Rethinking the algae reactor.. Product idea.

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

The idea is kinda simple and already done with Amazon strip LEDs...

I however wanted something that is UL/Ip rated and also looks clean....

Something that is actually designed to grow and not burn down the house or crack the reactor would also be key here.

I give you... I don't have a name for it yet....

Custom made led strips (Made in Canada) to fit the right spectrum and heat constraint. It is also ip rated so will last more then a few weeks in a saltwater environment.

It will fit on the most common size reactors on the market..

The overall price point would be low.

Developing products is fun

.

Feet4Fish · Sep 3, 2019

Very interesting. Building a ATS soon and a couple of those on either side might work quite well.

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

Yea i figured people could expand on it however they would like.. i.e. mounting on a sump or above a refugium.

It is designed to be flat mounted to acrylic and plastic so the options are there... I was thinking about adding in mounting Velcro top and bottom for the end user to have the option right out of the box.

dantimdad · Sep 3, 2019

This is how I ended up mounting the led strips to the DIY one I was using.

It works very well. I tried several fastening systems and ended up going back to velcro but, I put staples to hold it because the adhesives either fell off or made the velcro too hard to function properly.

Reefcowboy · Sep 3, 2019

soffutt said:
Very interesting. Building a ATS soon and a couple of those on either side might work quite well.

I ran an algae scrubber and IMO you shouldn't run them along with chaeto.
You will starve the chaeto and not get enough growth on the scrubber.

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

dantimdad said:
This is how I ended up mounting the led strips to the DIY one I was using.

It works very well. I tried several fastening systems and ended up going back to velcro but, I put staples to hold it because the adhesives either fell off or made the velcro too hard to function properly.

Yea i had the same problem but we use a plastic non hook and loop Velcro from 3M, It is used quite often in the trade show industry on large sets and so on. We have had luck with testing but a s/s staple would not be a bad idea...

KleineVampir · Sep 3, 2019

Actually I was thinking along these lines last night. My refugium walls are clear....but couldn't they be mirrors on the inside? Then it would just bounce the light around like crazy in there! Plus there would be no light bleeding into my display.

AZMSGT · Sep 3, 2019

There is already one on the market like yours. The lights spiral the outer case.
Just can’t remember who makes it.

dantimdad · Sep 3, 2019

Elder1945 said:
Yea i had the same problem but we use a plastic non hook and loop Velcro from 3M, It is used quite often in the trade show industry on large sets and so on. We have had luck with testing but a s/s staple would not be a bad idea...

I failed to mention it was stainless staples. regular ones would literally rust within days.

Interested in the hook and loop product you use though.

You and I need to collaborate on a product one day.

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

AZMSGT said:
There is already one on the market like yours. The lights spiral the outer case.
Just can’t remember who makes it.

Pleas find it

... I have seen multiple full blow reactors done this way but never a add on product that works with existing reactors.

I would be interested to see how they dealt with the heat issue..

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

dantimdad said:
I failed to mention it was stainless staples. regular ones would literally rust within days.

Interested in the hook and loop product you use though.

You and I need to collaborate on a product one day.

Ill pull the stuff out soon and post a picture...

I am open to any idea

large or small..

dantimdad · Sep 3, 2019

Elder1945 said:
Ill pull the stuff out soon and post a picture...

I am open to any idea large or small..

Once I get my store open, we will talk.

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

dantimdad said:
Once I get my store open, we will talk.

Sound good. Its nice to see people take the plunge of a store as they can be a fun and profitable business.

Feet4Fish · Sep 3, 2019

Reefcowboy said:
I ran an algae scrubber and IMO you shouldn't run them along with chaeto.
You will starve the chaeto and not get enough growth on the scrubber.

Thanks! My plan is to run the ATS and no ther macro algae. Will be a building a custom 36 x 18 ATS

coseal · Sep 3, 2019

do these led’s run cooler than the amazon strings? Or just not being in direct contact doing the trick? Design looks awesome!

Jon Fishman · Sep 3, 2019

What happens when your tank's temperature hits 88 MPH.... errr.... Degrees fahrenheit?

Elder1945 · Sep 3, 2019

coseal said:
do these led’s run cooler than the amazon strings? Or just not being in direct contact doing the trick? Design looks awesome!

They are actually custom made LED for this purpose and run way cooler than the Amazon leds. The quality is a bit better as well.

The actual led strips are made down the street from my shop so this allows me the ability to customize whatever i want.

More and more led related projects are in the works because of this