my new tank, and scrubber lay down in sump. and Question.

[Dan_Cochran]

Hello all, Ive been to this site many times, and was looking up scrubbers for about the last 6 months, on my new tank build 40g I decided just to go ahead and build the scrubber in the sump 29gallon.
The tank has been up and running a few months now, and everything has been going good, my coral has been doing better then ever, in this tank.
N and P are not at 0zero, but low enulf not to cause issues.

http://dancochran.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSCF3580-300x224.jpg

http://dancochran.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSCF3581-300x224.jpg

http://dancochran.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSCF3582-300x224.jpg

Reasons I went with the lay down, was to get more water in the sump, and I was low on room.

the bulb I found at super wallmart for $10 it's 40+ watt but output eql to 150 watt, I think it's somthing like 2500k.
At the bottom of the screen I cut a chunk of egg crate so I could lay a chunk ok a old filter sock down, it also helps hold a little water at the bottom of the screen.

I did use a hole saw to rough up the screen but Ive been having issues when cleaning, so today I used a hole saw blade again but to clean the screen, I did it Softly and some green did hold on nice.

My main question is, Should I stich 2 screen's together with fishin line to lay in there so it gets a better hold ?

[SantaMonica]

No, just one layer of roughed up plastic canvas.

Nice bulb and reflector.

[Dan_Cochran]

its a little to nice of bulb, I was getting yellow, so I had to move it back. screen is still a mix of color, not as much yellow, little bright green, dark green, and did have brown, but as soon as I wash the brown is gone.

[Dan_Cochran]

That plastic canvas stuff Im using is very flexible, any tips where I could stifin it up ? I would get better flow.

[SantaMonica]

As it fills in with growth, it will lay down better. You might try attaching an acrylic rod to it lengthwise.

[Dan_Cochran]

" You might try attaching an acrylic rod to it lengthwise."

do you mean, from the Top of the Screen to the Bottom, on Both sides or just center?

I have some Thin scrap sheets of acrylic that I could cut into Tiny strips im place of rod.


One thing I have been woundering SantaMonica,
is would you know of a Link or somthing, to a series of good Picture's to give a Idea of the stage of growth I might be at ?
and
My screen has many spots of Dark green and light green "almost yellow" but every time I wash it, I get a purple slime hair stuff off it, and then the screen looks more of a yellow bright green hair with dark green hair, but I still see alot of spots of white on the screen still. , Could my screen be a little big?
My tank is a 40g with all the rock and 2-3" sand bed, and my sump is a 29g but only about half of it 15g is water level, I would guess maby 40g total water. The screen is one side 13.5 inch x 10.5 inch.

[SantaMonica]

I'm working on a series of pics, but nothing yet. So just post yours.

Top to bottom acrylic rod.

[Dan_Cochran]

q"I'm working on a series of pics, but nothing yet"

That definitely would be a good guideline to get a idea of what stage a screen would be at.

The only problem I could see about it would be what kind of lighting the screen had when the pictures were taken. I have found over time every brand of bulb no mater if two bulbs says 2,700k each on can give a diffrent color of light and make the algae look diffrent in the picture.
But I guess who ever looks at the picture would get a good idea of the stage they are at as long as they knew there could be a small color change to the picture due to just the diffrent brands and temp of bulbs used and how cameras change the look of color just that little amount.


Me Id love to figure out how to take a good picture of my Tank that would capture all the vivid color like my eye's do looking at it in person. :)

Thanks For The Idea's on the acrylic ! :D

[steve hwang]

Hey, I have one question for you.
What do you use as the foundation for the roughed up plastic canvas?

Thanks,
Steve