Algae Scrubber???

[maksim serebro]

Here's a photo of my tank.
Its plainly obvious that its a horrible yellow & brown tainted mess with algae growing all over everything because I use an ATS.
I don't use a skimmer, & only a little GAC that I change every 4 weeks or so, & I rarely do a water change.
I guess If I change all those things my tank may be a little closer to OK.

I just can't keep an sps alive

and a shot of this problem algae growing all over my bare bottom & everything else (dam coralline)

Hi, I’m am currently trying to use an ATS but having trouble growing algae on the screen. Nitrates and phosphates are present. I was watching a video on YouTube mentioning Clearwater scrubbers and they state that over time, scrubbers remove trace elements and if not replenished algae will not grow. So I just wanted to ask if you are seeing this and if you are, how are you handling this. Thank!

 

[James M. Shih]

Is anyone using an algae scrubber and if so does it work well? Does it keep your display tank algae free? What equipment are people using for an algae scrubber? I’m thinking of making one but want opinions on if it will be worth it or not.

I have this tank running around 2008 or a year or 2 earlier. LED was replaced about 9 or 10 years ago.
I have no algae in the main tank. All 3 N's are always at 0. It's been over 12 years and still running without any problems.

Protein skimmer is running but not doing anything. The aquarium store put it in and I wanted out but he told me it'll put more air into the water. Didn't want to argue so I left it in.

The tank is around 390 liters including what's in it. Roughly 90 gallons tank. I'm in Taiwan. Had this setup long ago after lots of research and seeking advise from Santa Monica (Bryan).

The ATS is one sided, I have the algae grown on 5 separate slabs so it makes it easier to take out and clean once every 2 weeks. The size surface was made according to what I read on Santa Monica's forum at that time.

Started with light tubes with 27000-35000, but once there was already made LED came out I had it replaced for the ATS and the aquarium.

Temperature kept at 24 degrees celsius
18 hours of light and 6 hours off per day.
10% water change with Salt water mix every 2 weeks.
Have a auto pump for magnesium, Kh, and other trace elements.

I guess that's it.

 

[James M. Shih]

Hi, I’m am currently trying to use an ATS but having trouble growing algae on the screen. Nitrates and phosphates are present. I was watching a video on YouTube mentioning Clearwater scrubbers and they state that over time, scrubbers remove trace elements and if not replenished algae will not grow. So I just wanted to ask if you are seeing this and if you are, how are you handling this. Thank!

I use ATS only aquarium for over 12 years. NP shouldn't be a problem with ATS. Never had any yellow coloring when I take out the turf and have it scrubbed once a week or once every 2 weeks depending on the amount of algae accumulated.