just built my scrubber, comments please

[jdl]

just built my scrubber on my new setup, 120g with 50g sump.

let me know any flaws that i should correct,

thanks
http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/scrubber1.jpg

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/scrubberfinished.jpg

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/scrubberfinished2.jpg

[worley]

Looks good, a few minor things:
You may want to cover the top of the pipe where the screen slots in with something to block the light so that algae doesn't grow up and block it up.
Have you roughed up the screen? It looks like it could do with more, make it really rough, use a very corse sand paper.
Have you measured the water flow coming off the screen (with the screen in place), e.g. by timing how long it takes to fill a bucket? Ideally you want 35 us gal/hour per inch of width of screen. What's the measurement of the visible screen (not the part in the pipe or any that's in the water)?

[jdl]

thanks for the comments.

I'll measure the flow tonight, been busy with kids activities the past few days. It is real easy to adjust the flow on my setup. I have 2 ball valves for flow control on that section.


I did not rough up the screen, i thought i read that the tank divider needs sanded, but the plastic canvas does not? If the plastic canvas needs sanding, i can easily do that.

what do most people use to block the light into the slit in the pipe?

[SantaMonica]

Yes sand it so it feels like a catcus. And add another layer of it so you have two together (attached them with fishing line.)

Any opaque plastic strip will work to block the light. Even electrical tape.

[jdl]

ok i can attach 2 of the plastic canvas together with fishing string. That is better then glueing because it adds something for the algae to attach to?

i also drilled my slit for the canvas to fit in my pipe since i didnt have the proper tool for the slit. (basically i used a drill bit and put holes all across the pipe then cut the area between the hoes with a small saw so i had a slit. The slit isnt straight, but it is a nice slit where the canvas can fit in and water can easily flow out. See any issue with this? I can take closeup pics if needed.

[SantaMonica]

Should all be fine

[jdl]

Have you measured the water flow coming off the screen (with the screen in place), e.g. by timing how long it takes to fill a bucket? Ideally you want 35 us gal/hour per inch of width of screen.

canvas is 10.5 x 10.5 (more is under water but didnt measure that)
for flow, i filled up a 5 gallon bucket in 2 minutes flat.

so this means 150gallons in 60 minutes so 150gph, but i need 350gph... hmm that seems fast or i calculated incorrectly, or maybe i just need to have wider slits in my pipe.

[worley]

Cutting a wider slit should help, try that and measure again.
150g/hour is right, that gives you 4-5" width of screen. You probably need a bigger pump unless you want to make this really tall.

[jdl]

still need to sand my screen and add 2nd screen, but here is my screen a week later

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/ats1.jpg

[SantaMonica]

About right. You might want to seal up those bulbs so salt does not get inside.

[jdl]

About right. You might want to seal up those bulbs so salt does not get inside.



Electrical Safety: Be sure to seal your bulbs and connections with aquarium-safe silicone or sealant, especially if the bulb is down inside the sump. You can't see it, but there will be tiny amounts of salt spray that will build up where you screw the bulb in, and also where you made electrical connections. When the buildup gets thick enough, it will short out and blow a fuse. So each time you replace a bulb, re-seal it. You should be able to pour water over it without it causing a problem.

then just cut it out to unscrew the bulb every 3 months for new bulbs and reseal?

[SantaMonica]

Yep. Or use that expanding-foam sealant that is used for windows. You can unscrew the bulb right out of it.

[jdl]

minor update with pics

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/scrubber3.jpg


http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/scrubber4.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Are you not turning the light off for 6 hours a day? The bald spot in the center is caused by going 24 hours.

[jdl]

yes it is on a timer. on from 12am to 2pm

[SantaMonica]

Can you get more flow then?

[jdl]

possibly. I am using one of two overflows. I can get more flow a few ways.

1. have 2 return pumps instead of 1
2. plumb in another pump just into the scrubber section.


will play with option #2 first sometime this week

[SantaMonica]

Maybe the screen is not bald in the middle... can you post pics with the light off?

[jdl]

i cleaned it off since the pics. I'll post again in a few days without the lights on.

plus i am getting new lights this week.


the good news is my tank has no algae anywhere in the tank. My front glass never has anything on it. So i do believe the scrubber is working. Since my tank is somewhat new i didnt have any hair algae issues to cleanup so i cant say it cleaned up my issues since i never had any issues.

[worley]

Not sure if you meant "a few days with the lights off", but make sure they're not off all the time! They should be off for 6 hours a day and on for 18.

[jdl]

I meant to post again when i take a pic without the lights on :)

and here they are

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/aa.jpg

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/aa2.jpg
before cleaning

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/clean.jpg

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/clean2.jpg
after cleaning

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/scrubberlight.jpg
light


algae is getting much thicker and green. Very similar to GHA.

I will slowly be removing my chaeto. The growth has slowed down since the scrubber.

[jdl]

minor update with pics

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/s1.JPG

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/s2.JPG

http://www.abacasalon.com/FishRoom/fts1.JPG


havent had to wipe the front of my glass off in about 2 months.

[SantaMonica]

Looks real clean!