Lowest cost and easiest way to eliminate green hair, bubble, turf and slime algae

[DETANE]

I agree with Gumbii, "shut your lights off" It SAVES MONEY when your shut your lights off for a couple of days. And also, stop feeding so much!! Saves money on food and saves one water changes.

 

[wickedfish]

Zzzzz

 

[MadReef]

Santa Monica, can you post photos of your tank with no water changes for 4 years?

I'm not even close to sold on the idea of growing turf algae on a screen. First problem is have you ever seen what an airstone does in salt water?? Salt creep up the ying yang! Add to that the light grows algae other places than the screen.

Second, it has to be cleaned weekly to be effective. My fuge goesmonths without needing any attention while it grows algae. Dumping a skimmer cup every week is a lot less of a chore. IMO

Third, if you have a big tank you have to have a big screen; so the bigger the tank the more work, salt creep, and lights that you will have.

Sorry but this just isn't that great of a filter, the idea is there it's just not practical for more people.

 

[SantaMonica]

fit one in my middle chamber

Yes if you have no paint on the back panel.

stop feeding so much

Well the idea of a scrubber is to allow you to feed more, and not do water changes or use gfo etc. But yea I guess feeding less etc works too.

 

[wcreef]

Santa monica is like the king of these algae scrubbers. I think he even has a forum dedicated to this concept. I may be mistaken but im prett sure he knows what hes talking about when it comes to the scrubbers.

Quick question what are you guys using for the rod on the bottom where you are mounting the screen?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[SantaMonica]

I think they used some acrylic rod. Although the bubble wands come with weights, and the airstones are heavy too.

 

[wcreef]

What did you guys use to rough up your screen? I just bought the craft screen from Walmart. But no idea how to make it all rough like everyone else's. Lol maybe scrape it on the concrete? Idk any ideas?

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[SantaMonica]

Hole saw, tilted sideways.

 

[ngvu1]

Hi Bryan,

Thank you for the post. I have a JBJ 28 cube and putting the air stone at the bottom of the middle chamber is not a very easy thing to do. so can I put the long air stone about 6 inches long vertical blowing air to the mesh?

Thank you
Vu

 

[SantaMonica]

Maybe.

But how about just putting a tube down to the bottom. The bubbles should spread out.

 

[ngvu1]

I was talking about this thing. It has light and working like an air stone
http://www.ebay.com/itm/25107203221...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_4360wt_1060

What do you think? I can also put more light behind the tank if this thing is not bright enough.

Thank you
Vu

 

[SantaMonica]

No, those are not power led's. You need at least 6 watts of led on a 2 X 3 inch screen.

 

[ngvu1]

I thought so I bought this one. 48 LED but only 3.5W. My screen is 4x8 or 4x10 most. This led pad seems to work best in size. If not enough I guess I can put 2 side by side.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/33065423176...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648#ht_2989wt_1059

 

[SantaMonica]

Unfortunately, those LEDs are for aquarium viewing, not growing algae. Algae needs 660 nm (red) light for best growth. Also, at 3.5 watts, they would only illuminated a screen within 1 inch of them. A 4x8=32 screen would need 16 watts, ideally with 8 on each side.

So anyway, you'll have a nice light for the display. And you can even try it for the scrubber, but I think the most growth you'll get is some light stringy stuff.

Proper LEDs will be available soon for scrubbers, so it will be easier.

 

[ngvu1]

hmm, I bought 2 of these. I guess they can be used for something else. I guess I can build my own led panel for this purpose.

Thanks
Vu

 

[ngvu1]

I found this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/14-WATT-225...main_0&var=&hash=item4d013db6aa#ht_1215wt_918

Seems to have enough power and price is good.

 

[ngvu1]

Hi Bryan,
Before I waste more money
Which combination is best? blue and red? or just red?

Specs. item specific

Red: 660nm wavelength, High Power Opto LEDs (used for flowering)
Blue: 455nm wavelength, Bridgelux USA LEDs (used for growth)
Red/Blue: 660nm/455nm, High Power Opto and Bridgelux USA LEDs
Red/Blue/White: 660nm/455nm/Full Spectrum, High Power Opto and Bridgelux USA LEDs
Red/Blue/White/Orange: 660nm/455nm/Full Spectrum/610nm, High Power Opto and Bridgelux USA LEDs

 

[gNoc]

didnt mean this one

 

[gNoc]

haters! Im building it this weekend

lol ^^

 

[SantaMonica]

No that big panel is too spread out.

Get four of these:
http://www.rapidled.com/solderless-osram-red-led/

And one of these:
http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-lpc-35-700-constant-current-driver/

Or, just use CFL 2700K.