My Algae Turf Scrubber Build

[dbg]

Good deal. So, if I'm reading everything correctly, youre not getting a ton of thick algae growth on the screen because of a lack of light? Have you considered adding those red LEDs that you have in addition to the light you are already using?

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

Gonna need new lights; those skinny strips aren't going to do anything :O

 

[dbg]

Gonna need new lights; those skinny strips aren't going to do anything :O

I believe it... so far I've had it up for four days (just finished it on Friday), and today I've got a light coat of green algae on it; but, it probably will not manifest into anything more than that.

 

[labas39]

Gonna need new lights; those skinny strips aren't going to do anything :O

I only used those red LEDs for a few days. I've been using the 23W soft white CFL for the rest of the time.

 

[labas39]

Day 31's Growth

It's been a while but I was on a mini vacation. Unfortunately, while the tank was on my son's watch, I lost my Frag Farmer's Snowcone Prostrata colony. :(

I did a cleaning, however, on day 26.

Here's with my new macro lens:

Today, I bought and put on a 42W, 150W equivalent, CFL bulb. This bulb is pretty big but it still fits in a standard reflector. I saw the 200W equivalent and it's huge! So, I'll see how the growth improves with nearly doubling the actual wattage.

 

[915MANG]

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

This is what I am using.

 

[Windy]

The lights shown will not do well in an ATS. I am removing them now, so be careful what you buy.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

There is a 45w version of it that will, however.

 

[Windy]

How do you know that?

 

[labas39]

There is a 45w version of it that will, however.

Without quoting a post, I'm not sure who you're addressing.

Regardless, I'm sticking with this 42W CFL for this prototype.

 

[labas39]

Day 34's Growth

This was taken under natural daylight

This lousy picture is after the second cleaning today:

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

Need to clean all that dark stuff off with a brush so you can see the white screen.

Light is too little.

 

[labas39]

Light is too little.

My understanding is that a lot of people have success with 23W CFL, 100W equivalent, bulbs. I just increased mine to 42W CFL, 150W equivalent, so I'm getting to think that I have enough light.

I can do a little better cleaning but I'm going to stick with this bulb for now.

 

[Bad Company]

I get great growth with a 23W (100W equivalent) CFL in an 8" reflector on one side, and a 27W LED PAR 38 grow lamp on the other. In fact, the $3 CFL seems to grow better than the $60 Grow LED.

 

[SantaMonica Verified Sponsor]

Dark growth tells you that the light is too little for the nutrients. At the least you can increase hours.

 

[labas39]

I did clean the screen pretty much down to the white and it's kind of like starting over for the third time.

After I did that, however, I noticed that there was a lot less algea on my zoa frags. Maybe I should have let it be.

 

[Dannycelluk]

Here's my mark 3 algae scrubber with a second led tile lighting the other side

 

[labas39]

Here's my mark 3 algae scrubber with a second led tile lighting the other side

It looks like you're getting great growth! Can you share the details on those lights?

 

[Dannycelluk]

http://www.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk/en/TMC-Brands/aquaray/AB1000.aspx

 

[Dannycelluk]

I used to use them on my display tank but I've gone for the it2080's now