algae filter screen for nitrate and phosphate removal
- Thread starter william1
- Start date
I read about this type of filteration years ago. Seems to work great, but would require such a huge set-up it's really not practical for the home aquarium.
Great Idea, along with the Plenum Filter and a few other "Can be done like this, but other methods work and are so much easier, why bother" </em>ideas.....
Great Idea, along with the Plenum Filter and a few other "Can be done like this, but other methods work and are so much easier, why bother" </em>ideas.....
So few people actually have it in the proper set up (actually tumbling) to really warrant a huge difference. I read the massively long thread on RC too about this. Some people were saying this was the end all be all...and some were less than slightly impressed. In theory it should work, but I believe it largely depends on how it's setup and how well you maintain it. So I guess this all goes back to proper husbandry, lol.
same issue with this though. Algea scrubbers have been used for filtration for decades but in order to see a difference you would need a few square feet of algea. The industrial ones cover acres!
Just like everything else in this hobby, trying to recreate a process that works in the ocean rarely ever works on a small/concentrated scale.
Just like everything else in this hobby, trying to recreate a process that works in the ocean rarely ever works on a small/concentrated scale.
I too have read about this on the Zeovit forums, and the main problem users were having was the water took on a green tint to it. It was caused by the cleaning that is required of the algae scrubber and how it ruptured cell walls of the algae.
All together it really wansnt the cat's meow, but it did work. And it did take quite a few square inches/feet to make it effective.
All together it really wansnt the cat's meow, but it did work. And it did take quite a few square inches/feet to make it effective.
I actually have this setup on my fish only tank. I just set it up (or one like it) last week. I used the return from my UV and just drilled holes in the tube so the water runs down the mesh screen. After one week, I see no algae, but I'm sure it takes a bit longer.
If anyone is going to try this, LMK....I have around 5 sheets of the mesh screen needed to do this project. I didn't use this on either of my reef tanks, as I don't have a nitrate issue. My FO tank always has nitrate issue!
As for the green water...I'm pretty sure as long as you take the screen out of the water to clean it, you shouldn't have an issue with the cells bursting in your tank.
If anyone is going to try this, LMK....I have around 5 sheets of the mesh screen needed to do this project. I didn't use this on either of my reef tanks, as I don't have a nitrate issue. My FO tank always has nitrate issue!
As for the green water...I'm pretty sure as long as you take the screen out of the water to clean it, you shouldn't have an issue with the cells bursting in your tank.
Im glad there are alot of posts about this. I too have read this before but paid no attention to it but it came back around so I thought I would throw it out there again for people to rip apart and figure out if its worth the trouble. And maybe see some pics from anyone here using this (Mfliin)
Maybe even come up with a new improved design for reef tanks where there wont be so much room involved.
Maybe even come up with a new improved design for reef tanks where there wont be so much room involved.
I know right.. I have seen him on 4 or 5 other forums...
I mean of coarse we couldnt set up a huge one under the tank but the idea seems relativly easy and cheap for people that might have issues of nitrates or phosphates. I cant ever seem to keep my nitrates in check and I dont really have a huge bio load.
I've been running one since December after following SantaMonica posts on FishLore.com. It seems ok. It did seem to totally get rid of all my nitrates. And pretty much no more green algae. Though I still deal with cases of cyno. Mind you, I don't have a large enough screen nor do I have bulbs on both sides which would also help.
But for the price, it is worth trying. I already had pump and rubber tubing to run it to the pvc. For me all it cost me was the light fixture, bulb, some cvpc (that's what I used) and a plastic screen from Michael's. Total cost was probably around $30 or so.
But for the price, it is worth trying. I already had pump and rubber tubing to run it to the pvc. For me all it cost me was the light fixture, bulb, some cvpc (that's what I used) and a plastic screen from Michael's. Total cost was probably around $30 or so.
Yep, this is probably not the best setup. It was the easiest way for me to try this without new plumbing. As for the flow rate, it was exactly the right speed...that was another reason I tried it. Maybe I will wait a few weeks and try this with the UV off and see if I get any changes. Right now I need to find a better bulb for the light......
Oil Fan, have you seen the thick mat of algae that was shown on the biuld thread with your setup? Thanks
