1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Installed algae scrubber

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by tedlietz, Apr 20, 2014.

Welcome to Algae Scrubbing Join our community today
  1. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    L2 algae scrubber installed on 40 gallon sump.


    [​IMG]
    This is how much algae has been collected on the screen by day 29.

    Later,
    Ted
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2014
  2. Kerry

    Kerry Member Trusted Member Customer

    Not bad at all!! It will continue to get better growth. How long are you running the lights for?
     
  3. Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    Nice bracket! Just checking, have you tested your power-off water level in the sump to make sure it doesn't rise up above the bottom of the scrubber?
     
  4. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    I was running the lights 10 hours a day at night............the L2 has out performed my DIY scrubber in 29 days compared to 240 days on my scrubber .
    Ted
     
  5. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    Yes I did check the level of the sump with power off I have 6 inches between the surface of the water and the bottom of the L2...........I was surprised at the weight of the L2, I might of beefed up the bracket if I had known. I,m keeping an eye on the bracket, just in case !!! I,m noway as good as you working with Acrylic as you are.

    Ted
     
  6. Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    It looks pretty good to me, the only thing I might suggest adding is a tab on the top part so that something hangs down the outside of the sump to keep the bracket in place in case you bump it. Otherwise, it looks good - joints look like they are well bonded, material is thick (looks like 3/8" to me - good!). Some projects like that are pretty simple, versus building a watertight box which is a little trickier, and then making it really small make it more tricky, because every small error is magnified.

    I don't get much feedback from people, but it's usually good feedback! Can you post any pics of your DIY scrubber for comparison?
     
  7. Kerry

    Kerry Member Trusted Member Customer

    I was trying to decide if some of that algae was brown or yellow. Kind of looks brown, you could bump up the time on for an hour extra each day and see what it looks like next week. If its yellow turn it back down.
     
  8. Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    Part of me wants to say "leave it be" for a bit, just let it mature. I have had several people give me feedback that their screens are reaching the point of what most would consider "maturity" a lot faster since I started doing the 2-stage roughing up process, but with that said, I don't get much feedback so it could be other factors also. Regardless,I think that screens are considered minimally mature by the "filled in holes" rule. The screen will continue to mature and the tank conditions (or "set point") may also shift, which means your screen growth could change or shift over time. Trying to make too many adjustments during this time frame can lead to false assumptions.

    I don't think I've changed the photoperiod or flow rate on any of my scrubbers in over a year.

    I did let one of my units run waaaaaaay too long, when I scraped the screen it all came off, no holes filled in - but the growth was thick! That's happened before, so I know it will come back.
     
  9. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    I will try later it was made out of an old sump.Ted
     
  10. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    The bracket is made out of 1/4 and it was also made out of an old sump........Ted
     
  11. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    Green in the middle , Brown next section and yellow on the edge...........The edges ( 1/4 ) was where there was no water flow when it was first fired up..........Ted
     
  12. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    My photo-period is now 11 hours
     
  13. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]
    I made my Scrubber from an old sump..........Ted
     
  14. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    the extra hole top right was for the sumps overflow......The LED heat sink has been removed..
     
  15. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]
    My main problem is that the LED panel was orientated wrong, should be rotated 90 degrees and the LEDs are grouped to close together.............
     
  16. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]
     
  17. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]

    Top view looking down............each individual LED panel was inserted into the pockets numbered #1 and #2...........these were held in place with double sided tape.you could insert a diffuse lens in the pocket which I did........
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2014
  18. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]

    The small white fitting was my overflow drain........The longer grey and white fitting was the normal drain with a bag tied on the bottom to catch whatever algae broke loose..
     
  19. tedlietz

    tedlietz Member Customer

    [​IMG]

    Sorry I had already cleaned the screen.........you can get a indication of the pattern by the colors ..the center never did get any algae as the LEDs were to bright, if you tried to adjust for the center then it screwed up the periphery of the screen..
     
  20. Kerry

    Kerry Member Trusted Member Customer

    Mine are similar to that but I use a 6.5x7 inch screen with 6 LED's per side. I bet if you make the screen smaller (maybe 1" per side) is would grow a lot better. Not a bad DIY build at all.
     

Share This Page