Overflow, turf scrubber, return pump....=/

F

fishhugger

Guest
I am planning on building a PVC overflow that flows directly into a turf scrubber. I wanted to add a sump, but there wont be enough room under my tank to include that.
What I need help with is the PVC size, the return pump, and lighting....so pretty much everything.
I don't know what size PVC I will need. After the water overflowing reaches the piece that holds the knitting backing, will there be any lost of flow do to the backing inside the PVC?
And I dont know what sufficient GPH would be for growing turf on a 8"x7" screen.
I don't know what size return pump I should use. I found one by 'perfect' that's rated at 400 gph with a max head of 6.5 feet (even with perfect being really cheap chinese knock-offs, I have read many good things about them, and I have a canister filter of theirs that seems to run really great). I only need to raise the water about 4 feet, but I don't know how much of a loss of pressure that would be. Is there a general rule, or does it largely depend on the pump?
I also found another at 700GPH with a max lift of 9 ft.
I would really like to go cheap on the pump and those ones are between 25-35$. I really dont want to drop 60$ on a mag pump. I just feel that as far as pumps go, they either work or they don't and their is no in between ground...but maybe I am wrong.
And can anyone recommend a bulb to go into a clamp on lighting fixture? Again, I dont want to spend a fortune, but mainly because I need 2 of them. >.<
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
if the screen is 8" wide in the slot you will need 8 x 35 GPH = 280 GPH flowing over the screen minimum.
the pips from your overflow is probbaly 1" my scrubber is made out of 3/4" stock
the lights are jsut the twirly compact flourecent bulbs you get at wal-mart in anything from a 2700k to a 6500k works just fine, must get it clse to the screen (4")
the screen needs to be roughed up alot (use a hole saw and scrub by hand until its like a cactus)
you need a bulb on both sides of the screen for best results .5 watts per gallon of water in the DT minumum. T-5 bulbs actually work alot better if you have that available to you.
are you going to do it into a garbage can or some sort fo tote? you need soemthing to catch the water off the screen and holds enough water that you can put your pump under water without it drying up.
We have some great threads going on right now. if you're going to build one or 2 please join in so we can answer your qeustions and you can show off your setup.
We like to see pics and test results before and after the screen grows in.
heres the link to our discussion. many folks are building new ones right now or jsut recently got thier online.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/382073/turf-scrubbers/180#post_3338641
and there is a website for scrubebrs as well algaescrubber.net the FAQ area has jsut baout anything you would want to know about these things
 
F

fishhugger

Guest
It will be draining into a 10 gallon tank underneath my stand. I am going to spray paint the outside of a 10g tank white to get some good all around reflection. I will have two basic utility lights with metal reflectors clamped onto the sides. There will be just enough water inside the tank for the return pump and a heater. I've pretty much got everything planned out except I'm clueless as to flow rates.
I have been reading through that other thread you posted, but only through the first couple of pages. So I didn't know it had really turned into more of a community help thread. But I will be sure to post pics up there when I am done so everyone can see how it goes, and possibly help someone else out.
 
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