Cheatomorpha Reactor
Personal Project
I designed and 3D printed a nutrient scrubber for my saltwater reef tank. The reactor takes advantage of nutrient uptake from the growth of cheatomorpha algae to purify aquarium water.
Water is pumped from my main tank into this transparent cylinder that contains cheatomorpha algae, then back to the main tank. I designed a scaffolding around the chamber that supports a flexible LED strip of grow lights directed inwards as a light source for the algae growth. As the algae grows, it draws nutrients (fish waste, decomposing food, etc) from the water that would otherwise support the growth of nuisance algae in my main tank. Once the cheatomorpha algae grows to fill the transparent chamber, I remove and discard a portion of the algae to allow more room for growth.
