DIY Algae scrubber
- Thread starter jaws7777
- Start date
The water fall scrubber has an overstocked growing population of African cichlids. So I can't really test.
I have 40 fish 2"-4" in 155 gallons of tank and sump, They are fed daily.
Each week I change out 55 gallons of old water, with new that already has 15ppm nitrate.
I remove 1/2" cup of algea weekly, and clean filter floss down to 100 microns, every 3 days.
I need to do some bigger wc, and bump up scrubber capacity, my be loose some fish.
Today I am at 30ppm, but short 30 gallons, and 20 watts of 660nn leds. I am sure that if I did not have a scrubber I would be on a 3x weekly wc
The last time I monitored it I was changing at 20 ppm, back to 15ppm, that was with 1" fry growing out.
The 30 gallon drip thur, is jammed as algea is blocking the Gem lights. So until I get the 10 watt 660nn going.
I had it working well in the past until my light drowned.
I have 40 fish 2"-4" in 155 gallons of tank and sump, They are fed daily.
Each week I change out 55 gallons of old water, with new that already has 15ppm nitrate.
I remove 1/2" cup of algea weekly, and clean filter floss down to 100 microns, every 3 days.
I need to do some bigger wc, and bump up scrubber capacity, my be loose some fish.
Today I am at 30ppm, but short 30 gallons, and 20 watts of 660nn leds. I am sure that if I did not have a scrubber I would be on a 3x weekly wc
The last time I monitored it I was changing at 20 ppm, back to 15ppm, that was with 1" fry growing out.
The 30 gallon drip thur, is jammed as algea is blocking the Gem lights. So until I get the 10 watt 660nn going.
I had it working well in the past until my light drowned.
Today on the 30 drip thru, it's not sluffing off. It is Blocking the lights
Tomt37
mentioned that he used a protein skimmer on his freshwater tank in another thread. Maybe he'd like to elaborate more to the nitrate reduction addicts.
Increasing CO2 levels would be the easiest way to increase yield. These units are used in hydroponics instead of airstones/venturis (for only a few minutes each hour). The company claims they increase yield up to 25% by increasing oxygen levels (to the roots) in the water to 12 ppm (from 7 - 8ppm).markstrimaran said:
O2 GROW
It's the electrolysis of water. Oxygen and hydrogen are separated from water molecules by passing a current between an anode and cathode. They are effective in hard, alkaline water and especially in hydroponic solutions with TDS above 500 ppm. In soft water with low conductivity they are not efficient.markstrimaran said:
2H20 -> 2H2 + O2
I never measured the amperage draw by this unit but it ran on 12VDC and was modeled after the 'Twinstar Sterilizer' and 'O2 GROW 10 gallon'. 'O2 GROW' uses 7 watts and the 'Twinstar Sterilizer' uses 6 watts. That's a lot compared to airpumps like 'Tetra Whisper 10' (1.5 watts), but since these units are on for less than 5 minutes each hour the overall power consumption should be around 0.5 watts.
I need to get a dissolved oxygen meter but, from what I understand, with electrolysis, higher dissolved oxygen levels can be reached ... 12 ppm compared to 8 - 8.5 max with airstones or venturis. The main difference is that airstones/venturis produce bubbles (20% oxygen from the atmosphere) which quickly rise to the surface. Electrolysis produces pure oxygen (and hydrogen) which remain in the water longer.
The Twinstar unit is actually marketed for use in planted tanks to *minimize* algae ... maybe by promoting healthier plant growth.
Twinstar
I used np biopellets in a fluidised media chamber .. so basically these are degradeable pellets made from a source of carbon that allows denitrifying bacteria to fix nitrates (or release as nitrogen) in an aerobic environment so no need for anaerobic conditions .. look up np biopellets ... when you use them to reduce nitrates start slow and build up the amount of pellets and they will remove nitrate as effectively as a ammonia and nitrites are removed by nitrifying bacteria in ur biofilter ... the big problem is that as the carb pellets are eaten in the process the excess bacteria forms a murky film in your sump .. so you need a way to extract the fixated nitrates .. lots of floss on the output would work but u would be changing nearly daily or if you can get a protein skimmer to work effectively it will too .. many marine tanks work on the biopellet and protein skimmer combo
I'd also add this will really keep nitrates under control but does not totally negate need for water changes .. water needs refreshed to maintain stability and trace elements ..to prevent a crash and promote fish health but it can make your aquarium conditions better and mean a bit longer between water changes if needed
You could also go down the anaerobic path with a nitrate reductor setup but they require more work ... if you're looking an easy option tetra have released tetra balance bioline balls which you just put into your filter like bioballs .. these work similarly but will increase your carbonate hardness slightly as the end product
How's that pump working? Your tower looks about 2 ft tall and the H-max for thay pump right at 2 ft? I have a similar 50 gph adjustable pump and it wouldn't work with a tall tower like that or towers in series but I think H-max is only 1.4 ft for this pump.
I was looking at other pumps.
JEBAO PP333 (66 gph) 2.5 watts H-MAX = 2.1 ft
66 GPH @ 0 FT
55 GPH @ 0.7 FT
34 GPH @ 1.3 FT
11 GPH @ 1.9 FT
0 GPH @ 2.1 FT
JEBAO PP377 (106gph) 5 watts H-MAX = 2.1 ft
106 GPH @ 0 FT
85 GPH @ 0.7 FT
50 GPH @ 1.3 FT
18 GPH @ 1.9 FT
0 GPH @ 2.1 FT
H-MAX is the problem.
I was thinking about using an MP 400/600/900/1200 pump/powerhead made by Cobalt Aquatics (not Marineland). I use an MP 400 with a modified pinwheel on planted tank for diffusing CO2 and an MP 900 as an external filter pump and they haven't given me any problems. For denitrators they can be run externally with a gate valve and/or a T with some flow redirected to reduce the 106/160/230/295 gph output.
Cobalt MJ 400 (106 gph) 5 watts H-MAX = 29"
Cobalt MJ 600 (160 gph) 7.5 watts H-MAX = 46"
Cobalt MJ 900 (230 gph) 8.5 watts H-MAX = 53"
Cobalt MJ 1200 (295 gph) 20 watts H-MAX = 69"
These could also be used with protein skimmers. Any opinions on other pumps/powerheads in this range for skimmers/fractionators?
markstrimaran
Angelphish
J
jaws7777
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