Cali Kid Corals

DIY Algae Reactor ideas

kinetic

kinetic

Supporting Member
BARcard
Algae Reactor

Why:
  • My sump is tiny and has no dedicated refugium
  • I'm not a fan of coralline and algae in the sump and skimmer etc (who is really) that would form if I had a fuge light spilling over the whole sump / cabinet area
  • I like gadgets and trying things
There are some solutions out there, like the Pax Bellum ARID reactor. Those are pretty pricey, though seem well built. There is also the Skimz MBR127 or MBR157, but that sits internally in a sump, which is so ridiculous. And lastly, there's reactor kits that MarineDepot sells, for example, that's just a regular reactor with LED's around it. This last one has the most issues: heat and corrosion on LED power connectors.

I am thinking of putting a BRS reactor together, getting some red/blue LEDs, and running it inline with my other stuff. The only thing I don't know how to do is to cool the LED's and to get LED's that don't have any fire hazard issues.

The LEDs that people are using get so hot that it starts to damage the reactor walls. They can also be too bright and basically burn/bleach macroalgae other than chaeto (so they need to dim).

I don't know how Skimz does it, but the ARID reactor seems to have a pretty cool heatsink. Skimz I think just has a crystal quartz/glass sleeve rather than plastic, and just uses that as a heatsink into the water that runs through the reactor.

Any ideas?
 
Yup.
9bf2b0fd303a61d912d835d7a4d2e003.jpg
 
RandyC said:
View attachment 7825

Just put this one together with an Avast MR10.

View attachment 7823



View attachment 7824
Click to expand...

Which light did you get? How are you dealing with the heat and longevity?

Everywhere I'm reading, any LEDs over time are damaging plastic when done this way. And over time meaning over 6 months.

I'm thinking of just finding something like a metal "sleeve" to mount the LED's on, and slip the sleeve with LED's over the reactor, leaving some air space between LED and the reactor plastic, while hoping the metal sleeve acts as a sort of heatsink.
 
kinetic said:
Which light did you get? How are you dealing with the heat and longevity?

Everywhere I'm reading, any LEDs over time are damaging plastic when done this way. And over time meaning over 6 months.

I'm thinking of just finding something like a metal "sleeve" to mount the LED's on, and slip the sleeve with LED's over the reactor, leaving some air space between LED and the reactor plastic, while hoping the metal sleeve acts as a sort of heatsink.
Click to expand...

I've only had it running for 2 days. Not doing anything in particular for cooling. Thinking water was enough to keep it cool. Doesn't seem to get too warm.

These are the lights that I purchased. Uses ~40W for the 5M strip.

Led Strip Grow Lights, Vemico Waterproof Plant Light Strips Full Spectrum 16.4ft / 5M SMD 5050 Red Blue 4:1 Flexible Growing Light Strip Kit with Power Adapter for Hydroponic Greenhouse Plants Tent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRHQMYH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YCZTzbMY2T42R
 
RandyC said:
I've only had it running for 2 days. Not doing anything in particular for cooling. Thinking water was enough to keep it cool. Doesn't seem to get too warm.

These are the lights that I purchased. Uses ~40W for the 5M strip.

Led Strip Grow Lights, Vemico Waterproof Plant Light Strips Full Spectrum 16.4ft / 5M SMD 5050 Red Blue 4:1 Flexible Growing Light Strip Kit with Power Adapter for Hydroponic Greenhouse Plants Tent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRHQMYH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YCZTzbMY2T42R
Click to expand...

You used the whole 5 meters? Or is it able to be cut?

Yeah, I keep reading (a LOT) of people start with the setup, and on page 5 or 6 of each of these threads, they all notice damage and have to back out of using it. I've yet to find someone with these that hasn't had an issue. Though I haven't heard anything bad about the MarineDepot setup. Maybe those LED's aren't hot at all.

I'm definitely looking to get the Red/Blue to cover that Chrolophyll A/B spectrum, but a regular warm light led that doesn't have heat issues would be better I guess.
 
Whole 5M. You are able to cut it where it indicates on the strip, but I don't see a reason to. 5M provides good coverage over the entire MR10.
 
scuzy said:
I've had the red blue and it didn't grow as well as these marine depot ones.
Click to expand...

I've heard the same thing. Someone tried both on a different forum and said the Accel ones from MD grew it better.

Maybe I'll just get a BRS single canister and wrap the accel strip around it and see what happens.

Are you guys running it 24/7 or reverse of your DT lights?
 
kinetic said:
I've heard the same thing. Someone tried both on a different forum and said the Accel ones from MD grew it better.

Maybe I'll just get a BRS single canister and wrap the accel strip around it and see what happens.

Are you guys running it 24/7 or reverse of your DT lights?
Click to expand...

I am running mine reverse for 12 hours right now. 8pm-8am.

If you're worried, do this (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/which-led-strip-light-for-chaeto-reactor.309419/):

24b084f946a6bc49e220a76e2e184c72.jpg


I'll let it go as is and see what happens and post back regarding chaeto growth and/or damage.
 
That looks pretty cool. I think I have an extra CPU fan somewhere. I just wonder if I can find a pvc tube large enough.
 
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