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karlhh
01-06-2010, 02:10 PM
I've been reading allot about algae scrubbers and was wondering about the general rule of one square inch of mesh both sides per gallon of water. I have a 220 gallon saltwater tank with very limited space under it. The biggest size sump I could fit through the doors was a 20gal long in which I can run with only 4 inches of water so when we have a power outage the sump fills to the rim but dose not over flow. Over half of that is taking up with bio balls. what im getting at is I only have room in the sump for a screen 7 inches wide and 27 inches long and maybe only lighting on one side. living in the tank tank is just one fish but its a 43 inch Tessalata eel which I had for about 16 years now. I'm using Mardel 5 in 1 test strips and Nitrates read over 200 ppm my last water change was about 4 months ago and was only 60 gallons I have no efficient way to do more and larger water changes and looking for other alternative to lower nutrients. I did research on vodka dosing but seemed to risky.dose anybody think I will benefit with a scrubber this size with just a eel??

SantaMonica
01-06-2010, 04:04 PM
A scrubber can indeed replace your waterchanges, and bring your nitrate and glass-cleaning way down. And a wide-but-not-tall size is actually better for filtering, because you flow a lot of water through a 27 inch pipe (1000 gph or so). But as you've probably figured, your screen would only be 189 square inches, which would be good two-sided, but marginal if one-sided. So, you either need a high-power scrubber in a small space, or you need to use a regular scrubber external to the stand.

Main question: Can you run 400 watts of lighting?

karlhh
01-07-2010, 02:04 PM
What consists of a high-power scrubber? To get more room I can get rid of the bio balls which take up 3/4 of the sump but afraid of the tank crashing. I have a 4 inch crushed coral bed with only about 50# live rock. The light I have in mind where I can get locally is Bright Effects daylight 90 W but it only uses 26W 6500k 1200 lumens. Maybe two on each side. The pump I have is a Rio 3100 (750 gph). To run a remote scrubber away from the tank the wife would not go for as she is a neat freak unless I pipe it in the garage about 40 foot away.

SantaMonica
01-07-2010, 02:36 PM
Rephrase: Can you afford to run 400watts of electricity? 200watts?

Also, how much vertical space is there between the top of the sump, and whatever is above it?

karlhh
01-07-2010, 02:50 PM
Yes 400 watts with been on for say 18 hours a day for 30 days should be around an extra 25$ a month. That I can afford. The space I have from the water line in the sump to the top is 30 inches and 11 inches wide.

SantaMonica
01-07-2010, 06:06 PM
No... the space from the top of the sump, up.

karlhh
01-08-2010, 04:38 AM
21 inches from the top of sump.

SantaMonica
01-08-2010, 03:05 PM
And how much room front-to-back, is there in the cabinet once you close the doors?

karlhh
01-08-2010, 05:52 PM
22 inches back to front.

SantaMonica
01-09-2010, 12:57 PM
Pics of the sump please

karlhh
01-09-2010, 06:09 PM
Here's a few pics. of my sump. Notice the scrubber I put in just for a test. It sits in the end of my 20gal. long sump the screen is only 7 inches wide and 28 inches high. The light im using is one I previously mentioned and 4 inches away. This is just to see if algae starts growing.I know I need more surface area but as you see in the pics. There is a divider separating the pumps from the sump which in the sump area its all water proofed and saved my floor many times.The total area that the sumps in without the sump (20gal long) is 46 inches long,22 inches deep and 33 inches high. I can send more pictures if you like Thanks for your help....

SantaMonica
01-10-2010, 11:50 AM
Ok, well since you put a screen up already, play with it for a while to have a little fun. Did you rough up the screen?

That setup, even if working at it's best, will not do the filtering you want, however. So after you get a feel for it, start planning on a real one.

What is your goal with a scrubber?

Also, have you considered removing the crushed coral? It is responsible for a lot of the excess nitrate. Also, hopefully you are filtering before the bio balls, so they don't collect things on them.

karlhh
01-10-2010, 12:20 PM
Yes I rough it up with a hole saw. What do you think about the light im using its the Bright Effects daylight 90 W but it only uses 26W 6500k 1200 lumens do you think its enough? I do have a pre filter for the bio balls. No I have not considered removing the crushed coral because my understanding a (4")deep bed helps. I maybe wrong. My mane goal with a scrubber is to reduce nitrates even if not to zero I think any size scrubber will help. I defently would go full scale with this but do you think removing the bioballs is a bad thing? Then I would have room. Thanks

SantaMonica
01-11-2010, 10:58 AM
The light you have now is not enough to do anything. You be having to clean weekly, but not getting any filtering.

CC does do nitrifying, true, but it collects waste in the cracks. The BB also nitrifys, but at least you can pre-filter it. I'd keep the BB (maybe add more) and the pre-filter, get rid of the CC, and start working on a real scrubber which would sit OVER the sump.

kcress
01-12-2010, 03:36 AM
You want 2700k not 6500k..

karlhh
01-12-2010, 04:42 PM
I seen at lowes today a 26w 2700k but is said soft white dose that matter?

kcress
01-12-2010, 11:05 PM
No. Soft White is 2700K.

karlhh
01-13-2010, 02:04 PM
Thanks I will give it a try.

karlhh
01-19-2010, 01:52 PM
Ok here it is after a week with the 2700k soft white bulb. It grow much faster. I went ahead and cleaned it in the sink with just my fingers. But one thing I did that nobody mentioned here after cleaning I rinsed it with my RO water That I use for make up. Is this necessary? Thanks

SantaMonica
01-19-2010, 04:51 PM
RO not needed.