Mega Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover - DIY!

[parrotchute]

Thanks,
So if I did 19 x 10 would 1 t5 on each side be fine?

 

[parrotchute]

SM - I think what we're confused about, is if it is "actual watts" going IN, a 19 watt CFL would be just as powerful as a 19 watt normal bulb.

 

[old 5k0ol]

A 19 watt cfl puts out more light than a 19 watt normal bulb. That's why they are energy efficient. More light, less electricity.

 

[SantaMonica]

So if I did 19 x 10 would 1 t5 on each side be fine?

No, one T5HO bulb can only cover about 4 inches. 5 max. Best is to have one T5 bulb every 3 inches.

19 watt CFL would be just as powerful as a 19 watt normal bulb.

A 19 real-watt cfl would be stronger than a regular incandescent bulb.

 

[parrotchute]

SM - do you think for those dimensions I should go for
T-5 or CFLs?

 

[SantaMonica]

T5HO. 4 of them on each side. 200 watts total. You can always reduce the ON time to use less power, but you'll have the power when you need high filtering.

 

[parrotchute]

Thanks! Any chance you could recommend a fixture?

 

[SantaMonica]

I have only used the 2 X 24w Nova Extremes. You would need 2 of them on each side.

 

[parrotchute]

Yeah...that'd be a little too pricey for me, I think. I'm probably going to stick with 2 CFLs on each side, and maybe drop the area down a bit.

 

[SantaMonica]

For those who are using tap water for top-off or water changes:

Tap water sometimes contains copper to kill unwanted things. Algae eats copper, as long as the copper is not added to much, too fast. If the copper is added too much, too fast, it will stop the algae from growing for a while. So to prevent your scrubber from being affected by this, try to make sure you have as much algae on your screen(s) as possible when you add the tap water. In other words, don't clean your screen(s) before you add the tap water.

 

[stagofdoom]

Just got mine up and running. Will have pics eventually.

 

[SantaMonica]

Three things...

1: Here is a CFL reflector comparision video:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6MJAe1KQME]YouTube - ‪CFL Reflector Comparison‬‏[/ame]

2: Here is a video of roughed-up screen material:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S7804w9nNw]YouTube - ‪Roughed Up Screen Material‬‏[/ame]

3: Here is a video of an encrusting yellow sponge:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6sCDUA-tAA]YouTube - ‪Yellow Sponge Growth‬‏[/ame]

More sponge pics; it came out of nowhere and started growing in low-light areas, especially towards the power head, since it needs lots of flow and food particles:

 

[SantaMonica]

Here is a video of a regular weekly cleaning of a SM100...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyu-lnZGmMs]YouTube - ‪Santa Monica 100 Regular Weekly Cleaning.avi‬‏[/ame]

 

[arkansasboy]

Do you have to use a pump for the screen or can you plumb the overflow directly into it?

 

[little_fish]

It can be plumbed directly to the overflow, that is how most of us do it.

But the advantage to having it on its own pump is that you dont have to stop and restart the syphon when you clean it.

 

[SantaMonica]

Here is the best way to get all of the light from a CFL bulb to your screen: Make a reflector all the way around it:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3453bswfiz0]‪Flexible Reflector - use to increase the lighting on your DIY scrubber‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

 

[lilyicu]

I would like to build an algae scrubber for my tank. My question is that I do not have a pre-drilled tank, I do not have a sump or fuge. Can I still make one that will go under my tank?

 

[little_fish]

Sure you can. Just get your self an overflow and plum the scrubber into the piping. Mine runs into a 5 gal bucket.

 

[SantaMonica]

Yep you just make yourself a sump...

 

[lilyicu]

Which would you suggest, an algae scrubber or a refugium? I am trying to get my nitrates down to help get rid of my cyanobacteria.