+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 8 12345678 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 72

Thread: DIY in tank waterfall scrubber

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    96

    DIY in tank waterfall scrubber

    I didn't feel like typing it all out so I made a video.



  2. #2
    Administrator
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    Posts
    10,565
    Nice and easy filter cleaning coming up for you

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    96
    Up and running.
    Click image for larger version

Name:	rsz_sam_0436.jpg
Views:	860
Size:	92.5 KB
ID:	6457Click image for larger version

Name:	rsz_sam_0437.jpg
Views:	847
Size:	91.0 KB
ID:	6458

  4. #4
    Administrator
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    Posts
    10,565
    Love back walls that are covered.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    96
    The color comes out better on the camera in white light.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	rsz_sam_0438.jpg
Views:	739
Size:	88.8 KB
ID:	6462Click image for larger version

Name:	rsz_sam_0439.jpg
Views:	743
Size:	90.2 KB
ID:	6463

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    96
    I converted my tank to salt about 3 weeks ago. I have 3 ~2" chromis in a 20 gallon tank. I could use a little help with an algae diagnosis. There is some green algae growing, but its covered in a yellow and/or white crust. It seems an awful lot like lime scale you might find inside an old shower head. Any thoughts?

    Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0442.jpg
Views:	800
Size:	95.8 KB
ID:	6478
    Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0444.jpg
Views:	708
Size:	87.8 KB
ID:	6479

  7. #7
    Administrator
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    Posts
    10,565
    Looks pretty good.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    96
    I'm at a loss. My scrubber was working really well in fresh water. The only thing I've change is adding salt, and different fish. A month ago, other than having a lot of white in color, the algae was growing and spreading. Now with the same setup it is shrinking and dying. I thought maybe there were no nitrates and phosphates to feed the algae, but my nitrates are really high. (I don't test for phosphates, the what shade of blue guessing game isn't accurate anyway.) I did a 50% water change, and 24 hours later the nitrates were high again. I tried reducing the led lighting, both the intensity and the duration with no effect. I then thought maybe there wasn't enough oxygen getting to the screen, so I added another piece of knitting canvas folded in half to break up the water flow. I even added my old upflow algae scrubber that has no life in it after a week.

    If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.
    (About a 10 days ago I added the chaetomorpha to try and help my tank. It hasn't really grown any either.)

    Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0463.jpg
Views:	709
Size:	90.6 KB
ID:	6486

    I have a couple spots of this brown algae growing on my rocks if that helps the diagnosis any.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0467.jpg
Views:	668
Size:	97.6 KB
ID:	6487

  9. #9
    Administrator
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    Posts
    10,565
    Looks like basic high-nutrient dark growth. Brush the screen, do 22 hours of light. Strong bulbs would help.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    96
    After 2 months my waterfall scrubber isn't working. Brown algae is all over the main display tank and the green algae on the screen all but disappeared. It was working really well when set up in fresh water. I'm not sure why salt water doesn't work with the same conditions. Running the led's at 100% power seemed to work the best, so I'm going with more power!

    Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0494.jpg
Views:	657
Size:	91.7 KB
ID:	6563

    I removed the entire integrated filter and made it a little taller and wider. I then put into a 40 gallon breeder tank. I scratched up the old tank quiet a bit building the background in the tank. Lesson learned there, and petco had the $1 per gallon sale. $40 for a bigger tank, or $120 for new glass on the old smaller tank... The old tank will make a good sump some day.

    Instead of placing the leds in the tank and trying to water proof them, I placed them outside the tank. I had a scrap piece of 7" channel aluminum I cut the sides off to use as a heat sink. I now have 10 3 watt red leds on two circuits I can dim or turn on/off separately.

    Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0484.jpg
Views:	894
Size:	86.3 KB
ID:	6564Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0486.jpg
Views:	748
Size:	85.7 KB
ID:	6565Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0487.jpg
Views:	762
Size:	87.6 KB
ID:	6566Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0491.jpg
Views:	698
Size:	87.9 KB
ID:	6567Click image for larger version

Name:	SAM_0493.jpg
Views:	686
Size:	79.0 KB
ID:	6568

    Redesign day 1.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 8 12345678 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts