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Swimming Decorator crab

Revolving algae scrubber

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7 Comments
by
Paul B
, 10-24-2012 at 06:56 PM (2437 Views)
This prototype runs by a refrigerator timer motor and takes about 1 1/2 minutes for a complete revolution. I have noticed that rocks at low tide that are out of the water, but remain wet grow much more algae than rocks that stay submerged all the time. I am using that principal for this device to see if it grows more algae then my algae trough.
It is lit with 18 LEDs that are about 1/2" from the belt which is cotton cloth on a plastic screen which is simple to remove.
If it works well I will build a much larger one to replace my algae trough.

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‎ DIY projects

Comments

  1. melev's Avatar
    That's pretty neat. What does the motor usually do in a fridge?
  2. Paul B's Avatar
    It is a timing motor for controlling things like defrost cycles.
    There is also a motor like this to push the ice cubes out of the ice cube maker into the bin. Geared down motors like this are common in appliances.
  3. Alaska_Phil's Avatar
    Cool. Definitly keep us posted. This seems a lot less disaster prone than surge systems that try to accomplish the same thing.
  4. Paul B's Avatar
    Well we will see about the disaster proof thing.
  5. Alaska_Phil's Avatar
    The only problem I've had with the vertical screen system I'm using now is when the water slot at the top gets plugged and it squirts water out of the sump. I seem to have fixed that now by draping a piece of black plastic over the top. It prevents algae from growing at the slot and plugging it up, and catches any squirts, directing them back down the screen. So far no problems since I added the plastic.

    But you system doesn't seem to have any water under pressure. I'm assuming this just sits on top of a sump?
  6. joeogio's Avatar
    thats interesting!
  7. Paul B's Avatar
    No sump for me. This thing revolves just hiting the water for maybe 10 seconds. There is no pump and no slots involved