9 replies to this topic

[dryDiver]

Thinking of doing a algae scrubber/extractor. Need advice on the
plastic screen n water flow.

Where can I get the screen from?

What speed of water flow do I need n how to attach screen to
tubing? According to sm100 , flow should be 35gph, but not sure
how to attach screen to tubing. Irwana's looks like commercial style
not appropriate for home.

Any advice welcome. Kum Siah ☺

[mjck]

Screen can get from artfriend. Also, use a hole saw to roughen up the surface before use. Ask for plastic canvas; the type used for cross-stitching. With regards to screen size, wAter flow, lighting .. Can visit Santa monica's forum www.algeascrubber.net
Info at FAQ

[megacue]

Spot or spotlight at plaza singapora also have the plastic convas, they have two size. i bought the smaller hole ones. SM recommend 7-8 holes per inch if i remember correctly.

[dryDiver]

tks guys.

still got to figure out if i should saw a line across the pvc tube to insert the screen n use nylon- bind to tie the screen to the pvc

[mjck]

Saw mine with a full sized hack saw. Mine is only 11" long. So still managed to cut a messy slit and curved wider with a blade.

[dryDiver]

mjck, on 07 March 2012 - 12:51 PM, said:

Saw mine with a full sized hack saw. Mine is only 11" long. So still managed to cut a messy slit and curved wider with a blade.

is it extracting algae on ur screen?

i just got my screen from Artfriend n would be starting soon - 12 x 18inch. prob make 2 pieces, so as to alternate washing the sheet

[mjck]

It doesn't extract the algae. Instead its the growing hair algae on the screen will absorb nitrate and phosphate for food. You do not need another screen to change over. A new screen will take very long to grow algae. Mine took more than 3 weeks before algae starts growing (and I don't even run a skimmer then). Just scrape away the hair algae growth every week and the remaining bits of algae will "seed" the next round of algae growth. Remember to roughen up the screen with a hole saw brutally until it's really rough. My screen below...

Attached Thumbnails

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[rovtim]

I am thinking of building my own scrubber and running it direct from my return pipe in to sump but there is no a lot of space, meaning the size of the screen would only be 18inch x 8inch will this still be effective?

[mjck]

How big is your main tank? One sq inch per gallon is a rough guide without considering bio-load. Mine is only 10" x 8". It's also running from water feeding into sump.

[Ah-lim]

Guys, majority of these questions answers can be found at this website.

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/

Please read the FAQ, thanks.