Algae scrubbers vs Refugiums

[Kaboobie]

Assuming you have an adequate space for either setup which one do you prefer? Algae Scrubbers or Refugiums or something else?

 

[User1]

I would vote refugium. The main reason is that I would grow macro algae that my tangs eat. I grew Gracilaria parvispora for a while in mine and I never saw as good color on my tangs when they ate that. Both Scopas and Lavender loved it. Probably not as effective nutrient exporter compared to chaeto but that wasn't my main reason for running a refugium anyway: Just a bonus.

Anyway refugium for me but either would work.

 

[Reefcowboy]

Have had both, can easily say a well designed refugium allows for a much more stable tank.
Not to mention maintenance is easier as well

 

[Spare time]

Refugiums are cheaper in my opinion because most sumps have space for one and space isn't a concern as long as you get a high par proper color light. Plus you can recycle the macro as food to some fish or sell it to others.

 

[FishyDP]

I have had both as well. I personally prefer a scrubber, as I found chaeto/caulerpa etc dies easily, in my systems.

 

[S2G]

I only keep chaeto in a fuge, but I prefer a scrubber. Works the same in 1/4 of the space. Very cheap to build out of acrylic

 

[Reefcowboy]

I have had both as well. I personally prefer a scrubber, as I found chaeto/caulerpa etc dies easily, in my systems.

It is a necessity to dose fertilizers(chaeto gro) to keep chaeto long term. I had similar experience with chaeto always dying off after a while as No3 gets lowered. Chaeto requires addition of iron molybdenum to survive, stay green and fluffy. If we do not dose they turn dark green, break off easily and die.
This is a pic of my scrubber at a day of harvest. Issue is you harvest one side at a time and No3 does rise until the algae grows back.
If you have a heavy bio load and lots of sps, you can definitely tell no3 rose a few ppm which isnt ideal.

Below is my refugium, supporting the same tank. I can harvest a small patch of chaeto a week and the No3 stays very consistent at the 5ppm range with heavy feedings which is great. Ph is also impacted with regugiums whereas my apex wouldn't show and benefit with the scrubber

 

[FishyDP]

Nice looking chaeto fuge. If you dont mind taking the extra step of feeding your macros, and utilizing a much larger footprint, chaeto works well for many. A scrubber takes 1/2 the amount of space, and no extra fertilizing needed. Yes if you scrape one side of the screen, no3/po4 will rise, same could be said when you harvest 1/2 of your chaeto? Alot of variables, how much you feed, how many fish, keeping sps vs lps/softies etc etc.

 

[ThePurple12]

An algae scrubber is much better at reducing nutrients. It’ll outcompete nuisance algae and keep your nitrates at around 1 or 2 ppm. It’s more effective because scrubber algae grows faster than macroalgae.

 

[Reefcowboy]

Agree with all comments above. Algae scrubber algae is a more aggressive type of algae and will outcompete all others.
I also agree the refugium has to be at a certain size to a minimum. Algae scrubber tank also needs to be fertilized from time to time. If you run one and dont keep some trace elements available, you will, just like other algae have an eventual die out(algae scrubber algae turns brown/falls apart). I had excellent harvests of deep green scrubber algae for many months. I run a tank with lots of fish, nitrate usually around 20ppm, dont run GFO, so the two nutrients are always available. I had repeated occasions of scrubber algae turning to mush, brown out and nitrate rise, reason I decided to try a refugium.

 

[Ippyroy]

I took out my socks and am now using chaeto as a filter and controlling nutrients. Where the water overflows into the old sock area, now refugium. a small amount of GHA is growing. I am probably going to add a screen there and then I will have both.

 

[Nick428]

Horizontal scrubbers are best for growing pods but a regular refugium is simpler cheaper and can work good enough. I know the BRS guys made a video and a simple clamp light gave them 0 n and p for 1 cube a day. Extra wattage seemed to only increase mass likey carbon and water content.

I just dont think scrubbers are worth the money.

 

[biecacka]

I was feeding 5/6 cubes a day and my auto feeder fed pellets 5 times a day with my turbo scrubber. thing performs amazing. never had luck with chaeto as it always died. But I might have had poor lights, too small of a quantity to start, I don’t know. I do have a friend that grows chaeto like crazy and has to toss it every few weeks. Either works I’m guessing, just a personal preference or maybe a set up preference.


corey