DIY algae reactor warning

nkyreef · Jan 30, 2018

I had this TLF 150 for an algae reactor. It was probably installed for about three months. I wrapped the led strip around the reactor itself. Big dumb mistake. The heat from the lights caused stress fractures and it leaked. I don't know how much leaked but it sure caused a mess.

sfin52 · Jan 30, 2018

I didn’t think led produced that much heat

nkyreef · Jan 30, 2018

sfin52 said:
I didn’t think led produced that much heat

When I broke it down I noticed they were really warm. These are the ones I bought from Amazon www.amazon.com/Topled-Light[emoji768]-Plant-Adapter-Spectrum/dp/B01EZTUYRA. I don't know if it was because it was a Two Little Fishies or whether it would happen to any reactor.

George Villasenor · Jan 30, 2018

nkyreef said:
When I broke it down I noticed they were really warm. These are the ones I bought from Amazon www.amazon.com/Topled-Light[emoji768]-Plant-Adapter-Spectrum/dp/B01EZTUYRA. I don't know if it was because it was a Two Little Fishies or whether it would happen to any reactor.

Is the link working? Since the page doesn't exist anymore.

nkyreef · Jan 30, 2018

George Villasenor said:
Is the link working? Since the page doesn't exist anymore.

My copy/paste on mobile didn't work so well. Let's see if this works... www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EZTUYRA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517365904&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Topled+Light+LED+Plant+Grow+Strip+Light+with+Power+Adapter%2CFull+Spectrum+SMD+5050+Red+Blue+4%3A1&dpPl=1&dpID=51SbRDne4UL&ref=plSrch

sfin52 · Jan 30, 2018

16 ft wrapped around that that would produce some heat. Less lights I think you may have been ok. Still a great warning. Led are known for low heat output.

nkyreef · Jan 31, 2018

sfin52 said:
16 ft wrapped around that that would produce some heat. Less lights I think you may have been ok. Still a great warning. Led are known for low heat output.

I thought I was good. I had wet carpet for a couple of days which was a real bummer. And I need a new reactor now lol

ReeferBean · Jan 31, 2018

The DIY chaeto reactors scare me, but I can understand why a lot of people try it. The manufactured products are really expensive.

Reef-junky · Jan 31, 2018

ReeferBean said:
The DIY chaeto reactors scare me, but I can understand why a lot of people try it. The manufactured products are really expensive.

Water fall reactor

Reef-junky · Jan 31, 2018

nkyreef said:
I had this TLF 150 for an algae reactor. It was probably installed for about three months. I wrapped the led strip around the reactor itself. Big dumb mistake. The heat from the lights caused stress fractures and it leaked. I don't know how much leaked but it sure caused a mess.

It is a pretty thin reactor. I have one my self for carbon and your putting the LED’s on the plastic.

Jo P White · Jan 31, 2018

nkyreef said:
I had this TLF 150 for an algae reactor. It was probably installed for about three months. I wrapped the led strip around the reactor itself. Big dumb mistake. The heat from the lights caused stress fractures and it leaked. I don't know how much leaked but it sure caused a mess.

Same thing happened to me, I used the same reactor. I cute the strip length down and it is still way too hot to keep on for long. I just bought a light fixture with the red blue grow lights to just aim at the reactor, it has to heads to aim at each side. I’m hoping it works since the led strip was a fail.

The manufacturer in China on the led strip was a mess saying the striping should only be attached to tile floor, brick, or concrete. Totally not useful for any practical application related to growing plants/algae lol

sticksreef · Feb 1, 2018

Hi.

What if you use some spacers for the strips? So the leds are not in direct contact with the plastic reactor?

Cheers

pagoda1958 · Feb 6, 2018

I use the phosban 100 (smaller) no issues for over a year. Stays on 24/7. I bought a set of led strip light at Lowe's. Stays cool. I have to empy reactor every 2 weeks. It gets stuffed with chaeto.

nkyreef · Feb 6, 2018

pagoda1958 said:
I use the phosban 100 (smaller) no issues for over a year. Stays on 24/7. I bought a set of led strip light at Lowe's. Stays cool. I have to empy reactor every 2 weeks. It gets stuffed with chaeto.

First I started with 12 hours on and 12 hours off. After a while I just left it on like you. I never could get chaeto to grow. I tried twice. I'm going back to GFO. I have a ton of it. It'll be going into a somatic reactor this time.

fishbox · Feb 6, 2018

Wrap the lights inside a 6" pvc tube and then you can just place the reactor inside of that without the light coming in contact with the reactor. You can even add a small PC fan for air movement

reeferfoxx · Feb 6, 2018

I think a lot depends on how much lighting was wrapped around the reactor as the reactors have active cooling from the water flow. Should have at least 2 inch spacing between each strip(or curl). Then again it could be the quality of the light strip itself, as well.

reeferfoxx · Feb 6, 2018

fishbox said:
Wrap the lights inside a 6" pvc tube and then you can just place the reactor inside of that without the light coming in contact with the reactor. You can even add a small PC fan for air movement

I think if you were to cover it with the PVC and noting the water isnt going to help cool the lights, a fan would be required due to the spacing with a lack of air flow.

fishbox · Feb 6, 2018

Yeah that's why I mentioned the fan. I'm wondering if I got too much light on mine as I can't seem to get cheato to grow. I got the whole 16ft of light wrapped around my Phosban 550

reeferfoxx · Feb 6, 2018

fishbox said:
Yeah that's why I mentioned the fan. I'm wondering if I got too much light on mine as I can't seem to get cheato to grow. I got the whole 16ft of light wrapped around my Phosban 550

Could be. I ordered the Glime LED waterproof strip light. It comes with a dimmer.