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Thread: Ruddy's 3rd scrubber

  1. #1
    ruddybop's Avatar
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    Ruddy's 3rd scrubber

    So I made my scrubber for my other two tanks and still needed to make one for my 55G. I cut all the 1/8" plexi in my table saw and glued it together with Weld On 16. Drilled .012 holes in a 1/4" OD black water line 3/16" apart and made a light guard for the bubbler. I also drilled holes across the bottom piece so the water can flow through the unit. I did not use a screen for this one, but I did rough up the plexi for algae to grow on. the whole unit just slides up and off of the suction cups. It's been two days and the algae is growing in the scratches that I made. Not noticeable in the pics. I didn't paint it so I could watch the progress, but I will paint it later.

    The temporary one I had in there I left open for the pleco to munch on and he cleaned it off...

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  2. #2
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    Bubbles are good, but you'll be very unhappy without screen for the algae to attach to. It will never get thick.

  3. #3
    kerry's Avatar
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    You really need to use a screen as SM says.
    150G. Reef/Mix
    125G. 3 Regular Oscars/1 Jack Dempsey
    75G. 20+ Africans
    40G. Fish/Reef. Algae Scrubbers on ALL my SW
    10G. SW Fish/Reef.
    10G. SW Hospital/new fish quarantine/pod breeder tank
    6 stage RO/DI system 200 GPD.

  4. #4
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    This experiment has been running for one month... I have cleaned it once full cleaning...
    I have brown algae growing and green so far. The brown algae is about an inch long and the green ranges from 2 to 9 inches.
    I have some more ideas up my sleeve to try...

    This is the no screen algae scrubber running...
    Notice the air bubbles that get trapped behind it...

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    And here are some of the pics of the inside...

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    The glass on the tank

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    This is very similar to how my big scrubber in my 220G started out.

    So far the green algae is growing great, but I want it to be more full.

    When I had a test scrubber in the tank I had holes on the side for water inlet. The air bubbles caused the water to get pulled through the holes and algae grew better around the holes and the existing erea.

    I may drill some 1/4 inch holes evenly spaced on the side of this unit ( like you would drill a drip tray) to see if it will help growth....

    Oops... I forgot to post the Harvest

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  5. #5
    ruddybop's Avatar
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    Ok so I drilled my holes evenly spaced on the side of this unit... Oops I used a regular drill and broke it...lol.. So after I got done drilling the holes with a flat bottom drill on top of a piece of wood I glued it back together with some Weld-On 16. I have more plexi and this is just a test model now... Will have to make another one later... And the test continues....

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  6. #6
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    So I have drilled holes in the side of this unit just messing around and I came to a weird conclusion. I have a piece of black plastic I put in front of the scrubber so it doesn't blind me when I'm sitting in front of it.
    (The 55G is right next to my computer)

    The plastic piece is about 3/4 inches away from the scrubber. That way I can move it and see the progress.

    Day zero... Cleaned the scrubber and drilled holes in the front of it.

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    Day Four starting to see some slime on the plexi.

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    Day 5 Algae growing the best around the holes I drilled.

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    Day 5 I remove the black plastic piece and the pleco cleans off the algae on the outside of the scrubber... What?? It's growing better on the outside where the holes are.

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    So why has the growth accelerated on the outside rather than the inside?

    Are the bubbles slowing the process of growth when rubbing on the algae?

    Seems the bubbles going up the plexi are drawing water in through those holes promoting algae growth on the outside of the scrubber by the holes....

    I'll still let it go for a while and see what happens. Meanwhile the pleco is having fun....

    Ugh ... Questions Questions......

  7. #7
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    If there is no canvas, the rapid bubbles will detach any gha that tries to grow.

  8. #8
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    I was using plexi for my one sided waterfall initially for 9 month or so. Later exchanged it to canvas per SM recommendation. No improvement was noticed. Nor in growth or detaching (holding).

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by kotlec View Post
    I was using plexi for my one sided waterfall initially for 9 month or so. Later exchanged it to canvas per SM recommendation. No improvement was noticed. Nor in growth or detaching (holding).
    I have been down the plexiglas route, didn't work for me.

  10. #10
    kerry's Avatar
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    Same here, Plexiglas was a turd!!!
    150G. Reef/Mix
    125G. 3 Regular Oscars/1 Jack Dempsey
    75G. 20+ Africans
    40G. Fish/Reef. Algae Scrubbers on ALL my SW
    10G. SW Fish/Reef.
    10G. SW Hospital/new fish quarantine/pod breeder tank
    6 stage RO/DI system 200 GPD.

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