Fixie's waterfall or UAS questions

[Fixie]

hi santa monica
I want to make uas but the last time I made ​​it I failed.
I am from Indonesia, I have helped by your assistant, kaia and iris in

http://www.reefsforum.com/showthread.php?5495-Lowest-cost-and-easiest-way-to-eliminate-green-hair-bubble-turf-and-slime-algae

they said I failed because of lack of light and the media that I used to grow algae wrong.
this is my failed uas
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/82f35162.jpg
I wanted to ask you how do I make it work
please help me
because the sea water aquarium I just rely uas
no skimmer

and i dont have hole saw to make the screen rough
What items can I use to mae the screen rough enough?

sorry if my english so bad, i use google translate

[SantaMonica]

First you need screen material. Can you get plastic canvas, from the hobby or sewing store or www.EverythingPlasticCanvas.com ?

[kotlec]

There are few sellers on eBay that sell canvas internationally. Thats where i got mine.

[Fixie]

okay tomorrow i will buy the plastic canvas
it is expensive or not?
i think i will buy it from hobby store...

[Fixie]

can a uas screen handle 100 liter tank without skimmer?
because i interested to make uas because someone tell me , uas can replace skimmer and keep your tank clean

[Fixie]

i will feed my fish once a day

[Fixie]

uas can not filter all the water that passes through my sump, only the front of the sump,near the light right?

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/82f35162.jpg

do you understand what i mean?
sorry because my english not very good

[SantaMonica]

It does not need to filter all the water.

You are probably feeding 1 frozen cube a day.

Get the screen material first.

[Fixie]

It does not need to filter all the water.

You are probably feeding 1 frozen cube a day.

Get the screen material first.

yes it is what i mean, 1 cube frozen baby shrimp a day

today i will buy the plastic canvas

[Fixie]

I already search plastic canvas in craft stores but they dont have it
the seller said it was an old model and is not used much anymore


can i use that material to make uas?
i mean that blue plastic i use before

because order from other country need big costs

[Floyd R Turbo]

It's hardly an "old model", I see this stuff every time I go into Wal-Mart or any fabric store.

http://everythingplasticcanvas.com/darice-mrl-m502.aspx?gclid=CPqz8ZSfxLICFdFDMgodUz0A4A

I think you just need to look more. It's in the knitting section of any fabric store.

[Fixie]

at the craft store that I visited a lot of models like that, but that could be rolled, not rigid.
is that what you mean?

I do not know wal-mart because the store does not yet exist in Indonesia
fabric stores here mostly just sell fabric

[alex leblanc]

Ebay was the only way here in Quebec to find plastic canvas.

[SantaMonica]

Yes it can be rolled. Not rigid.

[Floyd R Turbo]

The Darice #7 plastic canvas is not rigid. It is highly flexible, but it is not like cloth. So you can roll it, but then it would spring back if you let it go.

It is also known as cross-stitch canvas. It is almost always in the same section as the yarn for knitting.

You want the stuff that has 7 holes per inch, or 7 holes per 25mm. Usually you can find it in #5 (5 holes/in, larger holes) and #10 (10 holes/in, very small holes). 7 holes/in is about 3.5mm between hole centers, and the holes will be about 2mm square (I think).

Find some good pictures on that link I sent you, print them out, and bring them to the store. That might help.

[Fixie]

oh what a fool I
I have relied on this picture

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Plastic-canvas.jpg

if you search "plastic canvas" in google, you will find this picture

[Floyd R Turbo]

well, yeah, that's the stuff...those holes are about 2mm square

[kerry]

The flexible stuff is what you want!!!! I like the stuff that has 7 holes per inch but others will work to.

[Fixie]

i think that stuff is rigid...

okay tommorow i will buy it..

but the plain only be purchased per roll (about 1 cubic meter), and it's quite expensive
Can I buy a plastic canvas with a picture??, because it is smaller and more cost effective

[kerry]

Its OK, now you know!!

[Fixie]

approximately how big a hole?
There are many kinds of them

please in centimeter

[Floyd R Turbo]

The Darice #7 plastic canvas is not rigid. It is highly flexible, but it is not like cloth. So you can roll it, but then it would spring back if you let it go.

It is also known as cross-stitch canvas. It is almost always in the same section as the yarn for knitting.

You want the stuff that has 7 holes per inch, or 7 holes per 25mm. Usually you can find it in #5 (5 holes/in, larger holes) and #10 (10 holes/in, very small holes). 7 holes/in is about 3.5mm between hole centers, and the holes will be about 2mm square (I think).

Find some good pictures on that link I sent you, print them out, and bring them to the store. That might help.

see above

[Fixie]

ok i see it
thanks floyd

[fajars2003]

ok i see it
thanks floyd

hy fixie, if you near Jakarta you can find this stuff at mall karawaci,

[Fixie]

yes,i live near jakarta
yesterday i search it on sumarecon mall.

[Fixie]

hi santa monica
can you suggest me how to make uas with low cost.

because i only have little money left.
i spend it to buy aquarium and sump

[SantaMonica]

Get the screen first. And you will need a rough object...

http://www.algaescrubber.net/ScreenHoleSaw.jpg

http://www.algaescrubber.net/CanvasCompare.jpg

[Fixie]

sorry santa monica,
I can not afford it today, because there are a lot of obstacles.

I will buy it tomorrow
after I buy, how do I make it rough?
I do not have a hole saw

and lights what should I wear?,
Can you recommend a cheap lamp?

[Floyd R Turbo]

Better


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mrCWALt9Qs

[Fixie]

i already in craft store now
the hole is about 12 per inch please help
i dont find it

[Fixie]

i already buy it
but i dont know it is the right materials or not

there is an elephant picture on it

there is one another thing,also called cross stich canvas but it more like cloths

so i dont buy it

[Fixie]

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-21221623_zpsedab7668.jpg

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-21221641_zps9de39531.jpg

is that right materials?

i hope i can use it...

c

[Fixie]

Better


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mrCWALt9Qs

thanks floyd
but no stuff like that in craft stores in my town
so i decided to buy like picture above

i hope i can make uas with that...

[Floyd R Turbo]

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-21221623_zpsedab7668.jpg

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-21221641_zps9de39531.jpg

is that right materials?

i hope i can use it...

c

IMO, not the right stuff.

[Garf]

Elephant ?!?

[Floyd R Turbo]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Plastic-canvas.jpg

if you search "plastic canvas" in google, you will find this picture

This above material is what you need, you were looking for the right stuff to begin with. you need to find this material

[kotlec]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Darice-7-Mesh-7-Count-ULTRA-STIFF-Plastic-Canvas-12-X-18-CLEAR-/230852885050?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bfe77a3a

ships worldwide

[Fixie]

Can I try it with that stuff.I
could not find the plastic canvas.
please help me. The next thing what
is needed?
i hope it can replace plastic canvas

[kerry]

You could try it I guess. Not sure you will get great results. It might not be any improvement to the other rigid stuff you tried already. Be sure you rough it up with what ever you use!! It might tear if you try to rough it up. I dont know, its hard to work with stuff thats not exactly what you need. I am sure someone ebay would get you a quote going by cheap US mail if you ask.

[SantaMonica]

Go ahead and try that screen. Rough it up with a knife. It will take a little longer to grow.

Now go buy a 23 watt Compact Fluorescent "Floodlight" bulb from the hardware store (the first one in the picture below). "Warm" or "Soft" is what you want, not "Daylight". Could be as small as 18 watts, or as big as 33 watts. Also get a "clip on" socket for it.

http://www.algaescrubber.net/CFLtypes.jpg

[Fixie]

SM,lamp model as it does not fit in my sump. there was only about 7 cm width space in my sump cabinet.

any idea?

[SantaMonica]

Unfortunately I don't think you will be able to build one.

Maybe you can try a waterfall scrubber instead.

[Fixie]

okay I can open my sump cabinet to light, so the light is out cabinet

[Fixie]

please help,i really rely on it for filtration.

[Fixie]

can i use lamp like this?

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR5wTxt6IivswB_NAzrBHdeWoJQ-v9oPEHfoi2zTwcD6K5Ch20r688DyTMP8w

or maybe LED?

[SantaMonica]

I don't think you will be happy with a light protruding out of the cabinet. But if you really want to try it, then buy an CFL floodlight.

[Fixie]

your assistant ever suggest me to use 600 nm led.
can i use it?

or can i use lamp like picture above?
it can fit in my cabinet

[Fixie]

Here are the things that you need to adjust to make it work. Also check the updates for more information.

Screen material:
1)You have used the wrong material for screen. Use plastic canvas as the algae screen. Remember to roughen it up properly.

Lighting:
The light needs be at least 1 watt per square inch (6.25 square cm). The link of your bulb does not fit the screen. Make sure you have enough wattage and use a reflector to focus all the light to the screen. For the fluorescent bulb you have, it needs to have a spectrum 2700K-3000K. Try to use a CFL spot light. Your light needs to be as close to the screen as possible.

Bubbles:
3)The bubbles need to distributed through out the screen evenly for algae to grow. The best way to do this is by slicing the air tubing. Make sure that you have a good air pump so that the bubbles constantly flow through the screen.


Put the pictures of the things you want to use before you make it again.

this

[Fixie]

Here is the new update:

Screen material:
1)Use plastic canvas as the algae screen. Remember to roughen it up properly using a wood saw or hole saw. You can get plastic canvas at craft store (under sewing section) or sewing store or online at places like www.everythingplasticcanvas.com or ebay. Screen should look like this:

http://algaescrubber.net/ScreenHoleSaw.jpg
http://algaescrubber.net/CanvasCompare.jpg

Lighting
2)The lighting needs to be 1 watt per square inch (6.25 square cm) of screen material. A 3 by 4 inch screen is 12 square inches not 24. Make sure you have enough wattage and use a reflector if the light doesnot focus on screen. For fluorescent bulbs, it needs to have a spectrum of 2700k-3000k. For LEDs, it needs to be red 660nm. You can cut the wattage in half if you are using LED lights. In order for algae to grow, make sure that the light is on for 18 hours a day. Here are some bulbs and reflector type:

http://algaescrubber.net/CFLtypes.jpg
http://algaescrubber.net/BeerCan.jpg

Bubbles:
3)The bubbles need to be rapid and large and distributed through out the screen evenly for algae to grow. The best way to do this is by slicing the air tubing. Make sure the air pump is good so that the bubbles can constantly flow across the screen for 24 hours a day. This is why you need bubbles:
http://algaescrubber.net/WhyBubbles.jpg


from http://www.reefsforum.com/showthread.php?5495-Lowest-cost-and-easiest-way-to-eliminate-green-hair-bubble-turf-and-slime-algae/page9

[SantaMonica]

Might be easier to just get a pre-built one:

http://www.santa-monica.cc/Hang-On-Glass-HOG-Upflow-Algae-Scrubber-UAS--05-Cubes-feeding-per-day_p_21.html

[Fixie]

can i use that long lamp?

i prefer make it because buy is more expensive

[SantaMonica]

If you use it, you will need 2 of them. And, you will need to use reflectors. The hard part will be figuring out how to mount it.

Screen: use 2 layers, because they are very thin.

[Fixie]

i buy new material
it not plastic canvas but i think it better than last material i post here
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-22191117_zpscd769a15.jpg


this is the lamp warm 2700k

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-22191148_zps7804b167.jpg

[Fixie]

can i put the lamp here?

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-22212027_zpsc3ce34db.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Screen: Yes

Lamp: no

You need a Floodlight. Or make reflectors for 2 of your original lamps.

[Fixie]

floodlight is too expensive..

what do you mean, my original lamp?

you says

http://www.algaescrubber.net/CFLtypes.jpg

i just follow the picture number 1

cfl spotlight is best for small screen,so i buy it, 2700 k.not very cheap too

[Fixie]

how i can build "can reflector"?

[SantaMonica]

Ok, I do not think you will be able to build a UAS. I think you need to build a waterfall.

[Fixie]

ats you mean?
my sump not designed for that..
i cant use that lamp?

how i build a waterfall?

[Fixie]

i can make a hole in the back of sump cabinet to place that lamp..

[Garf]

Pixie - are you being deliberately deconstructive.

[Fixie]

how can i build waterfall?

i must use that lamp,the ration pocket money has been restricted by my parents
so I have to be more frugal

sorry I'm still schooling, have not working

[Fixie]

i have these materials in my house
please design it, no matter it uas or waterfall

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23093744_zpse348e024.jpg
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23093934_zpsf3d37e43.jpg

please help me design the uas / waterfall

[SantaMonica]

What filter are you using now?

Pictures of your aquarium?

[Fixie]

My tank was only 3 weeks
Since the beginning I was planning on using uas
I learned from your assistant, kaia
but he rarely online, maybe 1 week only once

filtration media in the sump only cotton (a rough one) I do not know the English and activated carbon

for the photo I uploaded soon

[Fixie]

btw how about the uas?
can i use those stuffs

[Fixie]

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23124022_zpsdd3b4212.jpg
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23123947_zps4efd76ed.jpg
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23124115_zps445f2eb2.jpg

[Fixie]

many more fish but they're hiding in the live rock

[kerry]

Do you have a sump under the tank? Pics please.

[Fixie]

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23174549_zps1444545d.jpg

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23174604_zps4bc8574f.jpg

[Fixie]

still waiting for some answer..

[SantaMonica]

Do you have another long lamp similar to the first one?

Do you have aluminum foill?

[Fixie]

i have alumunium foil but dont have another long lamp..
only that + cfl light

[SantaMonica]

Need to get another long lamp.

[Fixie]

there is one more but have blue light
can i use it?

[SantaMonica]

No, must be "warm" or "soft" white.

[Fixie]

i dont have any more...

the long lamp i have is white light,not yellow
and i have 1 more cfl white light

total
1 long lamp white light
1 cfl yellow light
1 cfl white light..

[Fixie]

what kelvin you mean "soft light"?

[SantaMonica]

2700 or 3000k

5500 will also work.

[Fixie]

so i can use that cfl white lamp?


how i build it
please teach me step by step..


btw, what time is it there?

[kotlec]

Fixie , how old are you ?

[Fixie]

17 years old

[Fixie]

one of my friend suggest me to make ats

[kerry]

Check out these builds in this link. http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?28-Hundreds-of-Waterfall-Scrubber-Designs . Maybe this will give you some ideas.

[ferdinand]

fixie, pake tutup saji buat meja makan aje ato pake dari tempat baju, potong aja ukuran 10 x 7, trs ksh gelembung, sama lampu neon, trs pakein kertas alumunium buat pantulin sinarnya.

cari yg lubangnya kecil2 trs u pakein gergaji besi/gergaji kayu biar kasar, intinya biar tu alga bs pegangan.

[ferdinand]

one of my friend suggest me to make ats

mending UAS aja kaga ribet, klo ats nti klo uda panjang n mampet jd penuh trs ga jalan saringannya

[Fixie]

udah coba pak pake plastik keranjang,liat di page1 tapi ggal,

kemaren sih pake t8 philips doang


main di reefforum juga ya pak?

[Fixie]

sorry SM i use indonesian language

[ferdinand]

udah coba pak pake plastik keranjang,liat di page1 tapi ggal,

kemaren sih pake t8 philips doang


main di reefforum juga ya pak?

yeah i'm also member in there too.

the one u had earlier at front page, the holes is too big, need only half of the holes. find another in market place (pasar cuy, byk dsono). & u need a reflector too for the lamp (pake kertas alumunium di carrefur/pasar yg buat tutup makanan cepat saji).

[Fixie]

pake lampu belajar buat reflektor iso pak?
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-23093744_zpse348e024.jpg

alumunium foil already had

[SantaMonica]

Cannot use the CFL. Get another long bulb first.

[Fixie]

sorry SM i can't afford to buy that long lamp
so i build the uas with cfl lamp



http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-26195529_zps8ce11f48.jpg


http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-26205154_zpsede495b9.jpg


ini photo the light color is white,actually is yellow
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-26210004_zpsf21c1562.jpg


http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-26210020_zps69ca99b4.jpg

so when the door close,the lamp is in front of the screen

[SantaMonica]

Well that is better.

How many watts is the lamp?

[Fixie]

11 watt equivalent to 40 watt

next step what should i do?

[SantaMonica]

The 11 watts need to be completely focused on the screen... nothing else. It is enough for a 7.5 cm wide X 10 cm tall screen.

[Fixie]

now just wait?
the screen is already alright?

[SantaMonica]

Put the lamp on 18 hours a day.

[Fixie]

ok

[fajars2003]

pake philip 23w par 38, pake yang daylight atau cool daylight tapi harganya mahal sih 100 rb an,
atau pake yg cfl 23 watt dikasih reflektornya/ downlight
trus kapasnya di angkat ganti pake filtersock
dulu screennya pake kain kristik tapi lama2 sobek dia, atau dari saran di atas tadi pake tempat tiris piring/ gelas yg lubangnya kecil2

[Fixie]

udah terlanjur beli yg kuning pak, saya mau coba dulu aja

[Fixie]

hi SM,
a lot of bubbles in the sump because of the use of aerators.
rupture bubbles splashing out sump
even on the reflector much salt.

how to remove the bubble?

[kerry]

You might be able to put a shield over the top of the water to stop some of it. Its a know problem with the UAS type scrubber as they can make tons of salt creep.

[Fixie]

what can i use for the "shield"?

[SantaMonica]

Anything plastic.

[Fixie]

no algae until 3rd day

[SantaMonica]

Correct.

[Fixie]

when they start appear?

[SantaMonica]

If light and bubbles are strong, 5 days.

[Fixie]

if light and bubbles are not strong?

and usually i use active carbon in my sump
should i remove it?

[SantaMonica]

If light and bubbles are not strong, it may not grow at all.

Carbon does not matter.

[Fixie]

i dont know if light and bubble enough strong or not..
some bubbles are so tiny

Can I put different kinds of polyps and anemones in my tank with size of the scrubber like that?

[Fixie]

no algae in my screen
but there are some algae on the sump glass
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-09-30212027_zpsf53048bb.jpg

what i should do?

[SantaMonica]

Wait.

[Fixie]

it not grow on the screen,it grow on the sump
no problem?

[SantaMonica]

Because you need a white plastic wall behind the screen.

[Fixie]

so now the algae wont grow on the screen?
expect i put white plastic wall behind the screen?

[SantaMonica]

It will grow on the screen, if the bubbles rub it.


But it will also grow in the sump, if you do not block the light.

[Fixie]

so i dont need to remove it?

[kerry]

I would especially if its blocking the light.

[Fixie]

algae spotted at uas..

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2012-10-04200414_zps08d63590.jpg

it still brown,where i already put the lamp on 24 hours non-stop

[Fixie]

comment please..

[SantaMonica]

Let it grow another week.

[Fixie]

can i buy some anemone and polyp for my MT now?

[SantaMonica]

Wait for your screen to grow.

[Fixie]

it can not be categorized grow now?


sorry if my english sounds weird,i use google translate

[SantaMonica]

Be sure it grows, before adding corals.

[Fixie]

ok

[Fixie]

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121015181424994_zps60a7f80f.jpg


one week after first cleaning
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121015181544289_zps0f96231e.jpg

please comment

[SantaMonica]

Pics need to be out of the water.

Also clean the glass with a towel on the inside, with one motion from bottom to top.

[Fixie]

this is my uas...

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121019200257652_zps230ecbb8.jpg

there are so many algae grow in my MT...
how can i remove it?




and i have 3 chamber in my sump,and I only use one now.
please suggest me what kind of media filtration that suitable in my tank.

how about deep sand bed?

[SantaMonica]

Stop changing things around, and stick with one thing for a while.

Clean it and let it grow 14 days again.

[rleahaines]

Fixie,

You don't have to clean out every trace of algae from your scrubber, as Santa Monica says "Let it grow" Scrape off the stuff on the outside.

You don't need any media filtration at all with an algae scrubber. You especially do not want a deep sand bed.

You will get some algae in your main tank for some time. Clean the glass, take out as much as you can with tongs and by hand when you clean the tank each week or so.

Eventually the algae in your tank will go away once the scrubber gets going well. You need to be patient.


I use live rock, some gravel on the bottom and an algae scrubber. This is all you need for filtration.

[Fixie]

Stop changing things around, and stick with one thing for a while.

Clean it and let it grow 14 days again.

thanks SM,
i think my MT lamp is better than that UAS lamp,how algae still will grow on the screen?

[Fixie]

Fixie,

You don't have to clean out every trace of algae from your scrubber, as Santa Monica says "Let it grow" Scrape off the stuff on the outside.

You don't need any media filtration at all with an algae scrubber. You especially do not want a deep sand bed.

You will get some algae in your main tank for some time. Clean the glass, take out as much as you can with tongs and by hand when you clean the tank each week or so.

Eventually the algae in your tank will go away once the scrubber gets going well. You need to be patient.


I use live rock, some gravel on the bottom and an algae scrubber. This is all you need for filtration.


thanks rleahaines, how about the dosing?

[Ace25]

You especially do not want a deep sand bed.
I guess I have been doing it wrong for the last 10 years then. ;)

6" DSB.. it can be a pain to deal with, but a requirement for me due to my fish selection.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3465/3752749293_ce0f01a76a.jpg

As for dosing, the only 2 major things to worry about/monitor/dose is Alkalinity and Calcium. Possibly a little magnesium down the road, but if you do water changes magnesium is usually not an issue.

[Fixie]

I guess I have been doing it wrong for the last 10 years then. ;)

6" DSB.. it can be a pain to deal with, but a requirement for me due to my fish selection.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3465/3752749293_ce0f01a76a.jpg

As for dosing, the only 2 major things to worry about/monitor/dose is Alkalinity and Calcium. Possibly a little magnesium down the road, but if you do water changes magnesium is usually not an issue.

i afraid the uas can't absorb macro feces.
btw,your tank is amzing..

[Fixie]

can uas absorb macro waste materials?

[SantaMonica]

There is no "macro waste material".

Scrubbers absorb Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Ammonium, Phosphate, Iron, Copper, and other trace metals.

[rleahaines]

Ace,

You have a fantastic tank.

From what I understand a deep sand bed is used to get rid of Nitrates, which is what a scrubber does.

I have some fish the burrow into the sand/gravel so I have a fairly deep layer on the bottom - around the rocks which rest on the bottom. The Engineer Goby created a series of tunnels and caves down there.

Other creatures have gone in and never come out.

[Fixie]

There is no "macro waste material".

Scrubbers absorb Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Ammonium, Phosphate, Iron, Copper, and other trace metals.

how about fishes feces?

[SantaMonica]

No, a scrubber does not absorb fish feces.

[Fixie]

so,how i remove fish feces if i only use uas for filtration?

[Ace25]

Fish waste breaks down into ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, etc from bacteria. Once it breaks down (very quickly, within a an hour or two), that is when the algae on the screen sucks up the bad stuff. Then you clean the algae off the screen, in turn, removing the fish waste from the system.

[SantaMonica]

Snails, crabs and shrimp will eat it too.

[Fixie]

thank you very much

[Fixie]

what do you think?
i placed red plastic(in my country is called mica) in front of the light,so the light is red.Red is good for algae growing right?

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121022174353338_zps07b5debc.jpg

[SantaMonica]

I don't think that will help.

[Ace25]

When you put a 'red filter' on a light, all you are doing is blocking out the other spectrums. So as an example, a 26w light is now only putting out 6w because 20w of that light is now being blocked/filtered out. Plus you are very unlikely to even get in the upper 660nm deep red range where it is the most helpful. You will definately get more/better growth without the filter.

[Fixie]

When you put a 'red filter' on a light, all you are doing is blocking out the other spectrums. So as an example, a 26w light is now only putting out 6w because 20w of that light is now being blocked/filtered out. Plus you are very unlikely to even get in the upper 660nm deep red range where it is the most helpful. You will definately get more/better growth without the filter.

thanks ace

[Fixie]

why i feel my uas grow faster with "the red filter"?

[kerry]

It might be due to the fact that its getting older so it will grow better with age. I am not certain its the red light filter. I would say its growing better because its older now.

[Fixie]

okay, i will remove the red filter

[Fixie]

why after i remove the red filter there are some detached algae?

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121028110115834.jpg

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121028110055352.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Needs cleaning.

[Fixie]

why is it always occurs blooming algae in my tank every time I clean the uas?

[SantaMonica]

Because the scrubber has no more algae to absorb nutrients. So the tank algae absorbs the nutrients instead.

[Fixie]

so what u should do to avoid the blooming algae?

[SantaMonica]

After several weeks, it might not happen as much.

[Fixie]

is my return pump affect that blooming?

my return pump is 1800 liter per hour while my tank + sump is about 150 liter

[SantaMonica]

No.

[Fixie]

does algae scrubber absorb the "trace minerals"?

[SantaMonica]

No, it makes trace minerals.

[Fixie]

if i post my filtration on some reefs sites,almost all people there suggest me to add some other filtration...

what do you think?

[SantaMonica]

Because they do not understand that algae filters all the oceans, and all the lakes. They think there are waterchanges in the ocean. There are not. All water is recycled, and filtered in-place, by algae.

[Fixie]

owh,so i dont need to add some filtration media?



how to keep the screen sink? i often found my screen float..
i do not know why...

[Garf]

Your rocks and sand are your filtration material. So no need to add any more, just make sure your water circulation is appropriate.

[Fixie]

my return pump is 1800 liter per hour while my MT + sump is 150-160 liters. is that enough water circulation..


by the way,i add a bicolor angelfish to my tank,do you think my tank can handle him?

[Garf]

I would say that's plenty. My return pump only delivers about 300 ltrs/hr to my sump, and my waterfall screen works just great. As to the fish, if your screens working, and it's sized appropriately it should be ok.

[Fixie]

okay,thanks a lot garf

hope the fish can survive

[SantaMonica]

Tie a small rock to the bottom of the screen.

[Fixie]

after 11 days from last cleaning

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/CameraZOOM-20121115154658641.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Finally!

Clean it all, and the next 14 days will be even better :)

Nice suction cups.

[Fixie]

okay SM,
btw , what if I put some " cleaning crew " in sump chamber 1?
are they will help for filtration?

[SantaMonica]

Yes, a turbo snail would be good.

[Fixie]

it will eat macro waste like this too?


it's very much in my sump



or it just eat algae?

[SantaMonica]

I think turbo snails will eat most things. But you need to vacuum (siphon) that waste out, or else your phosphate might start increasing.

[Fixie]

okay,i will clean it

[Fixie]

how if i put the light 24 hours non-stop?

[kotlec]

how if i put the light 24 hours non-stop?

No way

[Fixie]

why?

[kotlec]

Algae has best growth and filtering cycle at 4 hours peak. Then goes down. After it gets some rest it can start cycle again . There was topic on that week or few ago. Search for it for more detail.

[Fixie]

okay,thanks for your advice kotlec

[Fixie]

i already put a turbo snail in my return chamber

3549

[Fixie]

my turbo snail eat the algae in uas..
let it or move it back to MT?

[SantaMonica]

Try to put a block around the UAS.

[Fixie]

what kind of block?
turbo snail also can walk out of the water sometimes

[SantaMonica]

Anything you can put there.

Or just put the screen very near the glass.

[Fixie]

hi all
previously my uas getting better day by day,
until about 1 week ago.
when i want to clean up my uas,there's no algae on that! they all die:(

then i check all supporting components of my uas
and I found my aerator pump is damaged


so i replaced it with a new one.
the new one produce more bubbles than before.

my " plastic shield" (to block bubble splash out and cause salt creep) cant hold the bubble anymore.

so i decide to make a new shield from former mineral water bottle.

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p499/gugukmeong2/2013-04-03214759_zps2ce5449c.jpg


Can I put it like that?
is the shield should be placed exactly in the surface of the water, or can as I put it now(slightly above the surface of the water)?

please help me solve this.

sorry if my English is not good, or sounds weird
if you are not clear with my words, tell me. I will make it clearer

[SantaMonica]

You can put it wherever it work best :)

[Fixie]

Even though I've put it in the best, still current evaporation is greater than when I was not using the aerator pump.

Is it normal?

[Floyd R Turbo]

I would think this is normal, yes.

[SantaMonica]

You will not be able to reduce evaporation.

[Fixie]

ok.

so the "shield" is only to avoid splashes?

[SantaMonica]

Yes.

[alum]

hmmm, ini capa yaa... ?

keknya kenal nih.... :p