Algae scrubber with no sump

[H2Orchard]

I tagged @SantaMonica so hopefully they will respond at some point or you can reach out to them directly on their website or PM them here on R2R. Good luck!

Thanks!

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Right now I'm feeding flakes. About 2 pinches a day. The lfs said not to feed frozen because then that's all the fish would eat. Not sure if that's true or not though.

That is a very small amount of food (depending on how many fish you have. & how big your tank is).

 

[H2Orchard]

They are a good idea, but they are specifically used as a way to control NO3 & PO4 levels. Do you have a problem with these nutrients being high?

My nitrates were a little high. I dont have a phosphate test right now. But I would like to get one to help mitigate future problems too. I do think my nutrients are high though based on the diatoms.

 

[H2Orchard]

Thanks!

Just 3 fish right now. Still a fairly new tank.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

My nitrates were a little high. I dont have a phosphate test right now. But I would like to get one to help mitigate future problems too. I do think my nutrients are high though based on the diatoms.

Your best at this point in time describing the size of you tank, the type & number of fish you have, & how long your tank has been running.
And yes, get a po4 test kit.

 

[H2Orchard]

I have a 33 gallon. 2 clowns and a firefish. Hermies, snails, cleaner shrimp and an urchin. Looking to add a watchman goby/shrimp pair and a blenny. Eventually add a mandarin goby after its been established. Soft corals mostly but the torch and frogspawn corals look cool. Maybe an anemone at one point when the tank is ready.
It's been going since Dec 12th.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I have a 33 gallon. 2 clowns and a firefish. Hermies, snails, cleaner shrimp and an urchin. Looking to add a watchman goby/shrimp pair and a blenny. Eventually add a mandarin goby after its been established. Soft corals mostly but the torch and frogspawn corals look cool. Maybe an anemone at one point when the tank is ready.
It's been going since Dec 12th.

What is you filtration?

 

[NHgoalstop]

Ebay has some chinese made HoB ones.

 

[H2Orchard]

What is you filtration?

Fluvel canister filter.

 

[sp1187]

I have a SURF4X. Works great but mine is floating in my sump.
Here's your option.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Fluvel canister filter.

I take it you added live rock?
Your system is still very new, algae - diatoms are not a concern at this early stage. Let your tank/rock/bacteria mature.
For your size tank & number of fish/feeding amount, a canister filter properly maintained, with regular water changes is sufficient. I wouldn't be contemplating an algae scrubber on a simple set up like yours, not at this stage at least.
Put some activated carbon in your canister.

 

[H2Orchard]

I take it you added live rock?
Your system is still very new, algae - diatoms are not a concern at this early stage. Let your tank/rock/bacteria mature.
For your size tank & number of fish/feeding amount, a canister filter properly maintained, with regular water changes is sufficient. I wouldn't be contemplating an algae scrubber on a simple set up like yours, not at this stage at least.
Put some activated carbon in your canister.

Ok. Yeah I do have carbon in the filter right now. And yes live rock and live sand.

 

[H2Orchard]

I have a SURF4X. Works great but mine is floating in my sump.
Here's your option.

Thanks!

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Ok. Yeah I do have carbon in the filter right now. And yes live rock and live sand.

Keep the sand clean

 

[H2Orchard]

Keep the sand clean

Is it ok to clean out the sand or does that bother the copepods and other things that should be in there?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Is it ok to clean out the sand or does that bother the copepods and other things that should be in there?

It needs a stir up when you siphon out for water changes. Use the search tool, at the upper right of the page, for previous threads on sanded maintenance

 

[H2Orchard]

It needs a stir up when you siphon out for water changes. Use the search tool, at the upper right of the page, for previous threads on sanded maintenance

Thanks!

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I feed flakes and frozen food. All of my fish eat both. At this point in the game you are going to experience different types of algea. You could look into carbon dosing to help your bacteria in your tank out. That will take care of mostly nitrates and a little bit of phosphate as well. At the end of the day though, your tank will balance itself out. The first year is called the ugly stage by a lot of Reefers lol. What are you using for lighting?

 

[H2Orchard]

I feed flakes and frozen food. All of my fish eat both. At this point in the game you are going to experience different types of algea. You could look into carbon dosing to help your bacteria in your tank out. That will take care of mostly nitrates and a little bit of phosphate as well. At the end of the day though, your tank will balance itself out. The first year is called the ugly stage by a lot of Reefers lol. What are you using for lighting?

Right now it's just a blue coral light and then a white one. Really don't know too much about it as it was given to me with the tank. I'm getting an AI Prime though next week.
Just not used to having an "ugly" tank lol. I've been able to keep my freshwater tanks so clean.

 

[H2Orchard]

Right now it's just a blue coral light and then a white one. Really don't know too much about it as it was given to me with the tank. I'm getting an AI Prime though next week.
Just not used to having an "ugly" tank lol. I've been able to keep my freshwater tanks so clean.

I don't have a skimmer right now.