Alkatronic or Algae Scrubber for pH Control???

[Kengar]

tank is still newish (set up with a bunch of well cured real rock from one place and fiji maricultured rock from another; real rock been there since November, fiji maricultured rock for 3 mo's or so by now).

pH cycles between 7.9 or so and 8.1 or so, with skimmer being turned off at night to reduce CO2 input from the air

So, question/poll: If you were going to add one piece of gear to stabilize, would you add an algae scrubber and run when main lights are off, or an alkatronic and run always? i'm leaning toward scrubber since it will pull other nutrients out without adding stuff into the tank (chemicals) like the alkatronic, and it's less expensive. thoughts?

 

[Big G]

Bump

 

[Cory]

Id say an alkaltronic is better here because ph wont be effected much with either device. A co2 scrubber is more appropriate if the goal is ph increase.

 

[mr9iron]

Id say an alkaltronic is better here because ph wont be effected much with either device. A co2 scrubber is more appropriate if the goal is ph increase.

Corey,

Do you have experience with an algae scrubber? I ask because my new build will be in my basement where CO2 levels are higher and I struggle with PH.

I’ve read that algae scrubbers use the available CO2 to aid in plant/algae growth.

Is this growth so negligible that I won’t really notice a difference?

I’ve been looking at the Santa Monica Rain 2 scrubber.

 

[Cory]

Corey,

Do you have experience with an algae scrubber? I ask because my new build will be in my basement where CO2 levels are higher and I struggle with PH.

I’ve read that algae scrubbers use the available CO2 to aid in plant/algae growth.

Is this growth so negligible that I won’t really notice a difference?

I’ve been looking at the Santa Monica Rain 2 scrubber.

Yes they use co2. But that is only when they consume nutrients to grow. If youve only got a little nutrient, then youll only get a little co2 removal. I have had 2 waterfall scrubbers before. They work amazing at removing no3 and po4 but in the end co2 gets in faster than it takes it out. The solution is outside fresh air.