firebird's UAS test

[firebird]

i have a 45G SW reef tank
Came across this site -have always loved the idea of algae scrubbers and this looked so much simpler to do so have given it a whirl yesterday
Have an in tank sump
Aim is to get rid of the skimmer
( never used skimmers with my nanos)

2905

Attaching eggcrate with cable ties to the sides to make it more rigid

2906

The finished product with an airstone at the base.( I ended up swopping this airstone with a slightly smaller one as the tubing became kinked secondary to space issues and the mesh was not being covered with the air bubbles)

2907
2908

Using 2700k light at present. In this pic light has been angled to get view of the scrubber but does have full light coverage.

Will see how it goes

[Garf]

Have you roughed the screen up good?

[firebird]

Yup- both sides and redid it today again with a saw( without cutting myself this time):grin:

Also added coloured acrylic pieces over the airstone to try stop light getting to it

2916


Not as schmick looking as some of the builds on here but will hopefully do the trick

[Othello]

From experience I would say cover the egg crate to since it can be a PITA cleaning it up :P

[firebird]

Thanks for that Othello-will do but probably will only manage to do it this weekend.

[firebird]

brown algae noted on screen 2 days ago
will post pics once more growth

[jacob.morgan78]

I really like your screen setup. I'm assuming that the eggcrate keeps the screen "in the middle" of the bubbles? How have you made it easy to take the screen out to clean?

Thanks for sharing and I'm looking forward to your updates!

[firebird]

Thank you-I just pull it up from the top of the eggcrate frame out of the sump( I've got an intank sump). I was going to change the eggcrate to acrylic but haven't got round to it- The eggcrate does keep it in the centre.

meanwhile i've just done my very first LED build today - problem is that they flash when power is turned on? Please can someone help??

I think I read somewhere that I need to add additional LEDS into the setup if this happens-?
correct or not

PS Don't worry=all sorted out

[firebird]

http://www.thereefuge.com.au/board/threads/firebirds-led-build-if-i-can-do-it-then-anyone-can.4130/#post-56781
See here for my LED build ( I think we're allowed to link to other sites-please correct me if I'm wrong)

[firebird]

i understand the reasoning behind the LEDS being on the side of the glass of the tank to completely light up the algae scrubber but has anyone trialled putting them above the scrubber instead/ or would that encourage too much algae elsewhere as well as on the scrubber

[kerry]

If it flashes you need more LED's, the drivers have overload protection that what the flashing is. Its a mess and hard to clean when algae grows elsewhere.

[SantaMonica]

Probably too much growth elsewhere, and, too much on the edge of the screen instead of the side of the screen.