Mega Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover - DIY!

[PRC]

Well, since you're having issues with crosscuts. And I don't have any issues at all, I would say the parallel cuts would be best. The only reason why he is recommending cross-cuts is if algae starts to clog the PVC. Just point the light more at the center of the screen rather than the top.

even though he put cross cuts in his pipe on pg. 11. The original "slot" is still there.

 

[SantaMonica]

I cannot seem to get a high rate of even flow across my screen

Actually a smaller slot, with no crosscuts, works best. But even with yours, as algae grows it will fill-in the high flow areas, causing flow to go to the other areas. It's self-adjusting.

 

[SantaMonica]

After over a year of testing, here is the first functional prototype of the Santa Monica 25 Nano scrubber, made pretty much from the plans that were posted here last year.

 

[SantaMonica]

 

[Pwny]

Looks good sm what’s the dimensions on it and what tank size dose this go up to?

 

[SantaMonica]

Up to 35 gal.

It's about 7 inches long, not including the tubing.

 

[Pwny]

here is 13 days of it running 6 days since last cleaning, there is less brown algae and a lot of stringy brown/red cryano looking grown and some vary small spots of green but not much. it will get cleaned tomarow, is this normal twards the progression to green?

 

[Piratefish]

Hey Ace if algae is clogging your slot you can put a light shield on the pipe so it covers the top bit of the screen. I dont use the cross cut slots and it works just fine.
SM that nano scrubber looks SWEET !!

 

[SantaMonica]

Thanks glad you like it.

Yes that growth is a normal progression.

 

[Justin33]

What happened??????
I had the scrubber growing algea in the first three days.
On day six, I scraped off one side (had some light brown growth)
On day 11 screen looked new again and had algea all over my display.
These are picks of day 16 and it's getting worse.
I have good flow, correct lighting, 4" away, 18 on 6 off
HELP!?!?!?!?!?

 

[SantaMonica]

Your tank is still cycling, as you can tell by the two damsels that died. Also, your rocks that you got from Craigslist is loaded with phosphate from the previous owner. As your scrubber grows and removes phosphate from the water, phosphate will start coming out of the rocks; this will cause algae to grow on the rocks, as it is now. It will probably grow even more on the rocks before it starts going away. And the stronger/better your scrubber is, the more will grow on the rocks until the rocks are empty.

What wattage are the scrubber bulbs, and, are they new?

 

[Ace5high]

SM that Nano looks sweet! Good luck to you with it.

SM, I wanted your opinion on the overall effectiveness of horizontal designed scrubbers, so long as all formulas are followed properly for this design. If screen size, flow, and light are all correctly calculated, will they function just as well? I saw you had posted a picture of "Johntanjm" design, this is the type of design Im referring to. Thanks as always for your input!

 

[Justin33]

The damsels did not die, they were taken out.
The bulbs are new 23w coil type flourecents.
Some of the rock that I got (25#) was from a friend with a beautiful system he has had running for several years. Those were the first to grow algea which makes your comment make sense to me. I also started my system with about 20 gal of his water to help speed things up.
I will try to be more patient and continue monitoring daily.
Thanks

 

[SantaMonica]

Horizontals will work good if the size is 4 times the gallons, and the wattage is 1.5 times the gallons. Also, the more angled it is, the better, so that water can flow over the algae-islands the grow up and out.

 

[Ace5high]

This is the new design, and I hope this one works.

Unlike my original design this one has lots of flow (400 - 700gph+).

Screen is 12x16 about 2" per gallon, and more lighting since Im using my 65watt flood light...

 

[SantaMonica]

Good to see the angle is high.

 

[PRC]

SM, are there any 24" lights that you would recommend using for a scrubber besides T5's? I'm considering redesigning my scrubber but I'd like to use some straight fluorescent bulbs rather than the "curly" CFL's.. I don't want to spend the money on the T5 light fixtures like you have in the SM100...it's just not in the budget, especially for a scrubber that's already working.

 

[SantaMonica]

T5HO bulbs are cheap. Just get a ballast and sockets.

 

[PRC]

T5HO bulbs are cheap. Just get a ballast and sockets.

Yeah, the bulbs aren't the issue it's the ballasts and sockets that suck the money out of the pocket book. And with a 180g tank, I don't want to spend $4-500 on lights for a scrubber that only needs to be updgraded because I feel like it.:D

Do you have an online place for ballasts that you'd recommend?

 

[OhNoNemo]

Yeah, the bulbs aren't the issue it's the ballasts and sockets that suck the money out of the pocket book. And with a 180g tank, I don't want to spend $4-500 on lights for a scrubber that only needs to be updgraded because I feel like it.:D

Do you have an online place for ballasts that you'd recommend?

This is what i was wondering ,,,,why fix it ,if its not broken:mrgreen: