Turf Scrubber 5gal bucket - Page 2

trouble93 · 02-02-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaMonica

There are some things you can do to get your scrubber going (and there is more info in the FAQ below).

Actually you want less that 6500K. 2700 or 3000 is best. And you'll want at least a 23 watt instead of a 15 watt on that size screen. And preferably one on each side.

You'll want to replace the screen with roughed-up plastic canvas (this recommendation was changed after the write-up that you saw). Rough up the screen with a hole saw.

The reason the top of your screen has less algae is because the screen is too smooth (is not plastic canvas), and the rough water coming out of the slot is washing the algae away.

You'll need to get a full screen of thick (hopefully green) algae before you can start counting the weeks. You are not getting any growth yet, because of the screen material and bulbs, as mentioned above.

I have a new write-up for ponds and pools that might help; it's at the scrubber site, in the Design section.

Every 7 days, no matter what.

Would be a huge help.

Yes. If built properly, your macros will die.

Let's see where to start, the bulb is 65watts I took sand paper to the screen before I started, 6700k will add more growth. I'm not going to get much green algae because I dose vodka. My macro algae is before the turf scrubber so it will live. I'm not sure why you asked if I was getting growth yet, as you can see from day to day it growing just fine. Not sure if you read the post with full understanding?

SantaMonica · 02-03-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

it's a 65watt bulb but only uses the same energy of a 15watt bulb.

It's a 15 watt bulb. You do not count "equivalent" watts. Your lighting is too little.

Quote:

I took sand paper to the screen before I started

Sandpaper does not work. Must be a hole saw, or at least a wood saw blade:

Try a towell drop test:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/CanvasTowellDrop1.mpg

Quote:

6700k will add more growth

It will be less growth than 3000K. You want to be between the two peaks:

Quote:

I'm not going to get much green algae because I dose vodka.

The opposite. The lower your nutrients (presumably because of the vodka), the more green and less brown you should get. Green grows in low nutrients.

Quote:

My macro algae is before the turf scrubber so it will live.

Does not matter what is where, when it comes to nutrients. The nutrient level throughout the system is the same. If the scrubber is working, macros will die, every time.

Quote:

I'm not sure why you asked if I was getting growth yet, as you can see from day to day it growing just fine.

I know you have not seen many other scrubbers growing, but yours is not. This would be ok growth on a new screen:

...and this would be thick growth (in just one week):

A few changes and yours will be doing similar. Without the changes, however, it is not doing anything to the water and you could just remove it. Also, see here: Bucket Algae Scrubber

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