Building Your Own Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS)

[Feet4Fish]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/updated-algae-scrubber-sizing-guidelines.168055/

http://166.78.194.236/forums/showthread.php?s=f28cc3097062c0579061d70db84ea71e&t=1977420

http://algaescrubber.zohosites.com/mobile/planning-your-algae-scrubber.html

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-do-i-know-what-size-turbo-alage-scrubber-to-get.391250/

Thanks for all the info. Will be starting my DIY scrubber soon. Will be complimentary filtration for my large fish only build.

 

[SantaMonica]

That clear acrylic one looks nice, but the lights were 1-sided, and way too low power. Also it needed a rough screen instead of the smooth plastic. Make a nice photo though, much better than our all blacked-out ones.

 

[SantaMonica]

Joey DIY does a nice vid demo of making our upflow model.

 

[Reef-junky]

A lot of people went to reactors.

 

[MrWheelock]

Mine is much more compact.

Can you tell me where you got the lights please?

 

[Reef-junky]

Can you tell me where you got the lights please?

amazon

They are 1W water resistant grow lights. If I remember they were only $10 or $20.

 

[MrWheelock]

amazon

They are 1W water resistant grow lights. If I remember they were only $10 or $20.

Thanks I'll have to have a look again.

 

[SantaMonica]

Make sure to check that the light is grounded to the earth pin.

 

[RevJames]

I’m still rocking an Inland Scrubber. Morgan is a great resource and very knowledgeable. Sadly I helped him dismantle his 20,000+ gallon system. We still remain friends to this day!

 

[Feet4Fish]

Would love to see a quick video of an inland dump bucket!

I’m still rocking an Inland Scrubber. Morgan is a great resource and very knowledgeable. Sadly I helped him dismantle his 20,000+ gallon system. We still remain friends to this day!

 

[RevJames]

Would love to see a quick video of an inland dump bucket!

I’ll get you one when I get home!

 

[ca1ore]

Dump bucket scrubbers are fun to make, but don’t work as well as the more modern waterfall design. In my original post for this thread I have a picture of the one I built in the 1990s based on Adey’s design. No internal pictures unfortunately - too bad as I don’t now clearly recall exactly what it looked like.

 

[ENGReef]

where can the mesh be found aside from ordering it online?

 

[Reef-junky]

where can the mesh be found aside from ordering it online?

Walmart any craft store

 

[Feet4Fish]

@ca1ore finally got mine done! Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[ca1ore]

@ca1ore finally got mine done! Thanks for the inspiration!

Interesting! What’s the body made of? Almost looks like PVC siding ....

 

[Feet4Fish]

1/2” PVC board. Was super easy to work with and bonded perfectly with Weldon 16.

Interesting! What’s the body made of? Almost looks like PVC siding ....

 

[ca1ore]

I think I like your design better than mine, particularly the ability to remove the screens independently. Also redundant drains. Nicely done.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Wow! heck of a compliment! Thanks! To install the two unions did create some “dead” space in scrubber but I think it will pay off!

I think I like your design better than mine, particularly the ability to remove the screens independently. Also redundant drains. Nicely done.

 

[DangerDave]

Great looking scrubbers! I ran one for over a decade on a previous tank. I’m building one for my current reef now. It’s been up and running temporarily on my bench for a week now using the emergency overflow as the drain. The drain needs to be drilled on the bottom, and the whole thing set over the sump.