Upflow Algae Scrubber in filter chamber - do I need an airstone?

[BurgerFish]

Hi,

I want to put a DIY Upflow Algae Scrubber in the central area of my AIO tank.

Do I need to use an airstone there? Do people use an airstone for UAS more for flow or for oxygen?

Thanks

 

[robert a millen]

I've wondered the same.

 

[robert a millen]

The algae attachment surface will have a turbulance barrier near the materials surface as water flows by. I forget the technical term but the gist of it is that the water nearest the surface of the attachment surface will be harder for the current to penetrate. My understanding is that bubbles can help to disrupt that barrier and allow more nutrients to the surface of the algae.

I think you should try it without the bubbles and see. If you have to add the air stone after a few weeks to get growth, there would be no downside or harm in trying.

 

[BedrockIOMC]

Is that the fluval evo?

 

[BurgerFish]

Is that the fluval evo?

Yea.

The algae attachment surface will have a turbulance barrier near the materials surface as water flows by. I forget the technical term but the gist of it is that the water nearest the surface of the attachment surface will be harder for the current to penetrate. My understanding is that bubbles can help to disrupt that barrier and allow more nutrients to the surface of the algae.

I think you should try it without the bubbles and see. If you have to add the air stone after a few weeks to get growth, there would be no downside or harm in trying.

Thanks

Do I need to use airstone or just make holes in the tubing?

 

[robert a millen]

Yea.


Thanks

Do I need to use airstone or just make holes in the tubing?

I think a few small holes would do the trick. That's how the Santa Monica upflow scrubbers do it.

 

[BurgerFish]

I think a few small holes would do the trick. That's how the Santa Monica upflow scrubbers do it.

The problem is, that all air outs by the first hole...

 

[robert a millen]

The problem is, that all air outs by the first hole...

If that is the case, the first hole is either too large or the air pump is underpowered.

 

[rhynobar]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com.au/ulk/itm/192562914694

Hi I was wondering if thos grow lamp would suffice for my up flow scrubber ??

Thanks in advance

Rhyno.

 

[rhynobar]

Installed !! Been running for 48 hrs .. no growth yet .

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Hi,
Do people use an airstone for UAS more for flow or for oxygen?

the bubbles main purpose is for flow. As the bubbles rise they move water past the screen. It also creates an air water interface so their is never a lack of co2 for photosynthesis.

 

[BurgerFish]

Yep, without airstone in AIO chamber the grow is the same, but less noisy.

 

[bozo]

How did this work out?

I'm planning on taking off the black sticker of one of the chambers on my IM Nuvo 25 lagoon AIO and toss a roughed up plastic screen in the chamber. Will put a magnetic LED on the dry side of the chamber.


Thanks

 

[BurgerFish]

How did this work out?

I'm planning on taking off the black sticker of one of the chambers on my IM Nuvo 25 lagoon AIO and toss a roughed up plastic screen in the chamber. Will put a magnetic LED on the dry side of the chamber.


Thanks

It will work fine.

 

[jackiemon]

So final verdict is NO air stone required for AIO tank?

 

[BurgerFish]

So final verdict is NO air stone required for AIO tank?

No, you dont need it.