DIY Algae Turf Scrubber Video and Plans

[Gary S]

I did a video on my DIY Algae Turf Scrubber. Plans are available. Hope this helps some folks with their own builds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSI5WhlNAA

[TONY_C]

Originally Posted by Gary S

I did a video on my DIY Algae Turf Scrubber. Plans are available. Hope this helps some folks with their own builds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSI5WhlNAA

Gary, that looks great. I just finished my own, looks very similar to yours, I did not get my LEDs yet, they are the same ones you are using. I'm going with one per side and will probably modify the top cover to attach the LEDs to that. They are supposed to arrive end of this month. Great idea using the black contact paper, I had the clear plexi already, I thought about covering the sides that are clear, I may steal your idea to block the light from the sides.

My scrubber is smaller, screen is 7 x 7. It also looks like we came up with the same way to hold the screen on the tube.

Have you found a dimmer that will work?

[Gary S]

Originally Posted by TONY_C

Gary, that looks great. I just finished my own, looks very similar to yours,

Have you found a dimmer that will work?

Looks great Tony. Post up some photos, I'd love to see it.

[TONY_C]

Originally Posted by Gary S

Looks great Tony. Post up some photos, I'd love to see it.

I will when I get the lights in and mounted. And I don't have a tank yet, looking at a couple of different options but I may have found a used 75 gallon reef tank.

[TONY_C]

As promised, here are a couple of pics. Pardon the mess...lol.

[FullBoreReefer]

What lights? That seems bright

[TONY_C]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

What lights? That seems bright

I bought these. 30 Watts each. http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-20W-30W-...qvXxk7mAy33xCQ

there is a seller that is cheaper, I paid $21 each. I think the pic looks brighter tho, you are seeing the white screen lit from both sides and it kind of fools the camera a bit. Also, I ran them for about 8 hours and checked the temperature using an infrared camera, the backs were 64C (147F) and turning off the light to get a reading on the front it was about 40C (104F) and it was that temp after 2 hours so I think that the temps were maxed out. You can hardly feel any temp rise inside the box.

[Gary S]

Nice job on the ATS Tony. Wow, your temps are much higher than I've ever seen on mine. I'm running the 4 lights about 16 hours per day now. I don't have access to an IR cam anymore though. Is it okay if I use your pics in the next video update regarding the ATS?

[TONY_C]

Originally Posted by Gary S

Nice job on the ATS Tony. Wow, your temps are much higher than I've ever seen on mine. I'm running the 4 lights about 16 hours per day now. I don't have access to an IR cam anymore though. Is it okay if I use your pics in the next video update regarding the ATS?

Thanks for the kind words, Gary. I have a suspicion that the temps on the front are not accurate due to the nature of the tool I used to measure the temps that are reflecting off the glass. I think it's lower. Here are some better pics to use.

[MaccaPopEye]

Hi Garry,

That video popped up on my YouTube feed the other day. Really well done and in depth video! That ATS design is also probably the best I have seen using those off the shelf LEDs. Keeps the light in while not taking up too much space.

I wish that video had of been out before I built my DIY scrubber. This would have been much easier and used less materials. Maybe I will have to build another one in the future

Keen to see updates on it as it matures.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[FullBoreReefer]

Overall cost?

[Gary S]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

Overall cost?

All of the part numbers and companies I used are in the plans.

[FullBoreReefer]

Originally Posted by Gary S

All of the part numbers and companies I used are in the plans.

Rough estimate considering you've built it already?

[MidwesternTexan]

Nice build and nice video.

My ATS hangs over my sump and is working well.

[Gary S]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

Rough estimate considering you've built it already?

It's about $130 + acrylic

[ravi197699]

Here is my diy algae scrubber, It is made of wooden box that has been sealed with single coat of marine epoxy, size is 12" widex 26" long with 40 1w red led's on each side of the scrubber, Mesh is 10" x 24" and it has been running from 3 weeks with light on 24/7, and below are the pictures of the first harvest which was done yesterday, One side has less growth because I did not have the light ready so it was running on light on one side only,

Cost -

Wood - 6"x10' piece of wood - Lowes - $10.00
Glass - 12"24" 2 pieces - Lowes - 9.00
1w led's - 100 pcs -19.00 ebay
4 drivers 300ma each can handle up to 36 led's - 4.99 each
Marine expoxy - from previous project but form Lowes - 15.00
2 1" bulkheads - 6.00 from ebay
pvc pipe, ball valve - 10.00

[ravi197699]

first harvest

[rickztahone]

Originally Posted by ravi197699

first harvest

Impressive

[Gary S]

You have an impressive algae crop Ravi. Nice job!

[ravi197699]

Thanks guys, This is my second diy scrubber which half the size in width but height was same, but now I have upgraded my tank to 500 gal, I need more scrubber area and decided to build bigger one with 2x more surface area, Both units worked really well without any issues...

[downset21]

Originally Posted by TONY_C

I bought these. 30 Watts each. http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-20W-30W-...qvXxk7mAy33xCQ

there is a seller that is cheaper, I paid $21 each. I think the pic looks brighter tho, you are seeing the white screen lit from both sides and it kind of fools the camera a bit. Also, I ran them for about 8 hours and checked the temperature using an infrared camera, the backs were 64C (147F) and turning off the light to get a reading on the front it was about 40C (104F) and it was that temp after 2 hours so I think that the temps were maxed out. You can hardly feel any temp rise inside the box.

Tony, how has your scrubber worked so far? Any pics of a good algae harvest yet? I am currently buying the parts for my own diy scrubber based on Gary's designs.

[rq786]

Gary what a awesome and detailed video
And the scrubber came out Professional looking
Thanks for it

[TONY_C]

Originally Posted by downset21

Tony, how has your scrubber worked so far? Any pics of a good algae harvest yet? I am currently buying the parts for my own diy scrubber based on Gary's designs.

I haven't hooked mine up yet as I am still in the procurement stage of my setup. I had a tank lined up but it fell through so I've decided to get a new tank and haven't decided on the size yet.

[reeferdon]

I got Gary's plan. Its worth the $$$$ u save in the long run. I decided to order my acrylic percut and read for gluing. All Ill have to do is drill holes and glue it together, I ordered black acrylic.
All the precut acrylic ordered was less then $100

[Vanpire]

Originally Posted by ravi197699

Cost -

Wood - 6"x10' piece of wood - Lowes - $10.00
Glass - 12"24" 2 pieces - Lowes - 9.00
1w led's - 100 pcs -19.00 ebay
4 drivers 300ma each can handle up to 36 led's - 4.99 each
Marine expoxy - from previous project but form Lowes - 15.00
2 1" bulkheads - 6.00 from ebay
pvc pipe, ball valve - 10.00

Hey Ravi, can you give us the driver description and where you got it? Thanx.