The new Upflow Algae Scrubber (UAS)

[SWhite]

Also, advice for those using a slit pipe like mine, simply sawing a straight slit didn't work well for double sided. I ended up drilling a series of holes the length of the slit to make scalloped edges. That way even if the screen leans against one side or another the the high points between circles will keep the screen from blocking the bubble flow.

[jwoyshnar]

Here is what I just scraped off my mesh. 7 days worth

[SantaMonica]

Let's get your build pics up on a thread...

[jacob.morgan78]

So, looking for a place to start for my UAS. I have a system that's about 125g and I feed around two cubes a day. Seems like there's a big difference between the old and new sizing guidelines. Should my screen be 11x11 or 5x5 or something different? Also, what abut light? It's going to be two sided.

Thanks for any guidance you can offer.

[SantaMonica]

An example screen size is 3 X 4 inches = 12 square inches of screen (7.5 X 10 cm = 75 sq cm) with a total of 12 real watts (not equivalent) of fluorescent light for 18 hours a day. If all 12 watts are on one side, it is a 1-sided screen. If 6 watts are on each side, it is a 2-sided screen, but the total is still 12 watts for 18 hours a day. This screen size and wattage should be able to handle the following amounts of daily feeding:

1 frozen cube per day (2-sided screen), or
1/2 frozen cube per day (1-sided screen), or
10 pinches of flake food per day (2-sided screen), or
5 pinches of flake food per day (1-sided screen), or
10 square inches (60 sq cm) of nori per day (2-sided screen), or
5 square inches (30 sq cm) of nori per day (1-sided screen), or
0.1 dry ounce (2.8 grams) of pellet food per day (2-sided screen), or
0.05 dry ounce (1.4 grams) of pellet food per day (1-sided screen)


For LEDs use half as many watts.

[jacob.morgan78]

I've seen this.

Does this mean 12 sq in per cube? So 6x4 or ~5x5 would work for me with 12 watts on each side. Please confirm this for me. Thanks.

[SantaMonica]

Yes 12 per cube.

[jacob.morgan78]

Would 12 watts of floodlight CFL for each side of the screen be sufficient?

Thanks again!

edit: also, The angle of the light may not be at a right angle to my screen due to space restrictions. They may be pointing downward at an angle towards my screen. Would this make a significant impact on my scrubber? Should I change the wattage or anything else? Should I rearrange everything to make sure to get the best angle of lighting?

Thanks once again.

[SantaMonica]

2 cubes would need 24 watts if all the light were used. But you'll be losing half with the distance and the angle. So I'd double it.

[Jbroadway]

Hi I'm in the process of making on of these but want to make the unit sealed but I can't find anywhere which says any amount of flow or if there's a to much flow? Can anyone help