Mega Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover - DIY!

[snaper]

Yes that's the right screen size. Although, for such a small screen, it might be easier to just double the area, and make it one-sided (thus using one bulb instead of two).

Yes you should start the scrubber now; it will help to have all the nutrients from the cycle, and it will then be ready for livestock when the cycle is done.

Noted that..but will stick to the initial set-up though as i've already construct and cut-out the acrylic

to house the scrubber. Will post of the progress once its done..hopefully its work

Rgds

[magix88]

I am in the mist of setting up my scrubber on my 2ft x 1ft x 1.5ft tank.

Bought some 3.5metres of 16mm pvc pipes at $1 per feet. (I hope this diameter is suitable)

Bought some PVC "L" angle Joints at $2 each

Bought 2 gate valve at $7 each.

Bought a end Cap for the pipes at $1 each

Bought a can of PVC glue for the piping at $3.50.

Total damage approx $40

Yet to buy the lights and a suitable tub/pail and that scrubber sheet. And also yet to cut the pipe open for water flow to the scrubber sheet.

Will be using gravity and vacume suction to "pull" the water out to the pail below while using my existing 2000L/hr pump to do the return. The 2 gate valves will be used to equalize the water flow in and return to the tank.

As I am using much of what I have on hand and keeping costs low. Hope this DIY will work well.

[wilsontantw]

I am in the mist of setting up my scrubber on my 2ft x 1ft x 1.5ft tank.

Bought some 3.5metres of 16mm pvc pipes at $1 per feet. (I hope this diameter is suitable)

Bought some PVC "L" angle Joints at $2 each

Bought 2 gate valve at $7 each.

Bought a end Cap for the pipes at $1 each

Bought a can of PVC glue for the piping at $3.50.

Total damage approx $40

Yet to buy the lights and a suitable tub/pail and that scrubber sheet. And also yet to cut the pipe open for water flow to the scrubber sheet.

Will be using gravity and vacume suction to "pull" the water out to the pail below while using my existing 2000L/hr pump to do the return. The 2 gate valves will be used to equalize the water flow in and return to the tank.

As I am using much of what I have on hand and keeping costs low. Hope this DIY will work well.

You should include cost of 'scrubber sheet'. (which is not a lot of coz)... haha.

[magix88]

Yes I know

This is because I am yet to decide on what to use as my scrubber sheet. My idea now is those plastic cross stitch plates for primary school kids. Will be dropping over to a knitting shop to ask about the cost and if possible, buy one.

You should include cost of 'scrubber sheet'. (which is not a lot of coz)... haha.

[Creetin]

Yes I know

This is because I am yet to decide on what to use as my scrubber sheet. My idea now is those plastic cross stitch plates for primary school kids. Will be dropping over to a knitting shop to ask about the cost and if possible, buy one.

dude u may want to add a union of easy maintenance if u wan to unlock the piping

[johntanjm]

Yes I know

This is because I am yet to decide on what to use as my scrubber sheet. My idea now is those plastic cross stitch plates for primary school kids. Will be dropping over to a knitting shop to ask about the cost and if possible, buy one.

I think they call that plastic canvas. good stuff. durable quality, resist wear and tear from the water

[magix88]

a union? okie. I will go search for it tomorrow. Think I will buy a couple of Unions. Two for each of my gate valves and connector to the water outlet for easy cleaning next time.

dude u may want to add a union of easy maintenance if u wan to unlock the piping

[yellowtanker]

Hi. Is it necessary to use T5 for the lights or the Philips 2700K PLC light will do? Appreciate yr assistance.

Cheers,

[SantaMonica]

Both will work, but a CFL floodlight would be better that a PLC (is more focused).

[yellowtanker]

Thanks Bro SM,

In yr opinion, which type of lights will be more effective - T5, CFL 2700K or CFL 6500K.

Many thanks again.

[SantaMonica]

2700, as long as the wattage, and the distance, are the same.

[SantaMonica]

Scrubber FAQ 3.0 is now up, with about 50 percent new info:

http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewto...&p=386#p386

[SantaMonica]

Results of the week:

Broder on the SARK site: "I have been running my tank with an algal filter for about 3 months now. I removed the skimmer on the 10th last month. My display has never looked better. The [nuisance] algae has almost totally dissapeared. My SPS colonies are thriving. Not only are they growing well, but the colouration has become vibrant due to 0 PO4 (Salifert test) and 0 nitrate. I've seen better colouration in systems that were using Zeovit, but I'm more than happy with the results the algal filter achieves."

Sly on the SWF site: "The back glass used to be absolutely covered in green algae, but now it's staying clean on its own. I have never cleaned it. The rocks weren't that bad, but there were some patches of cyano in places that are now gone. It now seems to be staying cleaner on its own. My ORP has started rising again and is a 270mv without ozone. I don't know if it's related but as my tank levels have improved lately, my Mandarin is coming out more in the day time. This is the first picture I have ever been able to get of him in the open... and I've had him for over 2 years. The live rock and the substrate both have zero algae on them"

TODJ2002 on the SWF site: "i added a scrubber several months ago after reading this thread. my nitrates and P slowly lowered and went to zero for the first time. they have both been at zero since. everytime i check levels i am expecting to see a rise, but always zero. i also added cheato to my system and i believe boths items are a must for any system."

Adee on the SARK site: "Ok so its been about 6 weeks since i fired this scrubber up. Did the 1st "harvest" on just the one side; i'll do the other side next weekend. My phosphate reading is a zero according the Elos color chart... and for the very first time the complete back glass pane has broken out with coraline algae. Its never done that before due to the back always being covered with the normal glass algae/diatoms. Since the latter no longer appears, the coraline is now growing. I'm sure in a few weeks I'll have a complete pink wallpaper at the back. The fact that the scrubber makes the ideal platform for all this gunk to grow OUTSIDE my display tank, was well worth the investment."

Bob the (reef) Builder on the SARK site: "Both my filters are going great guns. Probably the best is the sun [powered] one, it's big and now that its settled, grows algea like crazy. My phospates down to 0.00 - 0.01ppm on a Hanna meter. Never seen it this low before. My corals are starting to grow and colour up really well now."

RentalDeceptionist on the UR site: "Ooh the [nuisance] algae. Well, it has certainly receeded massively. It's not 100% gone but I feel I'm on top of it. The hair algae which virtually smothered every flat surface is now down to about 20% of its mass, and there is more rock than algae. I do believe decreasing the lighting has helped."

[raydiative]

SM,

quick question... what kind of light is better for the scrubber? white or orange?

as i have a JBJ 24G tank, i face alot of space constrain and am not able to use better lightings as recommended...

also, does the scrubber helps with all/most kinds of nuisance algae?

[SantaMonica]

Never heard of Orange before. 2700K is best. Is slightly pinkish.

All types of algae is reduced.

[raydiative]

Never heard of Orange before. 2700K is best. Is slightly pinkish.

All types of algae is reduced.

thanks.. the light that i saw is from china and unfortunately there is no specification to it...

as the space behind my tank is very tide, about 3.5 inches, the light would be place very near the scrubber (prob 1inch away)...

will try it out soon and hopefully the cyano problem will be resolved...

[pauline]

hi bro n sis!! just to find out, i'm having a nano tank n i dont have a sump, just using a skimmer n a hang on filter. so is there any way to have a scrubber?? how to pumb out the water from the tank?? hope the pro here can give me some advice....

thanks

[raydiative]

hi bro n sis!! just to find out, i'm having a nano tank n i dont have a sump, just using a skimmer n a hang on filter. so is there any way to have a scrubber?? how to pumb out the water from the tank?? hope the pro here can give me some advice....

thanks

hi sis(i presume?)

what kind of skimmer and hang-on filter are you using? perhapse you can post a picture? as i am having a nano tank as well, been trying to come up with as many way to accomodate the scrubber as possible.. maybe i can share some ideas with you... =]

[SantaMonica]

This is the best nano build I've seen yet. Nitschke65 on the SWF site built this for his Aquapod-type tank. Should work on the back of any similar nano:

[pauline]

hi sis(i presume?)

what kind of skimmer and hang-on filter are you using? perhapse you can post a picture? as i am having a nano tank as well, been trying to come up with as many way to accomodate the scrubber as possible.. maybe i can share some ideas with you... =]

hi.... i'm use a red sea prizm n a dophin hang on filter which can c in my thread

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76493

[pauline]

This is the best nano build I've seen yet. Nitschke65 on the SWF site built this for his Aquapod-type tank. Should work on the back of any similar nano:

hi, thank 4 the info n advice.... this is a very nice set up, but from wat i see on the pic, it actually come with a extra compartment at the back of the tank,right?? so mine is just a tank w/o any extra compartment, so where can i hang the scrubber on?? n i thought the scrubber should be wet/dry in stead of soaking the whole thing in?? pls advice

thanks

[pauline]

hi sis(i presume?)

what kind of skimmer and hang-on filter are you using? perhapse you can post a picture? as i am having a nano tank as well, been trying to come up with as many way to accomodate the scrubber as possible.. maybe i can share some ideas with you... =]

hi Raydiative.... is there any pic or thread 4 me to c your scrubber set up??

best regards

[snaper]

Hi S.M

Need to ask some question...if the distance between the light and the scrubber is about

3 inch will it work and what is the acceptable wattage for the scrubber and what if the

wattage is lower than what it actually need, will it w2orks too.

[raydiative]

This is the best nano build I've seen yet. Nitschke65 on the SWF site built this for his Aquapod-type tank. Should work on the back of any similar nano:

yeah.. this is indeed a very nice scrubber.. unfortunately i've been looking for suitable materials to DIY like this but am not able to get any..

so have decided to go for something very simple... =]

[raydiative]

hi.... i'm use a red sea prizm n a dophin hang on filter which can c in my thread

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76493

i think you may prefer to run the scrubber out of tank (if possible) as from your thread it seems like you have not much usable space to run a scrubber at the alternate timing with your main lightings...

hi Raydiative.... is there any pic or thread 4 me to c your scrubber set up??

best regards

my scrubber is not up yet.. still trying to source for a suitable light source... anyway will be posting it in my thread once it's setup so do check it out.. =]

will let you know nontheless...

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...c=72975&hl=