New DIY scrubber from the UK

[Michaelb]

Built my scrubber 1 week ago today. I have it lit over night so about 9 hours per day. Reverse of my tank lights.

This is immediately after I built it and turned it on

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/mbennett2011/image-55.jpg

This is the scrubber and growth after 1 week. What do you think? I could do with reflectors but I'm struggling to find some that fit as sump is very small

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/mbennett2011/image-54.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/mbennett2011/image-53.jpg

It is lit from both sides, its just hard to see from pics and bulbs are less than 2" away from screen. Screen is probably a little large for what I feed really, 2 cubes per week and a pinch of flake per day.

[Devs]

Do you mean 2 cubes per day ?



It is lit from both sides, its just hard to see from pics and bulbs are less than 2" away from screen. Screen is probably a little large for what I feed really, 2 cubes per week and a pinch of flake per day.

[Michaelb]

Nope. 2 cubes per week and a pinch of flake per day

[SantaMonica]

Welcome.

Use aluminum foil for now. Just stretch it over the top.

[Michaelb]

Will do, never thought of that. How does it look?

[Andy_cy]

Nice and simple set up. Just worried about the open concept of your light fixtures. Judging by the tank walls, there's probably a high chance that water is gonna splash up to the light fixtures. Just worried about corrosion to your lights. Maybe draping a sheet of clear plastic over the PVC pipe, covering the screen may help. Then place the aluminium foil over the whole set up.

[SantaMonica]

Just put clear plastic food wrap over the pipe and screen, and aluminum foil over the pipe and lights.

[Michaelb]

I put a couple of foil trays over the lights as reflectors.

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/mbennett2011/image-56.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/mbennett2011/image-57.jpg

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/mbennett2011/image-58.jpg

[donkey]

get some mixing bowls

[Andy_cy]

Well, looks pretty good to me.

Most of the light seems to be channeled to the upper portion of the screen.
But since you said your bioload is low, I wouldn't be too worried about that.

It should start growing some greens in no time :)

[Andy_cy]

Btw, the setup still looks potentially an electrical hazard. Can already see water droplets on the metal casing of the bulbs.

When algae starts to grow thick, it may clog the pipe slot and cause water to squirt out onto the bulbs.
Better to cover it with clear plastic sheet before something bad happens.

[Michaelb]

Doing that tonight

[SantaMonica]

Could also seal the base of the bulbs with silicone.

[donkey]

Could also seal the base of the bulbs with silicone.


I think bike inner tubes would be better

[Michaelb]

I think bike inner tubes would be better

Just over the metal bits? Sounds a good idea

[donkey]

Just over the metal bits? Sounds a good idea



Have a look at my video here


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnmmvcsAJE8




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