My in-sump design (opinions are welcome)

[juanitierno]

Hello!

Im Juan froma rgentina.

Ive tried building a couple scrubbers in the past, with mixed results, problems generally being pipe-clogging, screen too flimsy (could not find a proper screen here) and spontaneous in-every-direction splashing.

I would like to try again, so ive made an attempt at designing an in-sump version, with focus on solving the problems ive had in the past.

My main concerns where:
1) Ease to clean: I wanted easily removable algae-media. I also want it to be easy to clean and not flimsy (ill be using rigid sheets of (probably black) acrylic, well sanded.
2) No clogging: I went for an even and gentle waterfall approach.
3) No disassembly required for cleaning (media should be easily removable where it is, even with the device working).

This is what i came up with, and i would appreciate any opinions and comments, before i build the thing.

(wall removed for visibility purposes, it will not be removable)


(Its an U shaped glass box, the U contains water that should gently flow over the media, while the inner compartment is open-bottom so water can return to the sump noiselessly)


Here is how it should go in the sump... a pump will fill the outer compartment wich should overflow over the media.
It hangs on the sumps rim, and the bottom is slightly submerged.


My main concern with the design so far is that when i cut the power the water in the sump raises its level and will flood the lights. I will be using PL-L style bulbs with the electric part above water level, but im worried the temperature differential may break the bulbs, and i would rather not encase them in yet another glassbox (its starting to look like a mamushka).

Anyways, opinions and advice are very welcome!

Thank you!

[SantaMonica]

The bulbs cannot be down in the sump. They have to be high enough so that the water cannot rise and reach them.

[rygh]

Well, you can put bulbs in the sump, if you build a waterproof enclosure around them.

[juanitierno]

yeah, that is what i meant with yet-another-glassbox.

Ill see if i can mod the design to avoid it, otherwise ill have no choice but to build them an enclosure.

The rest of the design seems fime?

Thank you!

[juanitierno]

Ok... redesigned it a bit so the lights would not play submarine with my fish in case i cut power to the pumps.

Gave an angle to the algae media hoping illuminating it from above with one or perhaps 2 floodlights would be enough... what do you think?





Thanks!

[SantaMonica]

When you illuminate from the top instead of from in front of the screens, you loose a lot of the power of the light. Just like the sun feels less strong at sunset compared to noon (it's the same distance away, however).

You'd have better results by dropping the light down between the screens, and set up your plumbing so that the water will never reach it.

[juanitierno]

Like this?



I do understand the previous design was better as it gave more even light across the whole screens, but the glass box for the bulbs would take some efficiency from it, and make the model more complex.

Thanks!

[rygh]

Suggestion: Go truly vertical.
I have done a near-vertical, and it worked OK, but it really appears that the true verticals are more efficient.
Key is that it really lets the algae grow out from the screen, 3 dimensionally.
The best systems I have read on this site all seem to be truly vertical.