

Mark

[alex leblanc]

I'm in Quebec, it may took longer! Its on is way, I now need to find the canvas. And any goods comments on the hydor pico evolution pumps, its seem good on paper and affordable!

[alex leblanc]

Maybe somebody can help, I'm not sure I'm on the right forum to ask this question but it took me so long to dive in (and write in englisht) I would ask. To light my main tank, should theys led do the tricks for softies http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Viol ... 336ca82cd2 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Violet-Blue-LED-455nm-w-Driver-HeatSink-12vdc-Input-Aquarium-Grow-/220866292946?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336ca82cd2) and http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Whit ... 5ae2c5f663 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-White-LED-12000K-15000K-w-Driver-Heat-Sink-12VDC-Input-Aquarium-/390351681123?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae2c5f663). If I'm not at the right place to ask feel free to tell me!!!! Hope you understand what I've write!

[jnad]

I've read this forum for a while and I decide to try the scrubber. I keep tanganyikan cichlids for 10 year but I'm new to reef, but I've read on it everyday. I want to try with a 5.5 gallon tank, I will do the DIY nano scrubber kind of Santa. If I understand it right, I was thinking of having a one side 5x5 in screen, with a 200gph pumps (maybe a bigger pump). For the light I'm not sure, I would like to go with Led. I was thinking this led from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Red- ... 336ca82f56 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Red-Grow-LED-650-660nm-w-Driver-Heat-Sink-12VDC-Input-Aquarium-/220866293590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336ca82f56) but I don't know if only one set would do the trick or if I should go for 2. And if I need something else to plug this led. Sorry for my poor english!!!

Hello!

I took a fast look at Rapidled.com to compare some prices.
It seems to mee that if you have to by the 12V DC sypply separate for this 3x3W pack of leds you may be better of shopping with rapidled.com.

Then you also have the quality led Osram 660nM and a good heatsink and meanwell driver. Some more soldering work, but maybe better anyway.

I have not checked the shipping cost with rapid led though.
jnad

[alex leblanc]

I don't want to have to solder anything, for the moment if its not the ebay I will probably go with the boostled par30.

[jnad]

I have just purchased 6 of these items and they are great :). I am using only one at the moment on my old scrubber to see the effects (and waiting for the others to arrive). I was originally going to use 2 on either side, but have now decided on 3 each side as the light spread at 3" from screen isn't great. I am also running mine without the lenses on a recommendation from Kerry, as otherwse the light would be too focussed in one area. The lenses just screw off. The seller told me that a laptop charger would provide enough power to run 4 of these units.

This is what my screen looks like with just the 1 unit running:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/MFUK/DSCF1083.jpg

Good value for money in my opinion.

Mark

Hello!

Well i do have a laptop charger laying aruond, then of course this leds are ineressting for a small nano scrubber like mine. The ebay web site for this product says that it could be driven with 12VDC-24VDC, have you been confirmed this by the seller?? Most laptop chargers has a 15-24VDC output, at least those that i have.

And how did you come in contact with the seller ? Cant find any e-mail adress to LED-DNA

jnad

[Marksfish]

This is the response I got from the seller:


Thank you for your Email.
IF you laptop charger is 12V output and over 1000mA, and you can connect 4pcs 3x3w led in parallel and the current should be over 4000mA.

Best Regards,
Billy

- led-dna

I contacted via the eBay contact link after I purchased, I don't have an email address for them. They are quick replying and for my one set I am running at the moment, I am using a mobile phone charger.

Mark

[alex leblanc]

They gave a Email address with my confirmation of purchase!

[alex leblanc]

I was reading the new sizing guideline and I was rethinking the size of my screen. First I was thinking to make it 5x5 so 25 square inch lit on 1 side but 11 square should be enough for my tank size. But I've that a screen to big would not grow thick algae and be less efficience. My question is, did I keep the screen 5 inch large and raise the water level to have a screen of 2.25 inch long or I'm better with a screen less large but longer. I don't know if my thinking is good but if I keep a 5 inch large by 5 inch long but raise the level of water at 2.25 inch to have a thick grow of algea, I may be able to lower the level of water if I wan't to feed more once my tank is more mature?????? Wow, it took me awhile to write this , I hope you understand!!!!

[alex leblanc]

I can't find black plexiglass around here for my false wall, I think I'm gonna spray paint clear one with Krylon fusion. Does cutting slots is really important or I can let the water flow over?

[SantaMonica]

Need drawings

[alex leblanc]

ok, I gonna try to draw it and post it tomorow!

[alex leblanc]

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/ats.jpg

a side view of my tank behind the false wall. I could start the tank at the water level 1 to permit a thick grow of algae and if my bioload raise I could lower at water level 2, to get a bigger screen!?!?! Those it make any sense?

[SantaMonica]

The smaller screen is fine. Overflow is fine without slots.

[alex leblanc]

Thanks, I've cut my plexiglass today and buy Krylon fusion paint. I've order my pump too, a hydor pico evolution 800, 200 gph at 16 inch, it gonna give me around 20x turnover, I have a koralia nano somewhere if I need more flow.

[alex leblanc]

I've receive my pump today but still no led! I hope I will receive them before christmas so I could put everything together! To lit the main tank I think I'm gonna go with this kit http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-221 ... fit/Detail (http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-221/07-LED-Plug-dsh-n-dsh-Play-Retrofit/Detail) , dunno if its to powerfull for my tank!!!

[alex leblanc]

I've receive the pump, it give me a idea at which distance I can put the false wall. I find a place to buy the canvas, but it was backorder, seem that christmas is the big time of the year to sell canvas but it should arrive next week. I will start to put everything together and I will take pic of the whole process.

[alex leblanc]

I have a question for my overflow, I don't want the water to come all over the false wall so I cut a part of it the same width as my canvas (4 inch) but the difference between the two height of the false wall is 1/8 of a inch (.3 cm). Is it enough for a 200ghp pump or I should lower it. I've try to google it but can't find information. Maybe my draw could help understanding my poor english!

[alex leblanc]

No response but i decide to cut it 1/16 of inch lower. I've paint black, I would i've prefer to take pic before to show you but can't find my camera. Thats what happen want you let your 17 month old son play with it! I'm pretty happy with the result, Krylon fusion paint rock!

[SantaMonica]

Not sure how 1/8 or 1/16 inch height can make much difference.

[alex leblanc]

I prefer to lower it a bit before painting it (i'm now at 3/16 inch), I've read that you need to let cure Krylon fusion paint for 7 days before putting it in water and I want to work on my tank for the holiday. Santa, do you think water will come all over the false wall or the notch would handle the flow with a 200 gph pump (4inch by 3/16). If nobody could answer, I would give you the answer in a couple of week :D

[SantaMonica]

I really don't know.

[alex leblanc]

Ok thanks, I would post the result when its done!

[alex leblanc]

Pic of my false wall paint in black! Can't find plastic canvas around here, I may have to buy it online, any reliable source that don't came from china and took 6 week to come!

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/DSCN1918.jpg

[Marksfish]

I use eBay to get mine (this sort of stuff (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Stiff-Plastic-Canvas-7-Count-12-X18-Clear-1-Piece-/150705904163?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2316c59a23#ht_617wt_1139)). It is also sold in a lot of craft shops as it is a sewing canvas.

Mark

[alex leblanc]

Only one craft shop keep it around here and they are back order. Thanks for the link!

[SantaMonica]

I see. So the cut-part is for the flow.

[alex leblanc]

Yes Santa, thats what my poor english skill was trying to explain, maybe I should always post pic and stop writing!

[RkyRickstr]

Where are you located.. ill send you some.

[alex leblanc]

Thanks, I'm in Quebec, near montreal, if its still ok for you I could Pm my adress!

[alex leblanc]

Another question, if I understand well in a scrub tank their no bacteria cycle to do, the algae do the job. So I could buy dry rock and sand for my tank, dose ammonia (or phosphate, nitrate?) and let the algae grow. Once I have algae growing I could start to watch my parameter and add some life?

[SantaMonica]

First, many folks are not familiar with the differences between cycling live and dead rock, so here is how you can know what to do, regardless:

If the rock was dry (meaning "dead") when you got it, then there is nothing in the rock that you need to keep alive. So dry or "dead" rock will not benefit from a scrubber (or a skimmer either). Preparing dry rock is easy because you WANT the ammonia to build up to high levels, so that the proper bacteria will build up in and on the rock. This bacteria will then remove ammonia when you put the rock in your tank.

"Wet" rock, meaning rock from the ocean or an established tank, is different. It DOES have live stuff in it, which is why it's called "live rock". You want this stuff to stay alive because it filters and feeds your tank, and because the little animals can grow into bigger animals in your tank. However, much of it died on the way from the ocean to you, and if you put a lot of this rock directly into your tank, you may get too much ammonia from it. So for larger amounts of live rock, you want to cycle it in a separate container. But here is where the super, gigantic difference between skimmers and scrubbers really shows: The living things in the rock are kept alive by food particles, but are killed by ammonia. So if you only have a skimmer on the container (which removes food, but not ammonia), you take away the food that the little animals need to live, but you let the ammonia stay, which further hurts the animals.

A scrubber, however, leaves all the food in the water, even if the "food" is dead and decaying stuff. This "stuff" is not harmful at all; it's the ammonia that is harmful. The "stuff" is actually food for the critters that came with the rock. Scrubbers remove the ammonia (that's what algae eats), so the critters in the rock will still have food to eat, without being killed by the ammonia. A skimmer, however, removes the food that the critters need to eat, but does not remove the ammonia. Thus the critters are starved and killed at the same time, when using a skimmer. So if the rock is "wet" and is supposed to be "live rock", then using a scrubber instead of a skimmer will allow the rock to keep the most life possible, and in many cases will eliminate a "cycle" altogether.

So if you are curing live "wet" rock, you don't need or want to add anything to get a cycle going. But if you are cycling dry rock, then you will need to add some food to get things rotting.

All this being said, a scrubber will not grow much during cycling; just a light brown film. But this will be enough to keep ammonia down in the water, and keep nuisance algae off of the rocks. This will allow, however, the screen to get started, and once you start feeding the tank it will grow much faster.

[alex leblanc]

Thanks, I will buy dry rock and a few wet to get all those critter. I'm so used to normal bacteria cycle, I'm a bit confused on when I could add life to the tank to keep the scrubber growing and everything alive in the tank. I've breed Tanganyika cichlids for the past 8 years and when I would start a new tank I will simply put amonia in the tank and wait until the parameter come ok, between 3 weeks and 1 month.

Thanks to all to be patient with the little french guy, I just want to do it right !

[Floyd R Turbo]

Great post SM.

You should also mention that truly 'dry' rock that is 'dead' work as you stated, however if you have rock that was live, and you pulled it out of a tank and let it dry, that the dead stuff will cause an ammonia spike and kick start the rock. I had about 40lb of dead dry rock in a rubbermaid tub and the ammonia went up to well over 2 in 24 hrs, that that rock was dry for 2 years.

[alex leblanc]

In a scrub tank, do bacteria live to help the cycle or the scrubber starve them!

[kerry]

You still have bacteria in a scrubber tank.

[alex leblanc]

ok, thanks!

[alex leblanc]

I've order my canvas on ebay and silicone my false wall in place. No signs of my led, I may not be able to start my Ats for holidays. If I get some cash for christmas, I'm gonna order the 7 led plug and play from rapidled, should be enough light for my little tank. I'm considering adding a Ato to keep parameter stable! I'm now off for two week I should be able to post pic of my very humble setup.

[kerry]

Humble set-ups are the most real ones IMO. I have some pics of my humble set-up here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1796 (http://algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1796) . Its not show quality but the water quality IS!!!!!!!

[alex leblanc]

Thanks Kerry, I can't wait to put it in water, I will test my false wall as soon as I can and figuring out of to put back my pump in such a tight place.

[alex leblanc]

I've test my false wall and it works great, the level of water is a bit higher than I would like but it should be ok. I've start to paint the background black and it looks very good. Nearly one month that I've order my led light and still not here.

[kerry]

I just ordered a bunch of stuff from the hong kong/china places and I suspect I will bee waiting a while as well. I only did so because I bought a lot of stuff and it was so much cheaper!!

[alex leblanc]

The longer it takes for me it's five weeks, I've received my canvas today it took 7 days but came from USA. I dunno how I gonna keep it in place behind the false wall, if I glue it on a 1/8 acrylic pieces of the same size, could it still work or the water need to be able to go through?

[SantaMonica]

Don't count on the water going through the screen.

[alex leblanc]

Thanks Santa I'm gonna glue it on a piece of acrylic, it may help to clean it later!

[alex leblanc]

My led finally arrived today, I now have to find a way to plug them, I've seen cheap 12v adaptor but with different Ma, what should I choose? And for those who used them, should I put another heatsink or the small one they soldier on it do the job?

[Gigaahxl]

Did you get that rapid LED kit you linked previously? That meanWell LPC-35-700 driver takes 120-240vac input. So you wouldn't need a 12vdc power supply. The kit shows it comes with a standard AC power cord for it.

And Yes. Please make sure those star mounted 3w LED's have a healthy heatsink behind them. Do not turn them on with no heatsink attached. They could easily burn out in a matter of a second give or take.

Here is a link to the plug and play guidlines/manual for that kit.
http://www.vinnymarini.com/pictures/rap ... %20Kit.pdf (http://www.vinnymarini.com/pictures/rapid_docs/Plug-N-Play%20Retrofit%20Kit.pdf)

Here is a link to a place I've used to get heatsinks if you cannot scavange them from something.
http://www.heatsinkusa.com/

If you Use a fan on the heatsink you can get away with a much smaller heatsink. Otherwise use the picture provided in the guide as a reference of required size.

[alex leblanc]

No, I've still not order my Rapidled Kit, I talk about my ebay grow led kit for my scrubber. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Red-G ... 059wt_1270 (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/DIY-3-x-3W-Red-Grow-LED-650-660nm-w-Driver-Heat-Sink-12VDC-Input-Aquarium-/220866293590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336ca82f56#ht_2059wt_1270)

[Gigaahxl]

Yes, you will still need another larger heatsink. You will probably need about .75 amps each one of those 3x3w LED arrays. So if you have two of those units one 12v 1.5amp supply will work. I've used those cheap wall wart type supplies before. They work. If you dig around the house for old electronics(internet routers and wifi stuff usually run 12 volts) you might get lucky and find a .75 amp supplies for free. I have a couple that are 1amp.

[alex leblanc]

Thanks, could I run only 1 set on a 1.5 amp or I will burn it, I know nothing about electricity.

[Gigaahxl]

1.5 amps would be enough for TWO 3wx3 lights.

[alex leblanc]

But what happen if I put only one set of 3 on a 1.5a adaptor?

[Gigaahxl]

things will be just fine to run one set of 3. No worries.

[Ace25]

Just curious, why wouldn't you just order a meanwell LPC-35-700 for around $18 and call it a day? I am not sure of the cost or availability of them outside the US though so either of those could be a valid reason why your not going that route. Seems very risky to use the wall wart method, I thought I read most wall warts are constant voltage, not constant current. If you don't match the power supply exactly to the LED specs you will have a runaway current problem and cook the LEDs. I have only read about that though, it was enough to scare me away from attempting it myself. It may work fine like Gigaahxl says, just not worth the risk to me when a known good driver/power supply is so cheap.

[Gigaahxl]

Wall warts are not usually constant voltage or current limited devices. The LED kit he purchased already has the driver attached so he just needs a 12vdc power supply that can handle the current needed.

[alex leblanc]

I'm really a noob with this and I try to find something safe, plug and play! Maybe not the right way!!!

[Ace25]

Wall warts are not usually constant voltage or current limited devices. The LED kit he purchased already has the driver attached so he just needs a 12vdc power supply that can handle the current needed.
Sheash I am slow today.. forgot about the driver being built in.. with that known then I agree with you, your suggestion should work fine.

[alex leblanc]

Cool, thanks a lot guys, I will finish to paint my tank and buy my adaptor. What glue would you suggest me to put my plastic canvas on a piece of acrylic, any cheap alternative?

[Ace25]

Not sure how well you want the canvas to attach to the acrylic. If you want it "permanent" where when the screen wears out to toss them both in the trash then I would suggest something like Weldon #16 to glue the canvas to the acrylic, just a few dots of glue around the edges should be all you need. Or if you want something slightly less permanent you could use superglue although the screen may come undone if you scrub too hard.

[alex leblanc]

Thanks, I gonna try superglue! I have some time today would try to post some pic of the progress!

[alex leblanc]

Here a pic of the beginning, pretty bad job on the paint!

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/IMG_2154.jpg

[alex leblanc]

Some bad pic of the result. I've receive weld-on #16 to do the scrubber lighting unit and I've buy a large heatsink to be sure the led will stay cool. I've order a refractometer from ebay, buy some Marco rock. I now need to buy salt and order the led for the tank.

Top
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/IMG_2158.jpg
front

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/IMG_2156.jpg

Scrubber side

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/IMG_2157.jpg

[kerry]

Looks like you are getting real close!! Looking good.

[alex leblanc]

I've done the lighting unit for the scrubber but still have not receive my thermal grease to fix the led on the heatsink! Would take pic once the paint is dry!

[alex leblanc]

Usps seem to have lost my thermal grease, need to order another one. I've finish to paint my lighting unit for the scrubber. Here some pic...

Tank with the scrubber lighting unit on!

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/P1070697.jpg

side shot

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/P1070698.jpg

unit remove

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/P1070699.jpg

with led

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/P1070700.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Alfalex/P1070701.jpg

[kerry]

Thats a nice heat sink!!!!

[alex leblanc]

Buy it used for 3$ and fit perfectly my two led!

[alex leblanc]

I'm now ready to start, considering I'm using dry rock, should I start the scrubber from the beginning or wait?

[kerry]

From the beginning!!! This way you will miss the big spike in ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

[alex leblanc]

Cool, I'm so happy, been a long wait!

[kerry]

I have done my last two SW tanks from jump with the scrubber and never even seen the cycle spike happen. Its so wonderful not having to worry about that.

[alex leblanc]

I've you start with lr or dr?

[kerry]

Mine had both in them.

[alex leblanc]

Still looking for my main tank light, I was thinking of buying a plug and play setup from rapidled with 4 royal blue and 2 neutral white without optic directly on top of the tank, good or bad idea. My girlfriend don't want to have too much light spill. I will start with softies a few lps and maybe some easy sps if everything go well!

[RkyRickstr]

Thats exacly what i had in my 6g edge worked good.. didnt try sps on that size tank tho.. zoos and rics only.

[Floyd R Turbo]

I missed re-subscribing to this thread. How well are those triple-chip LEDs working? $15 for a triple 3W seems almost like it's too good to be true. How far away from the screen so you need them? Kerry, is this the one that you are using? You removed the lenses though, right? I'm considering getting a few of these to replace the T5HO lamps on the current scrubber I run. I have 2 on each side and the screen is about 14" wide (down from 20") and about 6+ tall, in an enclosed acrylic removable box, and I can position them probably as far away as 4" or as close as 1.5". Any suggestion on quantity and spacing? I also may be trimming down the screen more soon. I'm thinking 3 of these on each side, or maybe 2?

Here's the current box

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt191/FloydRTurbo/2011%20Aquarium%20Pics/Customer%201%20-%20125%20Reef/2011-12%20Tank%20Build/DSC03629.jpg

[alex leblanc]

Mine is not running now, I've need to make some adjustement because my water level was too high in the display tank and I have very little time. My led are at 3 inch from the screen 2x 3x3watt for 4x2.75 inch screen. Still not have order my main tank led, I will update once is wet!

[kerry]

Floyd, I do not use the triple. I bought bulk of the single 3w chips. Sunday, I just swapped my 40G scrubber to LED and I am using 90 degree optics but I am about 3-4 inches away from the screen so I will compare this to the 10G without optics. I am running about a 1/4 of the power I did with the CFL it that helps any. From what I see in my Display LED's I made the optics seem to work better (mounted higher) then no optics right on top of the water. So I am thinking maybe the optics at a greater distance will work better then no optics at 1.5". I didnt clean my screen until Monday because I wanted to see if the optics would burn the algae and they didnt so that was good news. Time will tell.

[jnad]

I missed re-subscribing to this thread. How well are those triple-chip LEDs working? $15 for a triple 3W seems almost like it's too good to be true. How far away from the screen so you need them? Kerry, is this the one that you are using? You removed the lenses though, right? I'm considering getting a few of these to replace the T5HO lamps on the current scrubber I run. I have 2 on each side and the screen is about 14" wide (down from 20") and about 6+ tall, in an enclosed acrylic removable box, and I can position them probably as far away as 4" or as close as 1.5". Any suggestion on quantity and spacing? I also may be trimming down the screen more soon. I'm thinking 3 of these on each side, or maybe 2?

Here's the current box

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt191/FloydRTurbo/2011%20Aquarium%20Pics/Customer%201%20-%20125%20Reef/2011-12%20Tank%20Build/DSC03629.jpg

I am using two of these led units, but i am struggeling to Get any growth. I had mutch more growth when i used two 11 W cfl bulbs. I think there is a posibility that these leds is just as you said "to good to be true". They might just be too cheap, but i will give the leds some more time beafore i go back to the cfl bulbs.

Jnad

[Floyd R Turbo]

Jnad, I have a hard time believing that one of these would not outperform an 11W CFL. Remember according to most opinions I've seen you only need 1/4 the wattage of CFL, so 3x3=9x4=36W "effective CFL" output is what you have. You might be giving the aglae too much light, have you back the hours down?

[Floyd R Turbo]

Thanks kerry. I thought someone had mentioned that you used these chips.

Do you know what the beam angle is on your bare LEDs? IIRC most are 120 but that's to a certain % dropoff. Putting optics on them and increasing the distance probably won't change much I'm guessing, might increase the intensity, and if it's too much, back down the hours.

[kerry]

I think mine are 120 but at 1.5" its pattern is way off my 2.75 screen. So on the 6x6 40G screen I wanted to get all the light onto the screen without any spill over. Its just a theory and an experiment. So far there was just a hint of small green growth this morning before I left for the transmission shop. I cleaned the screen pretty good so I could get good data. Here are some pics before I scraped and before I hit it with the scrub brush. This growth is almost two weeks or so.

[joelespinoza]

My 5 gallon nano setup isnt as cool as yours, its very simple and cheap, but for those that have a real reef tank at home and want to have a little desk/table piece or kids activity, this is a fun little cheap project, it grows xenia frags, bubble coral, coraline algae and my gorgonia frags very nicely, it would probably be fine for most softies, and it maintains 0 nitrates and phosphates (although I have never fed it tons).

Sadly I havent had a chance to clean it up in a couple months, all I have done lately is top it off. Its not strictly a screen algae scrubber, it also has refugium area with cheato too.

This is what the refugium/area screen looks like without the cover:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b124/JoelEspinoza/PICT0145Medium.jpg

Modified return area is now for holding the screen (cheato in the tank is the extra I just took out of the fuge, its about to get tossed):
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b124/JoelEspinoza/PICT0140Medium.jpg

Here is the modified light area, I opened up the back, and tweaked the reflector some, so the light goes out onto the screen and the "refugium" area:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b124/JoelEspinoza/PICT0151Medium.jpg

Here is the screen after cleaning:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b124/JoelEspinoza/PICT0142Medium.jpg

~$40 - 5 gallon hex tank http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Eclipse-Seamless-Integrated-Aquarium/dp/B000260GEC

$15-18 Hydor Pico Evolution (I got the 70GPH but I the 160GPH version would probably work better) http://www.amazon.com/Hydor-Evolution-All-Purpose-Aquariums-Terrariums/dp/B003SNE926

$5 26 watt 5300k CFL walmart bulb

~$3 hot melt glue and a bit of screen material.

So this was around $70 bucks. (Outside the frags/bit of sand and rock from your main reef tank)

[kerry]

Looks like it working nicely for you. I turned on of those into a horizontal scrubber for a while. Then it was my LED Guinna pig but, its retired now.

[Floyd R Turbo]

If you don't mind, take a look at this thread I started and post your info

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/show...nes-and-Builds

[Floyd R Turbo]

link fixed

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?1711-DIY-LED-Scrubber-Lighting-Guidelines-and-Builds

[alex leblanc]

Its been a while since I post but job and baby took all my time. I just pull the trigger on led from modularled.ca. Four royal blue and two neutral white drive at 700ma, hope it will be enough but should be easy to add more later.