Mega-Powerful Nitrate and Phosphate Remover Replaces Skimmer, Refugium, part 1-4

Update: Electrical Safety

Be sure to seal your bulbs and connections with aquarium-safe silicone or sealant, especially if the bulb is down inside the sump. You can't see it, but there will be tiny amounts of salt spray that will build up where you screw the bulb in, and also where you made electrical connections. When the buildup gets thick enough, it will short out and blow a fuse. So each time you replace a bulb, re-seal it. You should be able to pour water over it without it causing a problem.
 
Hi SantaMonica.

While silicone-ing is good what you really MUST have is a GFI that your lights are plugged into. Running anything associated with an aquarium not fed thru a GFI is Russian roulette.

Lights associated with scrubbers are especially hazardous as they are hovering over the water with, often less than, solid mounts.

You also are handling them in cramped locations where it is easy to drop them into the sump, or a pail, or onto the screens themselves.

The decision to have an aquarium should always include a GFI. And, I implore anyone who is using a turf scrubber to get and install a GFI now, if your system doesn't already have one.
 
Even a better idea would be to fun a new circuit from the breaker box that has a GFI breaker installed. Dedicate that line to aquarium use only. I'd go with a 20 amp GFI breaker and use 12/2 with ground Romex wiring.

Kcress you did give good advice. Better safe than dead!
 
Update: Builders

Scrubber builders are needed, because many folks on different forums are wanting to try a scrubber, but they don't want to (or can't) build them. So if you are available to build a scrubber of any kind (sump, bucket, acrylic, LED, etc), pm me and I'll put you in the builder database.
 
Update: Sideways Spray Protection

If you think there may be times when you cannot clean your screen on time (at least once a week), you may want to protect it from sideways spray. Sideways spray can sometimes happen if you let the algae continue to grow up into the slot. The easiest protection is when you clean it; clean the part at the top, about a half inch (13mm) away from the slot, very thoroughly. Don't leave any algae behind at all. This way the algae will take longer to get thick here. You will lose a bit of filtering, but it won't sideways-spray as soon. Also, clean every bit of algae out of the slot/pipe, for the same reason. The other solution is to attach solid or flexible plastic strips to the side of the pipe, which will stop any spraying. And ideally, the strips should block light too, so that nothing grows into the slot in the first place:

UserSaltCrittersOnTR-1.jpg



UserJohntanjmOnSG-12.jpg
 
Update: CFL Reflectors

When I see a regular CFL bulb (not a floodlight) being used, I always say that it needs a reflector. Although it would just be easier to use CFL floodlight (which does not need a reflector), below are some reflectors you can use with regular CFL bulbs. You can find many others by searching for "CFL reflector", or by going to any hydroponics or gardening store:
http://www.hydroleaf.com/categoryview.do?cat_id=107
 
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