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Thread: Algae scrubber help please

  1. #1

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    Algae scrubber help please

    Hi I have a 3x2x2 tank and 15"x34"x10" sump. I currently have a 13"x6" screen.
    Firstly is this size correct? If not, what size do I need please?
    I am running cfl bulbs the 23w 27k and 2 on each side. I'm looking to switch to led and have been told to go to red LEDs as this is the only colour that produces a lot of algae with no yellow strips. Can anyone point me in the direction of buying the red LEDs please? Thank you

  2. #2
    kerry's Avatar
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    http://stores.ebay.com/ledtoplights. This is where I have gotten 660nm red and 445nm blue. Your screen size is huge. you only need 12 sq" per cube of food so 6x6 would do 3 cubes. Its hard to get a screen to big to even work (filter) properly. I use 6 LED's per side on my 6x6 screen, 4 660nm red and 2 445nm blue in the middle. I have two rows of LED per side RED BLUE RED, then the next row is the same.
    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.

  3. #3
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    Welcome from the UK,

    Sizing:
    http://algaescrubber.net/forums/show...ing-guidelines

    LED: Just use 3w 660nm LEDs, or get plant-grow lights:
    http://algaescrubber.net/forums/show...-led-grow-bulb

  4. #4

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    Thanks for your replies. Can I get these lights anywhere in the uk?

  5. #5
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    There is a UK supplier in the second link somewhere. But there are many places to get the lights on Ebay or elsewhere, just google plant-grow light.

  6. #6

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    Lovely thanks. What wattage do I need please

  7. #7
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    13 X 6 = 78 square inches = 78 total CFL watts minumum = 156 total CFL watts max = about 30 total LED watts minimum = about 60 LED watts max.

    Easiest is 2 LED 12w plant-grow spotslights on each side, for a total of 4 bulbs and 48 LED watts.

  8. #8

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    Thank you. Would you down size the screen to the 6x6 as Kerry said or keep the same size? Also when would you stop the skimmer? The scrubber has been running around 6 weeks

  9. #9
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    Well you said quiet was needed, so the lower the screen goes, the quieter is will be. But the only part that matters for sizing is the lighted part.

    You can stop the skimmer at any time if you don't mind the extra food particles floating around.

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