Acroholic's Algae Turf Filter Build
- Thread starter acroholic
- Start date
Here is an overall shot of the finished ATF with one 96 watt Coralife 6700K Quad tube light over it. I built a black frame that holds two of these fixtures if I decide to go with more light, but in the interest of electricity I'll try to keep it at one light for now.
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>
>
class="gc-images" title="Picture 174.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>
- Messages
- 3,454
- Reaction score
- 0
So how does this compare to a fuge set up to tumble chaeto? Is it supposed to be better, or just a different way to accomplish the same thing. Will pods be in the algae too?
That is a nice Algae Factory you have there 
The turf filter mat is supposed to eventually get colonized by turf algae, which are supposed to be the most efficient at taking up excess nutrients. The idea being the turf algae will outcompete the other types, and effectively move algae production from the DT to the Turf Filter. You alternately harvest the grown algae from the mats on a weekly basis.
Thanks. I just hope it works out into something that is beneficial!!
I'll have an updated shot of the mats tonight. They are nice a dark brown now. I have also redone the PVC AGAIN!
One error I made when I built the PVC that holds the mats and distributes the water over them is I used too narrow a PVC pipe. I have not been taking advantage of the flow capabilities of the Mag 12 as much as I should.
I started with 1/2" PVC, then went to 3/4" PVC, and I have just redone the algae mat holder PVC assembly with 1" PVC. I have gotten significantly more flow each time. The Mag 12 only has 3/4" ID inlet and outlet, and I always thought you didn't need anything wider than that,
but the Mag 12 instructions say to upsize the output to 1 1/2" PVC for maximum flow. Now, that thickness of pipe or tubing is hard to work with at best. 1" tubing is really stiff as it is, so I don't think I'll go any wider than 1".
On http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=68">his FAQ page</a>, the guy at AlgaeScrubber.net suggests bulbs in the 2700-3000K color range:
[I]"Experience has shown that at least a 23 Watt Compact Fluorescent (CFL) floodlight, of the 2700K or 3000K color, works best..."</em>
He goes further to say that one 23W is a bare minimum and that the color of the lighting should be 6500K or less.
Picture time and algae mat cleaning time. Here are some pics of the water distribution pipework redone with 1" PVC. Flow is fantastic now. Mats have been up and runnign for over a week now, and the important thing about ATFs is to clean the mats once a week NO MATTER WHAT, so I think I need to make one day a week ATF maintenance day, like Sunday night or something.
First 3 pics are the ATF assemply, and a couple pics of the mats, now grown dark with brown algae. After a few weeks they should get colonized by hair algae. I hope they get followed by turf algae. I have read that turf algae needs a surge type system to grow, and also that this has not been proven, but time will tell.
Last pic is of the mats post-cleaning. You are supposed to scrape them in fresh water. I used RODI for this. The freshwater kills any pods on the mats. I am using a plastic putty knife to scrape the mats. I am also, at least for a few times, using the hole saw minus the drill to rough up the mats a bit more. The rougher the better.
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>
>
class="gc-images" title="Picture 175.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>
>
class="gc-images" title="Picture 176.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>
>
class="gc-images" title="Picture 177.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a>
>
class="gc-images" title="Picture 178.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>
First 3 pics are the ATF assemply, and a couple pics of the mats, now grown dark with brown algae. After a few weeks they should get colonized by hair algae. I hope they get followed by turf algae. I have read that turf algae needs a surge type system to grow, and also that this has not been proven, but time will tell.
Last pic is of the mats post-cleaning. You are supposed to scrape them in fresh water. I used RODI for this. The freshwater kills any pods on the mats. I am using a plastic putty knife to scrape the mats. I am also, at least for a few times, using the hole saw minus the drill to rough up the mats a bit more. The rougher the better.
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>
I really don't know why. I would think to use saltwater, but the directions were specific about using freshwater, adn that you wanted to kill the pods. Wait....I remember...the pods eat the algae, and you want the algae to grow, not be food for the pods.
Oh and congrats on the disppearance of your hair algae.
The pods will be in the algae. When you tear off tufts sift through it and I will bet you will find some fatties. They were everywhere in what I used to rip out of my overflows. Can't be bad I promise. It would take more than an army to clean a scrubber off to the point of being innefficient
