I would like to try the freshwater application of this filter. What would I be seeding it with?
Mega-Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover Replaces Skimmer, Refugium, part 1-4
- Thread starter SantaMonica
- Start date
Any algae that is growing in your tank. you could probably even run plant leaves, fake plants, driftwood or gravel on it just to spread some life onto it. Or, just skip seeding and it will take a little longer to get some good growth going.
Most vegetative filters for freshwater involve growing plants instead. However, I have seen it done with turf species.
I was more talking like shown in the diagram below.
Since my sump is already setup with the lips on the partition, and when the water falls over it , it is quite loud. The turf screen would work in two areas for me, quiet and scrubber.
The led panel will hopefully get here today. It should be quite ample for growth, as it is supposed to grow a 6' by 6' area of plants. I could possibly find the lumens and nano meters and par etc, but the true test will be in function.
Hopefully the scrubber will leave enough nutrients for my macro in the left chamber. Since the overflow dumps into it, I would guess I'll be alright.
Where did you order your LED panel from? Also, how will you get an even flow across the turf screen?
I ordered it from on ebay. It showed up since that post. It is severly lacking IMHO. We'll see how it works. There are screw in spot type ones that may work better than the panel. i like the panel due to clearance. I get alot of stray light it seems, which may be ok as the other plants need light also.
As far as flow, I guess gravity will have to play the big part. As the tank is now, it flows fairly even over the falls, so I should be ok.
I just pulled it apart for giggles. Looks like I can replace red with white quite easily. I'm going to go to the 99¢ store and see what they have for led lights. I have bought some for a buck that had 4 white bulbs.
Years ago I was researching this technology to use on my boat, to save energy. White LED's were $1 a piece in bulk.
I guess it all comes down to the spectrum the bulb throws out.
So this panel is pretty much all plastic, which is good for the corrosion side of it. Rather simple in design, a circuit board that has a chrome reflective on one side, then the printed circuit on the other. A small rectifier bridge to convert it to I believe 12 volts. Bulbs were wired in series (not good if one goes out), with 6 to a series, I didn't think to count LOL.
I'll pull it apart again and check everything more thouroughly later.
Years ago I was researching this technology to use on my boat, to save energy. White LED's were $1 a piece in bulk.
I guess it all comes down to the spectrum the bulb throws out.
So this panel is pretty much all plastic, which is good for the corrosion side of it. Rather simple in design, a circuit board that has a chrome reflective on one side, then the printed circuit on the other. A small rectifier bridge to convert it to I believe 12 volts. Bulbs were wired in series (not good if one goes out), with 6 to a series, I didn't think to count LOL.
I'll pull it apart again and check everything more thouroughly later.
WHat do you think of these LEDs.
http://www.besthongkong.com/product...d=700&osCsid=36e3877a5f3e990bc6f9e42468667570
http://www.besthongkong.com/product...d=700&osCsid=36e3877a5f3e990bc6f9e42468667570
Snail: Nice layout and use of sump space.
As for the place of the macro "first" in the flow, it does not really matter like it does with skimmers. Algae eat N and P, which should be the same throughout the water column. So here's an idea: Since the sump is not set up yet, you could start with the screen first and get it growing. Watch N and P, then add the macro if you see that you need to. If you end up not needing macro, then you have more room for LR which is what it looks like you want in the section on the right.
My concern is the LED being enough light, and being close enough to the screen. If they are not enough, then at least it's cheap to get two of these:
http://www.buylighting.com/23-Watt-R40-Compact-Fluorescent-Flood-5100K-p/tcp1r4023-51k.htm
You'll know within a week; you should have a light to medium brown covering across the entire screen by Day 7.
Well actually, if the scrubber works as it's supposed to, the macro probably won't make it. The whole idea (benefit) of scrubbers is that they pull the nutrients down farther and faster than other macros. They do this by virtue of of them being in full sun (in nature), so they have the highest photosynthesis rate (which is what pulls the nutrients out). But at the lower light levels of the LED, we'll have to wait to see what happens.
As for the place of the macro "first" in the flow, it does not really matter like it does with skimmers. Algae eat N and P, which should be the same throughout the water column. So here's an idea: Since the sump is not set up yet, you could start with the screen first and get it growing. Watch N and P, then add the macro if you see that you need to. If you end up not needing macro, then you have more room for LR which is what it looks like you want in the section on the right.
My concern is the LED being enough light, and being close enough to the screen. If they are not enough, then at least it's cheap to get two of these:
http://www.buylighting.com/23-Watt-R40-Compact-Fluorescent-Flood-5100K-p/tcp1r4023-51k.htm
You'll know within a week; you should have a light to medium brown covering across the entire screen by Day 7.
