Algae Turf Scrubber Or Protien Skimmer

[tsav87]

Votes and comments please

 

[Reefcowboy]

I run both on a 150 gal sps system, and although I have an efficient large scrubber screen lit both sides harvesting algae like crazy, my skimmer cup still gets filled with nasty skimmate every 4-5 days.

I personally would invest on a skimmer if you had to do one or the other, and would find methods to drop nitrates and phosphates with other means. Scrubbers work great because they work to fine tune a thanks nutrients to where you want them naturally, but a scrubber does not replace a skimmer of course scrubber manufacturers would disagree as scrubbers take a lot of sump room

 

[tsav87]

Bump. Need more votes.

 

[TexasTodd]

Both. Ditto what cowboy said.
Put the food in, and rip it out.

 

[Water Dog]

Although I will be running both for the current build I’m working on, if I only could choose one, I’d opt for the skimmer only option. My rationale being that people have been running the “Berlin Method” with proven success for decades, using just live rock and a protein skimmer as the only forms filtration.

 

[Orm Embar]

I'd go with macroalgae filtration, but I run a refugium with chaeto and a grow light. Cheap, simple, effective. I wouldn't pick a protein skimmer as, per Advanced Aquarist, they remove 20-35% of dissolved organics. I have found macroalgae to keep my nitrates and phosphates much lower, and also at a much lower cost (and less work!). I'd pick a turf scrubber over the skimmer, but I'd pick a refugium first since it's essentially still "macroalgae + light" (assuming you call turf algae macroalgae, which is somewhat of a stretch) for less money and less equipment. If I had a space issue, then I'd look at a turf scrubber or chaeto reactor.

 

[Metasyntactic]

Turf scrubbers and protein skimmers do different things and have different functions. The macroalgae in the turf scrubber exports nitrates in the water. It's chemical filtration. Protein skimmers bind with organics and remove them before they can break down into phosphates and nitrates. It's mechanical filtration. I'd recommend both for a robust filtration system. Personally, I prefer waterfall turf scrubbers.

 

[Jay1982]

I used to run both. They do different things and working them in tandem is the best option. (I say used to, because I am just getting back into the hobby)

 

[tsav87]

Well, here's my dilemma. I have small amounts of GHA growing in the crevasses of the rock in the DT. I am running a skimmer, albeit not the greatest (Simplicity 120). I tested yesterday and PO4 is 0 and NO3 is a tinge pink above 0 ppm but below 2 ppm. Suggestions on what to do here? Leave it alone, call it a day? Buy an urchin? My tangs keep it from growing long but they don't eat it to the rock.

 

[Metasyntactic]

Well, here's my dilemma. I have small amounts of GHA growing in the crevasses of the rock in the DT. I am running a skimmer, albeit not the greatest (Simplicity 120). I tested yesterday and PO4 is 0 and NO3 is a tinge pink above 0 ppm but below 2 ppm. Suggestions on what to do here? Leave it alone, call it a day? Buy an urchin? My tangs keep it from growing long but they don't eat it to the rock.

Take a fluconazol and call me in the morning. Seriously, fluconazol is the BEST at wiping out GHA. Only caveat is that it might kill any macros in your system. I left some chaeto in my tank when I last treated and that seemed fine. It'll take two weeks and you can't run your skimmer but I swear by it.

 

[Reefcowboy]

Take a fluconazol and call me in the morning. Seriously, fluconazol is the BEST at wiping out GHA. Only caveat is that it might kill any macros in your system. I left some chaeto in my tank when I last treated and that seemed fine. It'll take two weeks and you can't run your skimmer but I swear by it.

Agreed. Flux HD is a great product. Def recommend it

 

[Metasyntactic]

Agreed. Flux HD is a great product. Def recommend it

Or just save yourself money and pick some up at your local CVS or Walmart pharmacy. It's just a generic over the counter anti yeast/fungal medicine. A lot of the aquarium brands are actually just repackaging flucamed brand fluconazole. I bought myself a 100 pack and it'll last me forever.

 

[jda]

Urchins and mexican turbos can do wonders.

I would also run both. The gas exchange from the skimmer is nice. I think of the skimmer as getting out the gunk before it enters the N cycle whereas the ATS gets it after.

 

[AlexStinson]

I will echo most of the others and say both, I think they work well in tandem.

 

[jda]

Remember that if you want to grow algae in ATS or Fuge, then it will also grow in your display without any consumers. If you just a small amount in the hard to reach areas, then get some consumers. I like Urchins from the Florida Keys, Mexican Turbos but Lettuce Nudis can do wonders if you do not have a ton of flow.

Keep in mind that protein skimmer can also remove metals like copper, zinc, tin, etc. that bind to organics, in addition to gas exchange.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Protein skimmers can't remove nitrate and phosphate directly, but they remove waste and food before it comes nitrate and phosphate.

Algae scrubbers, on the other hand, work by using nitrate and phosphate directly. They can't remove food and waste before it has broken down into nitrate and phosphate.

There are likely benefits to running both. If I had to choose one and only one, I would choose a skimmer. If I could choose both, I would do so (and have done s0, I currently run both).

 

[Skep18]

Skimmer. Basic necessity IMO.