Algae Turf Scrubber Lighting

[Zhewitt04]

I have 2 50 watt led 6000k lamps I was going to use for my ats. I wanted some input of the effects of a light like this. Would it work or do I need to invest in some better ones? It's similar to the attached picture.. thanks in advance.
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[xxkenny90xx]

Something like that will work ok but isn't ideal. A more red spectrum is much better. This is what I use for my fuge

 

[JosephM]

Something like that will work ok but isn't ideal. A more red spectrum is much better. This is what I use for my fuge

I use the exact same one and get amazing growth out of my chaeto

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

When I first started with scrubbers, I experimented with some 10k white leds I already had. They did ok, but I bought 10 watt grow leds (8 red 1 blue) on ebay for $4 a piece and work a lot better.

If I already have the whites, I would use them and see if it generates results I want. Most likely you'll move to red or grow lights though. Up to you if it's worth doing it twice.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

I can tell you from personal experience as well as feedback from others that as you shift toward the deeper red side of the general spectrum, growth improves.

What I've stuck to for that last few years is primarily 660nm Deep Red with a small supplement of 415-420nm Hyper Violet. This mixture hits the 2 chlorophyll peaks, but with different spectra. One on the red peak, one on the violet/blue peak. Seems to work better than hitting the 660 and 455 peaks on one spectrum.

The issue with using this mixture is that nearly all the stock LED grow lights use 660 and 455, but you're generally better off with that (IMO) than anything with a primarily white component (even 2700K-3000K LED). White LED lights are made for architectural or residential lighting for human eye rendering.

 

[t5Nitro]

@Ratherbeflyen Can you detail your DIY build there? Looks really cool. Wondering if I can use what I already have to do something like this for the time being.

Edit: I see it well outlined in your build thread! You're a DIY master from the looks of page 1. I like how your pipe attached to the screen sits inside the acrylic box. I quit using my ATS completely because the pipe continues to clog with algae and shoots a nice high velocity water jet out from the side of the pipe into the stand and onto the floor. I think if it were seated well inside the acrylic that wouldn't be an issue.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Fwiw @laverda has the simplest scrubber design. I spent $9 and now have 3 scrubbers in my sump

 

[t5Nitro]

Fwiw @laverda has the simplest scrubber design. I spent $9 and now have 3 scrubbers in my sump

Those are some cool ideas. Very shallow overflow box here and no room in any sump chamber for a sheet to light.

 

[laverda]

Fwiw @laverda has the simplest scrubber design. I spent $9 and now have 3 scrubbers in my sump

Glad to help. I bought one of the early commercial ATS's and it was the worst piece of aquarium equipment I ever spent anything for. It was not worth a fraction of what I paid!

Those are some cool ideas. Very shallow overflow box here and no room in any sump chamber for a sheet to light.

No reason a shallow one could not work. You can hang one in you baffles. You could fold it so it flows into the next sump chamber. Or cut it to fit around your skimmer or other equipment.

 

[t5Nitro]

I like that. You don't worry about lighting the sump up without a dedicated box? Seems like it would grow GHA all over the sump. Although... thats a lot easier to brush out than gha all over the tank.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I like that. You don't worry about lighting the sump up without a dedicated box? Seems like it would grow GHA all over the sump. Although... thats a lot easier to brush out than gha all over the tank.

My sump is already lit for my chaeto. I didn't add and extra light for The scrubber. The scrubber sheets actually block some of the light from getting to the other sections of my sump

 

[laverda]

I like that. You don't worry about lighting the sump up without a dedicated box? Seems like it would grow GHA all over the sump. Although... thats a lot easier to brush out than gha all over the tank.

It will depending on what you light eliminates. Use several sheets of mesh to make the gha easy to remove. The mesh is less than $1.00 a sheet at the local Michael's, probably cheap in bulk or on line. You have little to lose at $1.00 a sheet. Buy a bunch and experiment or pay big money for questionable junk.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

@Ratherbeflyen Can you detail your DIY build there? Looks really cool. Wondering if I can use what I already have to do something like this for the time being.

Edit: I see it well outlined in your build thread! You're a DIY master from the looks of page 1. I like how your pipe attached to the screen sits inside the acrylic box. I quit using my ATS completely because the pipe continues to clog with algae and shoots a nice high velocity water jet out from the side of the pipe into the stand and onto the floor. I think if it were seated well inside the acrylic that wouldn't be an issue.

In addition to my build thread, I made a separate thread with more detail here.

Skimmer algae scrubber build

In an attempt to save energy, and space both in my sump and power bar, I decided to build an algae scrubber using the water return from my Precision Marine skimmer. The first step was to test the removal if the gate valve on the outflow portion of the skimmer. All the gate valve does is restrict...

www.reef2reef.com

My design uses gravity alone to flow water. That prevents any spray from using a pressure line. If the scrubber clogs, and the desired algae will grow into the screen slot restricting flow, then the water just flows over the top of the pvc and down the inside of the box. All the water ends up in the same place, even if the entire pvc and screen is removed.

 

[Zhewitt04]

I am going to try these guys out...inexpensive so if they don't work out I will get something different at that point.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B082FZC174/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A1QQX86TZFR5EJ&psc=1

 

[laverda]

I have 2 similar LEDs and they work great! One has 2 rows of LEDs not working now, but for the price and how long I have had them I am still happy with mine. I paid $25 each I believe.

 

[Screwgunner]

40 watt led in 2 days with lights on 14 hours screens covered with green algea.

 

[Screwgunner]

40 watt led in 2 days with lights on 14 hours screens covered with green algea.

Problem is it puts me at .00 phosphates and 0 nitrates . I have a smaller one on the way.