Mega-Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover Replaces Skimmer, Refugium, Everything

subielover

subielover

Active Member
Ok, SantaMonica I may just be ready to give this a try. I have a Biocube 14 that is really starting to get overrun with algae. Have you ever seen the turf scrubber modded into a Biocube and if so could you give me some advice? Thanks so much.
Subie
 
subielover

subielover

Active Member
Awesome, not sure how I missed that before. Anyway I don't know how to mount the light as it is a closed hood, any ideas?
 
subielover

subielover

Active Member
I had something very similar to that in mind, my problem is I don't know how I can get enough light back there. What about if I used like a 20 watt halogen that would normally be for a pond?
 
santamonica

santamonica

Member
Stages of an aquarist's happiness with a scrubber:
1. The day you see the first very light-brown color on the screen.
2. The day you see the screen covered left to right, top to bottom.
3. The day AFTER you think you saw your N or P test go down. Because that day after, you tested again to be sure.
4. The day you realized, for sure, that the the piece of filtration equipment you removed last week was really and truely not needed.
5. The day you finally realize that the N and P problems you've been fighting for (weeks, months, years) are finally gone.
5. The day another aquarist asks you, "How did you do it?"
 
santamonica

santamonica

Member
Stages of an aquarist's happiness with a scrubber:
1. The day you see the first very light-brown color on the screen.
2. The day you see the screen covered left to right, top to bottom.
3. The day AFTER you think you saw your N or P test go down. Because that day after, you tested again to be sure.
4. The day you realized, for sure, that the the piece of filtration equipment you removed last week was really and truely not needed.
5. The day you finally realize that the N and P problems you've been fighting for (weeks, months, years) are finally gone.
5. The day another aquarist asks you, "How did you do it?"
 
sly

sly

Active Member
Originally Posted by SantaMonica
http:///forum/post/2797422
4. The day you realized, for sure, that the the piece of filtration equipment you removed last week was really and truely not needed.
This is the only one I really disagree with. Skimmers do more than remove dissolved organics. They complement gas exchange and serve as a medium for UV dosing... Plus they are good to have when unknowns happen... Like something accidentally getting into the tank. As soon as something changes within a tank the skimmer is there to quickly remove the substance. I wouldn't expect people to stop using carbon in their tanks with an algae scrubber nor would I expect them to remove a skimmer. They all serve different purposes and each work together to try to simulate natural processes within the ocean.
 
santamonica

santamonica

Member
True, but the simplicity of my empty sump has it's advantages. Also, if I were setting up a new tank (or when I do), I will not need to find a place to put a skimmer, nor find a way to pay for it. I would, however, buy a ready-to-go scrubber if it were available. Would save me a day or two of work.
 
sly

sly

Active Member
Here is my latest week of growth (using window screen) although something more porous might work better:

Looking down in the scrubber:

At an angle:

Measured for fullness:

From the side:

In a plate (sorry no scale to weigh it with):

From the side:

And finally clean:

I've started cleaning the screen off with just a brush and no water lately. I have notice better growth rate doing it this way rather than by rinsing under tap water. The last time I rinsed under tap water it took almost 2 weeks to get this kind of growth. Now I leave some algae behind and it grows back much faster.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by Sly
http:///forum/post/2798920
Here is my latest week of growth (using window screen) although something more porous might work better:

Looking down in the scrubber:

At an angle:

Measured for fullness:

From the side:

In a plate (sorry no scale to weigh it with):

From the side:

And finally clean:

I've started cleaning the screen off with just a brush and no water lately. I have notice better growth rate doing it this way rather than by rinsing under tap water. The last time I rinsed under tap water it took almost 2 weeks to get this kind of growth. Now I leave some algae behind and it grows back much faster.
Very nice!!
 
santamonica

santamonica

Member
SantaMonica holds his head low in defeat :) Now THAT algae show fullness. Looks like 3/4 pounds wet.
And the no-water cleaning might be just the trick to make up for window-screen's lack of attachment places for the algae (as long as pods are not eating the buffet, of course).
 
santamonica

santamonica

Member
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Text Version:
Nutrients, part 3
The amount of Inorganic Nitrate and Inorganic Phosphate that a scrubber removes is directly controlled by how much light-power hits the scrubber:
1" - The light-power is full strength.
4" - At 4" distance, the same bulb power has to cover four times the area, so the power per square inch is only 25 percent of what is was (reduced 75%).
6" - At 6" distance, the same bulb power has to cover nine times the area, so the power per square inch is only 11 percent of what is was (reduced 89%).
This is why placing the bulb very close to the scrubber is extremely important.
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hefner413

hefner413

Active Member
I'm making mine... will take some pics before I get too far along.
Lowes is selling a green spotlight for under $4. it has a rubber seal at it's base to weather-proof it. I think this will work well. It is 150W max.
 
santamonica

santamonica

Member
I hope green works; not sure about that. If possible, just get a "plant grow" or "full spectrum" CFL floodlight instead, for the same price.
 
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