Myclang
BOOM BOOM
I think I'm sold on this and will probably add one to my next build. looks awesome! Just going to be a bit hard to swallow for the price. But I don't think i'm up for a DIY 
Steve's L2 Algae Scrubber (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter data_loss
- Start date
OP
OP
I want a bigger one and I'm in the same boat. Buy or build...
Myclang
BOOM BOOM
I would imagine for my 180 build, I would need the equivelant of a L4-5? After hearing David G. has to feed his tank like 9-10 cubes a day for his 40 some fish.
OP
OP
Yeah but DG's fish are borderline obese. I mean did you see that Hippo Tang?
Just kidding David :beerchug:
Just kidding David :beerchug:
Myclang
BOOM BOOM
If blimps could swim!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Myclang
BOOM BOOM
So $520 for buds l4...may look into that for my 180. I already know my skimmer will be just a bit undersized for it. Maybe pairing that with a scrubber might be a good way to go. Or eventually taking the skimmer offline altogether.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
OP
OP
Thanks, it has been a fun little science experiment for sure :beerchug:
I do indeed, in fact right now it is even over 16 hours if you count the final ramp down in night mode.
I have thought a bit lately about moving the sunrise back to 7am. I've haven't been waking up as early lately and it probably would help the scrubber finally out-compete the cyano in the display.
OP
OP
Best harvest yet from the scrubber today. This is the first harvest without any light diffusers. It has also been 11 days since the last cleaning so a few extra days to grow.
3D Growth :beerchug:
When the scrubber isn't cleaned on time the roots start to die off. What happens is when you clean the screen the holes do not remain filled in. This was right on the edge of being too long between cleanings.
This is what to avoid
I've seen this a few times now and it does seem to bounce back quickly. I think only cleaning one side of the screen at a time helps it recover.
Water tests later tonight after a water change.
3D Growth :beerchug:
When the scrubber isn't cleaned on time the roots start to die off. What happens is when you clean the screen the holes do not remain filled in. This was right on the edge of being too long between cleanings.
This is what to avoid
I've seen this a few times now and it does seem to bounce back quickly. I think only cleaning one side of the screen at a time helps it recover.
Water tests later tonight after a water change.
Have you noticed lately that the screen is getting smoother aka its not cactus rough anymore? thats the way the screen on my setup is and does not appear to affect the algae ability to hold on to the screen.
OP
OP
I guess it is tough to tell with all the algae on it, but yeah, I'd have to agree it doesn't seem so roughed up anymore.
Me too. Since the algae has taken foot hold probably not a concern anymore. I'm sure scraping every week makes it smoother over time.
Turbo's Aquatics
TCMAS Sponsor
My opinion on screen roughness is that once the algae gets a foothold on the screen, it will stay attached much better, until the sheer weight of the algae pulls it off the screen. I've seen many screens with high growth that held. My observation is that algae adapts to the conditions, flow rate being the main one. Weak flow = weakly attached algae (because it doesn't need to be strongly attached).
Steve your screen growth looks fantastic. Removing the diffusers does work well after the screen is mature, I'm getting more confirmations on this as time goes on. Also I have let my L2 (also a Rev 1) grow for 14 days twice now and I don't really have much in the way of dead roots to speak of, but I am also not getting as nice looking of a screen as you are, I think it is related to bio-load as the tank is P=0.00 (Hanna) N=0 (Salifert) so not much to complain about there.
-Bud
Steve your screen growth looks fantastic. Removing the diffusers does work well after the screen is mature, I'm getting more confirmations on this as time goes on. Also I have let my L2 (also a Rev 1) grow for 14 days twice now and I don't really have much in the way of dead roots to speak of, but I am also not getting as nice looking of a screen as you are, I think it is related to bio-load as the tank is P=0.00 (Hanna) N=0 (Salifert) so not much to complain about there.
-Bud
OP
OP
Hi Bud :beerchug:
Nice to see you over this way :dance:
I couldn't be happier with the scrubber. Some day when I have more money you need to make me a bigger one :greenguy:
Nice to see you over this way :dance:
I couldn't be happier with the scrubber. Some day when I have more money you need to make me a bigger one :greenguy:
Turbo's Aquatics
TCMAS Sponsor
Well someday I'll have to make it to a fest up there, seeing as I am from Wayzata originally & have family up there (parents live in Groveland). But all my family wants to do when we visit is play in/on Lake Minnetonka. Can you blame them?