[vwmike]

Work begins, I'll start with a picture of parts and add some details as I go:

Mix of 3/4" and 1" pvc, some great waterproof external light sockets, and c clamps


$7 dry box from academy


The plug I'll use for the lighting


Closeup of the weatherproof sockets


8x11" screen from hobby lobby, 89 cents


Screen cut in half with a paper cutter for my two screens

[vwmike]

Construction starts:

holes drilled for water intake


Piece together water intake (not glued yet)


Water intake and how it will fit with the algae screens


Holes drilled for lighting

[Gonzobob]

Looking good Mike. Please keep posting.

I'm hoping to work on mine this weekend but probably won't have the time.

[vwmike]

Progress continues:

decided I'd need a 3rd light:








drain hole:






screen assembly:






attached (use slip connections to lid for easy removal and cleaning)
http://www.austinree...84_135_6089.jpg

http://www.austinree...4_135_12896.jpg

http://www.austinree...84_135_3644.jpg

http://www.austinree...84_135_2485.jpg

all finished but the wiring:
http://www.austinree...4_135_40563.jpg

[vwmike]

I ended up modifying and swapping some of the pieces used for installation, I'll post a final parts list, cost, and picture of the unit with a plug on it. Hope this gives some of you ideas....

[Zarathustra2]

I love this idea (might steal it from you.)

Is the box made of PVC plastic? (just wondering what to look for so I know a clone would be SFR (Safe For Reef.)

[offroadodge]

you can get this box at Academy. Its an ammo box. Plastic. So the question i have is what is this used for?(turf scrubber?)

[offroadodge]

Great idea, just went and googled what one was. Neat idea if it works let us know

[afgun]

Any updates on this, Mike? Is it in use? Effective at nutrient export? How is it for maintenance (ie how often do you scrape the screens)? Etc...

[lewk]

I've been running a really simple one in my sump since August, and my nitrates and phosphates have been at 0 for a long time now. They're fairly easy to maintain, I take the screen off and run it under tap water once a week or so. Sometimes, the algae will grow up into the screen and you'll get a little spraying, but it's really easy to hear when that's happening. That's the only real PITA I've noticed with them. I set this up on day 1 with a new tank and never really had any algae outbreaks with it.

afgun, on 21 February 2010 - 12:10 PM, said:

Any updates on this, Mike? Is it in use? Effective at nutrient export? How is it for maintenance (ie how often do you scrape the screens)? Etc...

[polarbear]

do you have pictures of yours? if so can you post them

[lewk]

Sure. The CFLs make the light look a lot more yellow in the pics than they look to the eye. I believe they're 2700k lamps, and I replace them every 3 months. This is a very basic DIY job, just a simple PVC frame, with the top slit about 1/8 of an inch that I cut with a Dremel. Screen is plastic canvas that you can get at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc. roughed up a bit with some sand paper. It's held in place with plastic shower curtain rings. I didn't need to use these until the screen started growing thicker algae, which got kind of heavy. For my next scrubber build, I want to make it easier to remove for cleanings and to put the scrubber inside of a clear acrylic box so that if it does spray anything, it doesn't really do any damage.

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