Algae turf scrubber on SPS tank...Anyone?

[Vmacisback]

Is anyone running this combo to help with nutrient reduction? Can seem to find much info on it. Thanks

 

[mc-cro]

I run a DIY srubber, and skimmer on my sps tank. I dont dose carbon or use GFO, although I do siphon detirtus from the sump once a week.. I am very happy with the results.

 

[Vmacisback]

I run a DIY srubber, and skimmer on my sps tank. I dont dose carbon or use GFO, although I do siphon detirtus from the sump once a week.. I am very happy with the results.

Man your tank looks great! what other filtration do you have going on this tank? Skimmer? I ordered an ATS and plan on using that in conjunction with my skimmer, i really wanted an alternative to pellets or vodka.
Do you have a build thread on here?

 

[DFW]

I have an acropora system that has run on a diy algae scrubber for about 3 years now with no skimmer.

 

[mc-cro]

I think scrubbers are a great way to deal with excess nutrients in a tank. Its impossible to overscrub a tank, its self limiting and safe. unlike gfo, pellets, or carbon dosing.

assuming you keep decent husbandry schedule

 

[yeldarbj]

I too am running a skimmerless sps tank and just using an ATS. I've been skimmerless for about 6 months and the tank has never looked better.

 

[Vmacisback]

I understand that you can go skimmerless I just dont see the point I guess. Why wouldnt you just run you skimmer for a few days a week? Are you nutrients so low that the skimmer would produce anything because its already being removed by the ATS?

 

[yeldarbj]

Here is the short story on how I ended up skimmerless with an ATS. I had a skimmer and no ATS with very low nutrients (0 nitrates, 0 phosphates) and developed a bad case of dinoflagellates. I tried everything and finally came to the realization that I needed to increase nutrients (grow algae, cyano, diatoms, anything) to out-compete the dinos. I experimented with an ATS and once it seemed to grow, I took the skimmer off to help the ATS take off. After a couple months there were no more dinos in the tank. My sps that had been very stagnant during the dino infestation started to color up and started showing signs of growth. Everything looks great now so why go back to a skimmer. I've thought about putting in an undersized skimmer at some point but I'm not there yet.

 

[Vmacisback]

Here is the short story on how I ended up skimmerless with an ATS. I had a skimmer and no ATS with very low nutrients (0 nitrates, 0 phosphates) and developed a bad case of dinoflagellates. I tried everything and finally came to the realization that I needed to increase nutrients (grow algae, cyano, diatoms, anything) to out-compete the dinos. I experimented with an ATS and once it seemed to grow, I took the skimmer off to help the ATS take off. After a couple months there were no more dinos in the tank. My sps that had been very stagnant during the dino infestation started to color up and started showing signs of growth. Everything looks great now so why go back to a skimmer. I've thought about putting in an undersized skimmer at some point but I'm not there yet.

I see, that makes sense I dont have dinos just high nitrate

 

[yeldarbj]

I actually had to dose nitrate for a while to try and get algae to grow.

 

[Pete polyp]

I actually had to dose nitrate for a while to try and get algae to grow.

I'm in the same boat

 

[Vmacisback]

Why not just add more fish or feed more?

 

[Pete polyp]

I fed 8 times per day with no results other than driving up the phosphate. I had 8 fish already (40 gallon)

 

[Vmacisback]

I fed 8 times per day with no results other than driving up the phosphate. I had 8 fish already (40 gallon)

do you have a Santa Monica ATS? How long did it take ur scrubber to get working?

 

[Pete polyp]

No, I don't have an ats at all. I don't even use a skimmer

 

[Vmacisback]

No, I don't have an ats at all. I don't even use a skimmer

I guess im confused on what the purpose of your comment was on a thread thats trying to obtain info on ATS systems with SPS since you dont have and ATS

 

[reefndude]

I don't use a skimmer. I do have a diy ats...not really growing much algae at this point.
Nutrient levels are on the low side

 

[jackson6745]

I am not a fan of ATS or fugues on SPS tanks because I want nitrate in my system. With 0 nitrates colors tend to be faded. If you keep .03 po4 and 10-15ppm nitrate you will have deep colored fast growing SPS (assuming everything else is stable and kept in range)

 

[Vmacisback]

I am not a fan of ATS or fugues on SPS tanks because I want nitrate in my system. With 0 nitrates colors tend to be faded. If you keep .03 po4 and 10-15ppm nitrate you will have deep colored fast growing SPS (assuming everything else is stable and kept in range)

Rich I follow your tank thread pretty close and have always been impressed. I dont think I am shooting for a ulns but for right now my ranges were a bit on the high side and growth was for sure stunted it seemed. Does your tank stay around the ranges you listed?, i know your tank matured pretty fast and grew pretty quick.

 

[jackson6745]

Rich I follow your tank thread pretty close and have always been impressed. I dont think I am shooting for a ulns but for right now my ranges were a bit on the high side and growth was for sure stunted it seemed. Does your tank stay around the ranges you listed?, i know your tank matured pretty fast and grew pretty quick.

Thanks. Yes, I keep parameters where I listed. This seems the best for growth/color combo IME. Of course this depends on lighting type. The problems that I had with growing macro for filtration is that it is too efficient in lowering nitrate. I also skim heavily and the combo of both strips my nutrients. I guess I would have to have a smaller skimmer or possibly go unskimmed, but then the macros aren't so great at reducing po4 I'm not sure which is the the best way, but I can easily keep the balance my way