Algae scrubber and when to add one

[flgbanjo]

Hi all! Newb reefer here and still in the process of setting up my SCA 66 gallon. I'll be doing a softie/fish combo reef with hopefully a relatively light bioload in terms of fish and feeding. I'm looking at going with a DIY algae scrubber as they seem incredibly efficient at controlling nutrients. I thought about chaeto but with the sump size I'm not sure I'd have enough to do much good. I'd also like to grow pods and I believe the scrubbers allow for that assuming you wash a few out before scrapping the algae off. Question is, when to add such a device? My assumption is test for phosphates and nitrates and if the levels are going up it's time to add one. I don't want to add it once enough is present to start growing algae in my DT since that might be too late. Thanks for any ideas! Love this community btw!

 

[mcarroll]

hopefully a relatively light bioload in terms of fish and feeding.

This is the best way to manage nutrients BY FAR.

So play it by ear and see what you actually need.

Don't make the mistake of solving problems you don't yet have.....aka don't fix what isn't broke.

Do more reading on algae and nutrients – they are not to be avoided, though they are something to be aware of.

In a nutshell, algae blooms are caused by big changes in the nutrient levels of a tank. When a tank is new, that level can more or less be considered zero. Build slowly from zero and algae will also build slowly. No problems for anyone.

If you run the typical plan of putting a bunch of animals in at once, you can also plan to have a bunch of algae at once.

It's not hard at all (outside of the temptation to add more, more more), and you're on the right track. Take it slow and you won't go wrong.

 

[Dumaurier7]

If you intend to keep progressing at whatever chosen pace, to a well stocked tank you’ll need one eventually so I’d say if possible now just go ahead and bite the bullet !

 

[flgbanjo]

Follow up question. If the scrubber does a good job my assumption would be I would need little to no clean up crew? I’d hate for them to starve. My thinking is do the scrubber and of see any hint of algae in the tank then buy a few snails/crabs.

 

[Erica-Renee]

Snails that clean up under the sand bed is a Must in my opinion , they also get under and between rocks .But for the most part a huge "CREW" is not needed. The people who started that myth are the same people who sell them..

I Would get a Nutrient export plan in place before you need it.. Rather it be a algae scrubber Very Ridgid water change schedule or other means.. All tanks go thou algae and Nutrient cycle issues . Just deal with them slowly and thoughtfully.. Nothing Good Happens Fast in A Marine Box of water ..

Good Luck

 

[mcarroll]

All tanks go thou algae and Nutrient cycle issues . Just deal with them slowly and thoughtfully.. Nothing Good Happens Fast

"Most" I would say...not all.

Unfortunately there's one area (at least) where folks just don't seem to apply the "Nothing Good Happens Fast" rule, and that's live-stocking.

Most folks tend to bomb their new tanks with masses of livestock.

That's where the predictable problems come from – algae-blooms as well as disease-blooms.

Thankfully they're avoidable for the most part too.

Start smaller and go slower with your live-stocking. Simple!

 

[ca1ore]

The ATS has become quite popular in recent years, particularly with the waterfall approach. I ran dump-bucket based contraptions in the 90's based on Walter Adey's classic book. Messy and space consuming. If you cannot fit a refugium then an ATS is worthwhile; though I agree to see where you are and use one if you need it, rather than anticipate issues. I've never found the waterfall ATS to be much good at producing pods, versus the older dump-bucket scrubbers. Also agree that ATS is not a replacement for the CUC; more complementary.

 

[MonsterReef]

I have thought about adding g one to my tank di they really make a deff

 

[Erica-Renee]

I have thought about adding g one to my tank di they really make a deff

They are not the miracle some claim them to be.. To me they seem to compete with Algae in the tank and starve it out.. as with the right light its a better environment for it to grow..

 

[Dumaurier7]

They are not the miracle some claim them to be.. To me they seem to compete with Algae in the tank and starve it out.. as with the right light its a better environment for it to grow..

Hav you ever owned one?

 

[Erica-Renee]

Yes.... I do ..

 

[Erica-Renee]

Yes.... I do ..

yes

 

[lion king]

I don't run scrubbers anymore, I run reactors; but I stumbled upon this once. I added an algae reactor to a tank that just finished it's cycle. The reactor must have sucked up all the nutrients that would usually spur the uglies, this tank missed the ugly stage all together. So my new practice is to add an algae reactor right after the tank cycles.

 

[Dumaurier7]

My tank was cycled and had been up and running for awhile with a sulphur de-nitrator on line as well. Suddenly out of the blue a huge Cyano infestation started covering every last bit of rock in my tank ! I did not know what to do other than physically remove it from the 300+ pounds of rock in my tank, a job I was not willing to undertake at all. I decided to purchase and install an ATS to see if it would help, I can honestly say that’s the only thing I did before the just cyano up and died before gradually disappearing over the period of about one month. Since then I have not had any algae issue what so ever, glass and sand is always clean only requiring light maintenance AND I have never done a water change!

 

[mta_morrow]

Just made this post about 15 minutes ago. Fired it up about 3 month after starting up the tank.

First chaeto harvest with Skimz reactor
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