So I have done a ton of reading and i now have a plan for my third attempt at an algae scrubber.
The first one was in 2004. A lot has changed since then....
The second one didnt last long because during the wet test it was too loud and I never completed the scrubber build for the tank.
This third version is being build from scratch and will be completed before the tank gets salted.
I have a 60 gallon cube that I am doing a ground up build on.
I dont know how much i'll be feeding as its not running but i want to plan on heavy bio load. The rest of the filtration is sock filter, skimmer, and GAC reactor with a Rio 3100 return pump.
I plan to tee off the overflow and run into an acrylic box then into the sump. This will be controlled with a ball valve to ensure appropriate flow.
The calculated GPH from the overflow is approximately 500 GPH. Well see what actual is.
I have planned on a 1.5 cube system that can be expanded to a 2 cube system as the system matures. The screen will be 4x4 with the option later down the road to go to a 4x6 screen. This means I only need 140 GPH flow for a 4 inch wide Scrubber.
I plan to light the screen with 4 luxeon 660 leds driven at 700ma. 2 on each side. I will use a diffuser in front of the leds to spread the light.
My last attempt was very loud but i was moving alot of water throught it. I had a Quietone 3000 running 100%through the scrubber with 3.5 feet of head. So around 500 GPH.
My Questions are:
Does that screen size seem right?
Is that an appropriate amount of flow?
Is there a way to judge flow as the system matures?
Is there enough light?
Is there any way to make these things quiet?
ill try to attach a pic of the scubber.
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