Steve's L2 Algae Scrubber (1 Viewer)

[data_loss]

I ordered an L2 algae scrubber from Bud up on algaescrubber.net and it just arrived this morning, packaged like a tank.

Very impressed by the quality of the build. Seems like a well thought out design, with attention to even the small details, that I'm sure took time and experience to work through.

I'm going to build a small shelf today above my fuge and hopefully have everything plumbed up and running some time tomorrow. I'm going to use an eheim 1250 pump which should be about 250 gph with head loss.

My tank has never seen a skimmer and I'm a chronic over-feeder so nitrates and phosphates were really creeping up and up lately as I got lazy with water changes.

Corals had been suffering lately and I wasn't seeing any growth any more so a couple weeks ago I started a series of 4 consecutive 30 gallon water changes spread out every few days to try to bring levels back to where they belong. Although levels are tolerable now both are still too high. I'm really hoping this scrubber will do the trick.

I'll be documenting all my water tests and screen growth and cleanings for a while in this thread. Really happy with this purchase right now :beerchug:

 

[David Grigor]

Cool. I continue to be amazed and just how well my tank has been doing with the ATS.

The only thing I see for sure that I would improve is to mount a fan on each heatsink. I had no idea just how hot mine was when my fans were left off. With them running heat sink is barely above room temperate. Without they are real hot but not hot enough to burn you.

 

[data_loss]

I'll definitely keep an eye on it. He's mentioned up on the forum they have been OK with just the passive cooling but I have plenty of fans if they get too hot. Come to think of it I have some temperature controlled icecap fans that I picked up on clearance from premium aquatics that would be perfect for it.

 

[mapierce7]

Looks like a nice scrubber. Some day when I have a fish room I will get the opportunity to rig one up. Keep the updates coming when it's up and running.

 

[QTfish]

I sooo want one, but i cant build one. If anyone knows anyone who is willing to build one. Let me knoe

 

[data_loss]

Bud sells them up on algaescrubber.net

He has my recommendation for a quality product. He even offers packages where you can do all the LED assembly yourself if you want to save a little money.

 

[Adam G]

Awesome. Can't wait to see how it works.

 

[kbb0118]

Floyd's stuff is really nice. Worth every red cent too. Honestly I don't know how he is making any profit on those.

 

[Fisherman]

I am have been thinking hard about one of these for my new build. They look awesome!

 

[data_loss]

Well it is kinda hacked together but it is up and running.

I guessed wrong on head loss for the pump. I calculated that I'm just under 200 gph with how high up I put it. It looks like it could use a little more flow right now.

Too tired to do water tests, will post initial water parameters in the morning.

 

[Adam G]

All right. So set up and rolling. Let's get some initial parameters. I want one of these!

 

[data_loss]

Test results from this morning are below. I was surprised by the phosphate result as it has been testing higher than that before today so I tested it a few times to make sure. I have had GFO running in a BRS reactor but its been running about a month and I thought it had been exhausted. GFO was taken offline this morning.

Nitrate (salifert):
10
Phosphate (Hanna Phosphate Checker HI-713):
.02

Specific Gravity (refactometer calibrated before test):
1.026
Temperature (apex probe):
78
PH (apex probe):
7.93
Alkalinity (salifert):
8.6
Calcium (red sea pro):
410
Magnesium (red sea pro):
1160

 

[data_loss]

Lights are programmed to run 9 hours a night from 11pm to 8am. I checked the heat sinks and they are just barely warm to the touch after running all night.

 

[clowning around]

scrubber

Thanks for this thread . Its been really informative:biggthumpup:

 

[Flounder]

Looks like a good product at a really tempting price!

 

[Toeknee]

How big of a setup are you running ??? (DT and sump) also would this scrubber be overkill for a 65 gallon setup???

 

[data_loss]

I have a 54 gallon corner tank upstairs plumbed to a few different 33 long tanks (sump, refuge, frag tank) downstairs. Total water volume is around 100 gallons.

The sizing guidelines for scrubbers are based on how much food you feed your tank a day, not how large your system is. The L2 scrubber is rated for 2 cubes of food a day.

Details on sizing guidelines can be found here:

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?1419-New-sizing-guidelines

 

[Adam G]

Wow, phosphates look good. From all I have read about these on RC people seem to be pleased with them. Nice to have a local trying one out as well.

 

[QTfish]

I can not wait for more results - I so want one. Keep the information coming please it is really going to play into whether I will get one.
Thanks for the updates.

 

[odie]

You might want to rethink your lighting. I think Bud recommended a 2 hours on 2 off schedule at first as the light is too intense for the algae starting out.