I’m not sure how many people ave experience with algae scrubbers but i figured i would post and see. I am going to try to do an algae scrubber instead of a skimmer on my new tank but i was trying to figure out the best way to design it. I want to incorporate it into the overflow into the sump the way rosti did but i was thinking about a few modifications. I was thinking doing holes instead of a slit since that would be easier to make and some people seem to think you get more even flow that way. I like the idea of having it as part of the overflow because i am thinking that should eliminate most of the water noise from the water coming into the sump. My concern is that toward the time when it starts needing to be cleaned it will start slowing down the flow coming from the tank? (maybe this is silly but i figured i should throw it out there) I would really like to not have to get another pump to run the scrubber since i think there are several advantages to attaching it to the overflow. I saw a few builds where instead of attempting to zip tie the mesh to the pipe someone made a loop out of the mesh to slip over the pipe and they say they get more even flow this way. Im guessing gravity will keep everything going straight down the mesh this way? I also saw when they did this method to put a black plastic bag around the top of the pipe to try and keep algae growth away from the pipe. I have also looked at the upflow type of scrubber too and i wasnt sure if maybe there was a way to incorporate both into one scrubber or if you still get good algae growth on the portion of mesh that is underwater from the waterfall type of scrubber.
Im sure a lot of my questions and concerns will be answered once i build it and see how it works but i figured i would ask and see if anyone had experience before i waste money on a version that definitely will not work.
I have an algee scrubber that I made. I drilled the holes and yes they do somtimes get clogged.but if your cleaning the mesh then it’s easy to clean the holes with a tooth pic.yes you can use the water from your overflow as long as you have enough room to have Proper pitch for draining. Pm me if you wanna see some pics because I can’t post them from my phone
It likely would be time you would waste more then money. A good skimmer is going to cost a lot more then you could ever spend on a scrubber.
You talk in several places about getting more flow. Perhaps you mean something else by it, but if your tank drains at a certain rate because water is overflowing do you mean you would like to get it to drain more? You are only going to get so much to drain… I could be misunderstanding what you mean.
If you build the algae scrubber with the tubes leading to it like a U shape, with one end connected to the drain from your tank and another end connected to pipes leading to your sump and the bottom of the U with holes drilled for the scrubber it should work out. If the bottom of the U were to clog up then water would continue down the pipe to your sump. Scrubber would not receive as much flow because of the clog, but what your worries about (you’re tank overflowing) should not happen.
Im not referring to more flow coming from the tank, I was referring to more flow actually coming in contact with the scrubber. My biggest worry is having it get clogged and having the tank overflow. Jon’s suggestion of a U is a good idea and I guess if I make the holes big enough then the only time water should come out that end is in the event of a blockage. I haven’t ever done much with plumbing so I don’t really know how most of it works best.
Jons idea will work but then you would need a valve to regulate flow across the scrubber,and if thats the drain from your tank I wouldn’t recommend doing it that way because what happens if the valve clogs?the scrubber won’t be able to drain that amount of water.then there is a chance for the tank to overflow.could you tie into the return pump with valves to regulate the flow to the scrubber?
I think rosti uses his as part of his overflow like that so I think it could be done and that would save me from buying an extra pump and I think it would also quiet some noise of the water coming into the sump
I think it could be tied in the the overflow, but on the sump side, and not part of the plumbing per se. Water flows from the overflow tube over the algae scrubber so that as algae builds up on the screen it doesn’t impact the water flowing from the DT. If flow is reduced it simply spreads across the scrubber and can run in to the sump. I haven’t lookoed at Rosti’s scrubber in detail in quite a while, but I believe this is how he is set up. Reduces the opportunity for flooding to 0.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that it won’t work just making you aware of a snafu that needs to be addressed.i am using my return pump for my scrubber.i did consider your idea but was concerned about the amount or lack of flow it would have.i tee’d my scrubber into the return pump with a valve to regulate flow across the scrubber and not having to worry about “what if” it fails.then my scrubber dries out but no water on my floor.
I think it could be easily done, and safely using the overflow… and gravity is free ::
I havent researched scrubbers, but basically what amount of flow are we talking about?
what gph do you think your tank will be draining courtney?, and how much is “optimum” flow over whatever size screen your using? and btw do you have a 1 or 2 drainpipe style overflow?
I don’t think it would be hard, or expensive to put together some “T’s”, “Y’s”, and valves to accomplish it…
I haven’t seen rosti’s, but that would be my first question too… how’s it working/ functioning?
If we don’t get a response from him soon i’ll call russia ::
The tank is not drilled so it will have to be an overflow box. The one i think i am going to go with is a single 1" drain and will be about 600 gph. What i was envisioning in my head would be the plumbing coming down from the overflow box ending with the algae scrubber. Drill enough holes in it so that normal cirumstances would make all the water come out the holes but have a U go up after the scrubber that empties into the sump in cause of flow reduction/blockage due to excess algae forming near the scrubber. I would think that would prevent an overflow and also save me from buying another pump plus i would think that it would quiet some of the water noise of the water coming into the sump. I will be using a 29 gallon tank for the sump so i wanted to have a screen either 10.5" or 11" wide and i haven’t determined how long but i wanted to make it as big as possible for that sump. I could put it the other way in the sump and make it longer but i wanted to keep it further away from my return pump since im not planning on putting any baffles in the sump unless i absolutely have to for micro bubbles. I could get a 300 gph overflow box instead but i would rather have the higher rated one. From Rosti’s pictures I thought it looked like he had it plumbed right into the end of his overflow going into his sump and it didnt look like it had anything to prevent overflows due to a blockage but i am sure he would have done something for that since he is good like that. I have some time to plan everything since i dont think i will be adding the sump for at least a month or two but i wanted to get everything all worked out to make sure it is designed correctly. I want to try to replace a skimmer and fuge with the algae scrubber if possible since it is cheap and it sounds like one of the best ways to export nutrients. I thought also by having only the heaters and return pump and scrubber in the sump i might be able to get away with having a small frag rank in the sump since i should (theoretically) have extra space in a sump that size. Then again i might be being a little ambitious with that.
abcd now i’ve got the “u” design… that sounds like an easy failsafe…
My concern though is any back-pressure, if there is any…ie water built up in the pipe, airlocking it and doing a flush, gurgle, gulp routine every couple minutes… may not be an issue with the u-design… but something to think about/ test- run…
if you went with a PF800 overflow you could use one u-tube and have the two drains and then have one drain a little shorter feed the scrubber and the other as your failsafe and indicater of when to clean it.
No laughing at simplicity of the attached child like diagram.
I want to note I wanted to help with a plumbing question/issue. I personally think the skimmer or a full “fuge” would be a better way to go, but other will disagree with me.
No gate valve or Ts would be required to provide flow to the scrubber. Water will flow down the holes(or slit opening) unless they are clogged as it is the easiest way to flow. If the opening to the scrubber is jammed water will continue down the line and into the sump.
[quote=“beadlocked450r, post:16, topic:5769”]
Now I understand your “u” it’s called a reverse trap or inverted trap but yes that will work[/quote]
Ah yes! That is what it’s called. I always get funny looks when I go into the plumbing store and try to ask for a part or explain what I am looking for. Self taught after many years I know what just about everything does and how to properly use them, but the proper terminology always escapes me.
I have my scrubber like jons diagram if it clogs the level rises then pours up and out the end. It works well. I used perforated canvas roughed up with a hole saw it has a slit in the pipe and moves a lot of water. You must clean each week so this prevents clogging depending on nutrient levels in your tank. mine hasn’t clogged I use a long razor knife to clean each side of the slit.
[quote=“Gordonious, post:14, topic:5769”]
No laughing at simplicity of the attached child like diagram.
I want to note I wanted to help with a plumbing question/issue. I personally think the skimmer or a full “fuge” would be a better way to go, but other will disagree with me. [/quote]
Jon, I’m not going to disagree with you on the skimmer or fuge as i think they are both useful. However, after doing a bit of reading it sounds like the algae scrubber could be a viable alternative to very expensive equipment and potentially better for the tank. Since this is a new tank and wont have a heavy bio-load on it for a while a figure trying the scrubber cant hurt and then later on i can add a skimmer if i feel the scrubber is not keeping up with the nutrients. I definitely wont deny that a good skimmer is great for tanks but sometimes i think they can also take too much out and can be a pain to maintenance and keep dialed in depending on the tank. From what i have read a fuge sounds pointless with an appropriate sized scrubber because it will starve the macro in the fuge. This info is all just coming from what i have read and i could decide that it is all a bunch of BS later on but i figure since i don’t have a skimmer right now nor do i have the money to buy a good one I would see how the scrubber works and potentially save myself the money and hassle of skimmer. I am definitely going to set the sump up to be able to potentially ditch the scrubber and add a fuge and skimmer since I know that those are tried and true methods of nutrient export. Just thought I would broaden my horizons while there isnt a whole lot at stake in the tank ;D
BTW Jon big thanks for your diagrams, they are very helpful
You are 100% correct by saying the scrubber will starve the macro algee, as I have all 3(skimmer,scrubber,refug) and since adding the scrubber the skimmer doesn’t seem to remove as much as it did prior to the scrubber.and the algee in my refug isn’t growing the way it was,but it is still growing just not as fast
:
:
