In the beginning

[sklywag]

My first build thread. After deciding on this, then that, and then something else. I'm going flat. Horizontal that is. I see Worley runs his at a 30 degree angle so I'm shooting for that. 20 degrees would be better for me but I have no idea what i'm doing so we'll see. I was going to go with Algenators Victory scrubber in a new sump tank but could'nt figure out a good running depth for my submersible pump. Could'nt get around thinking my ATO would be coming on in maybe one day then constant on/off until it ran dry.

It's being built out of acrylic. 24" long 10"wide giving me 240sq. inches and is going to be fed from my overflow with a 600+gph flow rate.

This is my current sump configuration. Skimmer has been out for a couple of weeks now to push the build. Everything in my display seems to be booming since the removal. I'm excited about this. The plan is to slant it right to left above the refugium and at an angle.
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... -09007.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=10-19-09007.jpg)
Day one:
Bought acrylic. 24x20x1/4. Scored and broke fairly easy. Roughed up surface as good as I could. Maybe adding something to it in future. Rounded exposed corners for my safety. And temporarily put together with Super Glue gel. Will pick up proper acrylic cement tomorrow hopefully. From what I've seen it just runs down the corners to do its job.

So here's pictures of todays progress. Sorry I don't know how to post pictures without it being thumbnails or links. Any and all feedback appreciated.
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild002.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild002.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild003.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild003.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild004.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild004.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild005.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild005.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild007.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild007.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild008.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild008.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ild009.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=thebuild009.jpg)

I was thinking of using this light because I own it already. It measures 15" long 4" wide. But may just go get another reflector and 13W CFL.
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ing002.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=Jalilighting002.jpg)

[rygh]

Two concerns:
1) Simple scratched up acrylic is not a good screen. From personal experience, and a lot of other people's posts.
Read up on mesh, and how to super-roughen it.
(Maybe that was in your plan already. I was just looking at the pics)
2) You might have trouble getting warm white bulbs for that light.
Check before buying.

[sklywag]

Hey Ry. Yeah I'm already convinced about adding mesh even before water has touched it. When you say warm. Do you mean the spectrum? The bulbs in that fixture are 27 watts each and are 6400k. I like I already own it, but not on the dual ballasts it has.

[ocean rock]

hi m8 like your tank allot , vertical screens are better than horizontal just my opinion , ryhg is right you want a really roughed up screen , also iam running 4 25w cfl bulbs on a 15 in wide screen there's 100w on each side and there 2700k with this lighting iam getting green algae , believe me ive tried every thing else lol

[rygh]

Yes, spectrum of 6400k could be a problem.
Definitely look into replacing those.

[sklywag]

Okay. Here it is in place. Not complete but in place. Did the trial of what it would be like to remove for cleaning, and I have it out in less than a minute by removing the T configuration and then lifting it out. Quiet. Did I say quiet? It's no louder than one of those table top fountain deals. And a whole lot quieter than my skimmer ever was. Zero splash.
I was wondering if putting a thin layer of grout on it would be good instead of the hook rug stuff. It would be pourous for the algae to get a good foot hold on. Need lights now.
So. The pictures.
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber003.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber003.jpg)
Good angle? 600+gph going down it.
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber007.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber007.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber008.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber008.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber010.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber010.jpg)
Sweet legs.
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber013.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber013.jpg)

[ocean rock]

why not lay some plastic canvas in it then you just need to remove that for cleaning ?

[SantaMonica]

Yes canvas will be needed, of course, and it would be removed for weekly cleaning, but I the whole box may still need to be removed for periodic complete-cleanings. The flow looks great. The chaeto will need to go, of course.

[ocean rock]

i would cut the legs on a slight angle and glue them to the bottom of the tray it will help strengthen it all up , looking good though
have you decided on lighting

[sklywag]

Lighting. I stopped at HD today and the spot lights I see they have(CFL) were 23 watt(90 watt equiv) and only 1200 Lumens. So I bought 27watt(100 watt equiv) 1750 Lumens and another reflector. Didn't see any of the recommended 3000k bulbs. Another thing. Do these count as the 1 watt per gallon? Giving me have 2 watts per gallon. Or do I need four bulbs making actual 100 watts(400 watt equiv)?
Will be in garage roughing up screen.
The Chaeto has to go? Is that because it will compete with the ATS? I was hoping to have the double whammy on Nutrient export and a place for pods to mature. But if it must go I guess it must go. Should I wait until growth starts on the ATS before removal?

[Aquagold]

If the Cheato is after the ATS then he shouldn't have any problems or is known that Cheato chemically affects the growth of our ATS screens?

We don't have Cheato allowed in New Zealand so isn't an issue here but would be interesting to hear others reports.

All nutrient export leads to feeding more so that our pets get to grow more :D

[SantaMonica]

It's 27 watts per bulb. So 4 X 27.

The chaeto will be shaded and will die. You can take it out now if you want.

[sklywag]

New Zealand! Seen pictures. Nice.
Wow! So that'll be comparable to 400 watts incandescent. Crazy. I only have 324 watts of T5 over my display.
I have my lights set for 19 hours a day. Off at 11am til 4pm. Hottest part of the day and to have some of the reverse photo period to balance the PH.
10:30, bedtime.

[ocean rock]

hi sklywag
it does seem like a lot of light i have 300 w in my sump at the moment equivalent to 1200w as the algae gets greener i might try removing a bulb or too , then again i might not . i do not run anything else only the return pump and a m/h light and heater ,

[sklywag]

Made a holder and added two more bulbs. I am pretty impressed with my work if I may say so. I found these sockets that are rubber encased and when the bulb is screwed in, it actually forms a snug seal around it. These bulbs are the 23 watt models but are said to be equivelent to 100 watt incadescent. Notice the different hue to the light.
I will be designing a reflector for them soon. When starting a scrubber, should the lights be on more than the 17/18 hours when once matured to get it going?
How is my distance? Thanks for the input?
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber001.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber001.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber002.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber002.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... r003-1.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber003-1.jpg)
http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... ber004.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=scrubber004.jpg)

[SantaMonica]

Those two are too close. Pull them back to 4" and put reflectors on them. Keep it at 18 hours.

[ocean rock]

hi mate
as SM says pull the lights back a bit , iam a bit worried you wont get the light at the bottom of the screen , and add some good reflectors someone on here put a post up with a walk through on how to use a coke can as a reflector, must admit though looking good , lights want to be 6 hr off 18 hrs on clean ever 7 days religiously , even it you only run it under the cold tap and gently brush your hands over it , it will remove the pods and help with green growth ,

[rygh]

I would recommend covering the entire ATS, about 3" above screen, with thin 1/8 clear acrylic.
So basically the area with sump + water + screen is almost enclosed in a box. With lights above and outside the box.
Does not have to be even close to air-tight though. Really shouldn't be.
In fact, you could put a few 3" legs on a piece of acrylic, and just have it setting on the screens. Table like.
Fairly tight around pipes coming in.
Seals it up, to prevent tons of evaporation, and get rid of splashing issues. Might even reduce noise.
Also, protects those lights. They do no appear to be outdoor rated, and look rather scary-unprotected.

Also, the screen itself might be suspect. But not enough knowledge in that area.

[sklywag]

I thought the lights had to be within a couple of inches of the screen?
That far end isn't as dark as it looks. I did slide them down a bit to give me about 4" space between them and the screen. Have ideas about a reflector in the works.

Absolute zero splash. But I have 1/8" acrylic I did think about placing on top of the scubber itself for evaporation issues. This thing is quiet which I love.

The screen that I'm using Is some plastic mesh used for wrapping cable in splice cases. I just got done roughing up another piece and doubling up on it.

Had/have some algae (thick hair type)growing on the inside of my overflow box (thought about turning that into a scrubber)and I applied a little to the screen.

Loving the feedback. Need to get this on the right track. Thanks guys.

[sklywag]

Here's the update of my scrubber. Been a while to get this amount of growth. The dark stuff is where the water exits the overflow. If you look back in the post. You'll see my light layout and can see the growth pattern from it. Even though the difference in color. That algae mat was real even all the way down. And yes, I did switch to plastic canvas.
Click images to make bigger. With flash.
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/th_fairandscrubber016.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=fairandscrubber016.jpg)
Without flash.
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/th_fairandscrubber017.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=fairandscrubber017.jpg)
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/th_fairandscrubber018.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=fairandscrubber018.jpg)
Is this too clean? And there were tones of pods on this thing. Could that have also been my problem?
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/th_fairandscrubber019.jpg (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/ddinox64/?action=view&current=fairandscrubber019.jpg)

[SantaMonica]

Is good for 5 day growth, and ok for 7 day growth. You can see the two spots in the middle where the algae let go and peeled off, probably from being there for more than 7 days. And of course you can see where the best growth is where the water hits the screen, i.e., the most flow/turbulence. That's why you want the screen tilted as much as possible.

[sklywag]

Cool. Sounds like I'm on track. Have some reworking to do.