Algae Scrubber Vs. Chaeto based Refugium - Any data on trace mineral effects?

[SpokaneSteve]

Hello all:

Sorry if this has been answered but if so I can't seem to find it here on R2R or on Google....

My question is whether there is any data on which type if Nitrogen/Phosphate control technique (algae/turf scrubber vs. Chaeto refugium) has less of an effect on trace minerals etc.

Thanks much!

Cheers, Steve.

 

[VintageReefer]

@SantaMonica any idea ?

 

[SantaMonica]

Mostly iron. If growing fast, iron will become limiting, and growth will look yellowish. Just feed more nori.

 

[exnisstech]

Mostly iron. If growing fast, iron will become limiting, and growth will look yellowish. Just feed more nori.

Thoughts on the color of what grows in my surf 4? A few days ago I cut lights back to 12 hours opposite the tank light. The algae is darker than it used to be but still looks a little light too me but this is my first ATS so I'm not really sure. I have 8 tangs but typically only feed nori once or twice a week so I could feed more. It is the fish poop from eating the extra nori what helps with the iron? Thanks

 

[Treefer32]

As to the original question, I think both have similar effects on trace minerals. I run an algae turf scrubber and over the last 6 years that it's been running I had it bleach out on me twice - as in all algae just over night turned pure white and appeared dead. It was the whitest cleanest algae I've ever seen. I contacted the turf scrubber maker and he's seen it a few times and usually related to insufficient trace minerals - specifically iron but could be others.

So, as part of my trace mineral dosing regimen (red sea trace minerals, a, b, c, and d which includes iron) I also add in a batch of Chaeto Grow for when I dose weekly. Since adding in Chaeto grow I have not had issues with my algae scrubber bleaching.

Algae requires minerals... Whether it's algae film on the glass and rocks or hair algae in a turf scrubber, or chaeto.

Plants require minerals. If there's a difference in what they require. Like Chaeto requires 10% less iron than the same amount of hair algae to grow. Or visa versa. I don't know. To me unless there's a huge difference e.g. one requires 70% less than the other, the differences are going to be negligible.

 

[Seansea]

Yes. That algae looks normal too me.

With 8 tangs you shoukd be feeding nori at least once a day.

ATS'S will drain iron iodine magnesium and other traces. I use AFR but it doesn't keep up. I add iron,captiv8 isol mt which is designed for scrubbers and some manganese to my ato. Icp every 3 months

 

[Treefer32]

I have 3 tangs and they devour a sheet of nori in 5 minutes. Granted they're very large tangs. One is in the 12-14" in size. He waits by the nori clip daily.

 

[exnisstech]

With 8 tangs you shoukd be feeding nori at least once a day.

I know many folks do that but my tangs graze the rocks and glass non stop all day. Some of my tangs are 6 and 7 years old and very fat and healthy looking. I've never had any hlle issues even with zebrasomas which appears to be caused by diet deficiencies, at least from the information I've read.

One gang begging for food. I feed frozen PE mysis, rods original, dk1 pellets, sustainable aquatics pellets, and formula 1 and 2 pellets 3-4 times a day and an occasional sheet of nori

 

[VintageReefer]

I know many folks do that but my tangs graze the rocks and glass non stop all day. Some of my tangs are 6 and 7 years old and very fat and healthy looking. I've never had any hlle issues even with zebrasomas which appears to be caused by diet deficiencies, at least from the information I've read.

One gang begging for food. I feed frozen PE mysis, rods original, dk1 pellets, sustainable aquatics pellets, and formula 1 and 2 pellets 3-4 times a day and an occasional sheet of nori

Have you tried feeding the algae from the surf to the tangs, they can eat it and you grow it for free

 

[exnisstech]

Have you tried feeding the algae from the surf to the tangs, they can eat it and you grow it for free

Actually the last time I cleaned it I gave them some. They love it

 

[VintageReefer]

Actually the last time I cleaned it I gave them some. They love it

Another plus for scrubbers. Free steady supply of tang food !

 

[exnisstech]

Another plus for scrubbers. Free steady supply of tang food !

I'm going to start feeding it to them daily. Just gave them a couple small handfulls and they all eat it. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[SantaMonica]

Looks good. Reducing hours will allow more nutrients in the water which will grow darker algae that consumes more nutrients. Yes you can feed it to the tangs, and feed less from packages.

Thoughts on the color of what grows in my surf 4? A few days ago I cut lights back to 12 hours opposite the tank light. The algae is darker than it used to be but still looks a little light too me but this is my first ATS so I'm not really sure. I have 8 tangs but typically only feed nori once or twice a week so I could feed more. It is the fish poop from eating the extra nori what helps with the iron? Thanks