Algae scrubbers

Reeferboy92 · Jun 18, 2019

hel reefers just got a Clearwater scrubber 100 for my 112g tank. I have it mounted over my sump. Unfortunately I had to take my skimmer out because I had no room

all in all my question is to you guys. Em i gonna be okay with just the scrubber? I heard a lot of people saying you don’t need a skimmer with the scrubber

Ron Reefman · Jun 18, 2019

OK, I don't consider myself an expert here, but these are my thoughts on the subject.

Skimmers and ATS or refugiums do 2 different jobs. The ATS grows algae which pulls nitrates and phosphates out of your water and keeps unwanted algae from growing in the DT. Refugiums do the same and then a bit more. The skimmer is pulling proteins and some other biological contaminants that will stick to the surface of bubbles out of the water. I don't think that includes nitrates or phosphates. If what you had heard about an ATS being able to replace a skimmer was true, a lot of people would be using both the ATS and a skimmer for no reason.

IMHO, both will help keep different things at low levels in your water. Do you need both? No. Do you need either one? No. There are reefers who don't use either. But most of us rely on at least the skimmer. And many have, or are now adding ATS or refugiums because they do different work.

theMeat · Jun 18, 2019

It depends on bioload.
Ats is like an refugium on steroids, in terms of nitrate and phosphate removal. Without the added benefit of giving pods a place to feed and breed away from predators.
If you take skimmer offline expect ats to grow more , faster.
Take ats offline and skimmer pulls the same amount of skimmate.
Skimmer pulls out proteins before they breakdown and enter the nitrogen cycle.
Skimmer oxygenates the water raising ph.
If you have enough rock, sand, and other media that can breakdown the added proteins/ammonia into nitrates then it’s not a problem. If you have enough oxygenation without skimmer then that’s not a problem neither. Many people find they can take skimmer offline once ats is established. For me I did the opposite, since I already had a large refugium.