Cheesbox upflow scrubber!

[gulfsurfer101]

So it's food grade plastic and was practically built for this purpose.

 

Step one: drill out box using 1/8" drill bit.

 

Next pic shows where to place your two air stones. I only had one on hand but you get the idea.

 

Now silicone the mesh after scuffing it nice and good with some sandpaper.

 

A couple ceramic magnets or suction cups, small air pump, lighting and your good to go!

[ajmckay]

Cool. What are you doing about air flow? As I understand it you want bubbles flowing over all parts of the screen so most designs have a piece of rigid airline going across the bottom with holes in it so there's a "curtain" of bubbles passing all around the screen.

 

Also I think it's recommended to REALLY scrape up the screen, like people use saws and razor blades to make it rough to the point where chunks of plastic are sticking out like cactus needles. In other words the rougher the screen is the better it will hold the algae.

 

Finally, I think you haven't revealed the most important part What will you be using as the light source?

[gulfsurfer101]

I'll be ordering some red leds and a small driver from either groupbuy or steves for lighting. The screen has been sanded up a bit. The duel airstones should provide plenty of flow throughout the box. Remember, this box is the size of a small chees square so it's not very big. I'm running a larger turf scrubber under my 75g since something this little will offer no real help in a tank that size. I may test it out in a small ten gallon or I may just give away to someone who wants to try and make it work. I was having a sandwich while I had just completed the one for my 75g when I used the last slice of cheese and thought eureka, lol!

[gulfsurfer101]

Here is the design I put together real quick using a small sicce pump and about ten dollars worth of material.

 

First me and bug have to separate the parts and prep everything.

 

The hard part was channeling out the pvc by hand. My planer and table saw are under tons of stuff so some good old fashion elbow grease had to handle it.

 

Everything was made to snap in place, for easy cleaning. To remove the mat, just pop off the end cap, then slide out the mat, spray off and slide it back in. The cap pops back on easily.

 

 

Finally going to work under my 75g.