Henks new scrubber

[Henkie]

So I tried a very simply designed and ugly looking one on my previous tank for two weeks before I sold the tank and I am so happy with its performance I will be adding one to my new tank again!

So I need some advice to make it even better!

I have been reading about the new size guidelines etc. and decided to go with a 15 x 15 cm screen ( 6 x 6 inch ).

Lighting will be one warm white 18watt energy saver globe.

Now I need some help with regards to the flow ''over'' the screen. How big a airpump do I need to use?

I want to make a small little perspex box to keep the light away from my skimmer and other part of the sump, should I use black or white?
Do I need to drill some holes in the sides of the box to help with flow?

I will most probably only start the build next week just want to get everything right before I start.

[Pulse]

Henk,

What kind of scrubber are you going to build, waterfall or UAS? Either way you will want to light the screen from both sides. If you are building a waterfall scrubber with air injection (please do!) Then I would suggest either no air pump or the smallest one you can find if your water pump is not strong enough to draw air in.

SM probably won't like me to say this but I have not seen a lot of success with UAS, I would go waterfall to be safe.

This is by no means mainstream but I find that ABS or HIPS is easier to work than acrylic and cheaper, and totally opaque. If you are more comfortable with perspex (acrylic) that works great also, I don't think the color will make a huge difference.

[Henkie]

I have been doing a lot of reading and I unfortuantly don't have space for a waterfall scrubber in my sump.
That is the reason why I want to go with a UAS, I had some good growth on my previous one, but that was just a ''test'' if I may put it like that.

[SantaMonica]

White will help reflect more light to the screen. If you can make a "V" shape, bigger than the screen, it will reflect some light to the back side of the screen too.

Yes holes on the sides will help water flow, if the top and bottom are not open.

[Henkie]

I am going to keep the top open, but I will still drill holes in the sides.
I don't realy have the space for a ''V'' shaped box.

[SantaMonica]

If the top is under water, it will have plenty of water flow.

[Henkie]

Everything will be under water.

Will a 4l/h airpump be strong enough and give the correct amount of air flow ''over'' the screen?

[SantaMonica]

0.012 cfm of air per inch of width of screen.

0.005 cfm of air per cm of width of screen.

0.33 lpm of air per inch of width of screen.

0.13 lpm of air per cm of width of screen.

[Henkie]

Thanks, missed these during my research

[Henkie]

What will happen when you have to much flow over the screen?

[SantaMonica]

Nothing.

[Henkie]

Thanks

[Henkie]

So it has been a couple of weeks since I asked for help wrt the upflow scrubber and here is mine:

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/henkie_boemboem/e54a34f11bca711758adbba357e96fcc_zpsaf574f9c.jpg

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/henkie_boemboem/DSC00129_zps5363e774.jpg

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/henkie_boemboem/b676d25f208be8936908527611031b15_zpse4ad93fb.jpg

I will post pics as the grow etc starts.

[Floyd R Turbo]

your screen is no where close to rough enough. You need to scratch that thing up so that it is unrecognizable if you're going to use that material - it must be super scratched up and prickly. No smooth spots left at all.

[Henkie]

Thanks man, I will rough it up even more

[SantaMonica]

Don't use that material. Find some canvas.

[Henkie]

I have been looking for canvas for 2 weeks and I cant find. I will keep on looking tho

[Floyd R Turbo]

ebay. Darice #7 mesh, clear. standard or extra stiff is fine. Since you will probably have to pay international shipping, buy a few extra sheets so you can screw up and not have to worry

[Henkie]

Will order some today

[Henkie]

I got the right material for the screen 4 weeks ago.
This is the growth after 3 weeks.

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/henkie_boemboem/IMG-20130305-WA0001_zps46a359b3.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Seems like could use some more light.

[Henkie]

Thanks, I will get a stronger bulb

[Henkie]

Okay, so I increased the amount of lighting on the scrubber and it looked liked this a couple of weeks ago... (I don't have a more recent pic)
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/henkie_boemboem/DSC_0034_zpsa97bd726.jpg (http://s1151.photobucket.com/user/henkie_boemboem/media/DSC_0034_zpsa97bd726.jpg.html)

I want to change my lights to leds...

I was thinking of using 9 x 1watt leds... 6 warm whites and 3 reds... Is this overkill? Or can I use less?

[SantaMonica]

This looks good.

[Henkie]

thanks! And with regards to lighting? is 9 leds overkill?

[SantaMonica]

Not if it is not yellow growth.