Are Algae Reactors Worth it Compared to ATDs?

[OhMatic Jr]

I have a L4 HF rev 3 ATS scrubber and it works great but I need at least one more or a L8.
Due to space restrictions I tried an Algae reactor (ClearTides), it didn't work well, I made some modifications (Light & Flow), Worked better but not well.
I made a bigger DIY algae reactor, no luck, I increased the light but I'm still not happy with the results.
I've read that an ATS will out compete an Algae Reactor but if I'm still getting algae growth inside my display tank I figure there is enough resources for algae to thrive in an algae reactor.
I've dosed iron using the guidelines suggested for the ARID but have not been able to get results I've been happy with.
I'm thinking a bigger ATS is the way to go which for me means a new sump...

 

[Diesel]

Hmmmmm, still see algae growth!
Can you provide some pics and some test results?
Is this a new tank set up or it's been a while?
In most cases the elevated nutrients in the tank is the cause of feedings.
Now that said I have seen tanks that nobody ever put food in there and yet still has algae.
Reactors can be excellent but due to algae dying off in there you still feed the algae or better said you still have nutrients coming in your system.

 

[OhMatic Jr]

Diesel
This tank has been running for three years.
Yes the nutrients in the tank are from feeding fish.
Not sure how a picture of algae would help and the test results vary
You stated: "Reactors can be excellent..." Did you mean algae reactors?
What are your personal experiences with algae reactors? Do you use an algae reactor with a ATS?

 

[OhMatic Jr]

Algae Reactor vs ATS

 

[Diesel]

I used only a home made ATS.
Curing the liverock and cycling your tank over a period of a year gives you long term payback.
I never has any problems with algae and I feed the heck out of my fish.
I don't run any reactors or ATS or any other nutrient control bottle or something.
My Po4 is 0.04 and my No3 I keep at 5ppm with No3 dosing, if I ain't dosing within 24 hrs my No3 is down to nothing.

 

[reefwiser]

An algae reactor is just another way to do a algae scrubber. In this hobby we have a tendency to make fancy looking devices to preform simple task's. So you are currently feeding more to your fish. An your currrent scrubber and skimmer combo is still leaving enough nutrients in your tank to support algae growing on your rock work.
Just changing to a different style will not do the trick you need to increase the size of your algae scrubber.
Next option use a phosphate resin to help remove the extra.
Next option is you skimmer is it possible to get a more efficient model.
An now perhaps the best option and perhaps the most difficult to preform for a lot of people. Really watch what you feed your fish.
Creating a balance of food intake and nutrient export is one of the biggest struggles for hobbyist. Slowly decreasing the food input to the tank until you achieve a balance in the input and export. An your tank will be on its way. It will take a few weeks to see the algae die off once you see the die off keep the same feeding level.
Achieving balance is your main goal in aquarium keeping and one that once achieved will let you become a successful fishkeeper. Adding more equipment is not always the best choice.

 

[OhMatic Jr]

reefwiser
thanks for the good info posted above.
I probably should have described my situation more...
I do understand the basics of nutrient balance and don't consider myself a novice. I have been keeping salt water fish for over 33yrs. One thing I like about this hobby is you are continually learning.

-my situation/why I feed as I do: I live in Hawaii, (I collect all my fish and help others do the same) I got tired of helping people and two or three months later they'd be asking me to help them catch more. Even after precise instruction on how to transition the fish to tank life.
So now I hold the fish we catch in my tank(usually for two weeks) to transition them from wild to dry/frozen food. Moorish Idols can be kind of tricky. I have had a Moorish Idol for a long time. I can add a second MI and usually have about two weeks before they go at each other and have to be separated. But during those two weeks the new fish can learn to eat like my MI. This last year I have had a pretty good success rate with MIs 13 out of 14. To achieve this I need to feed the way I do as often as I do.
I'm a minimalist when It comes to equipment so I agree with you, adding equipment is not always the way to go but for me and my situation I have to.
I am not happy with my Algae Reactors results. I have had much better success with my Algae Scrubbers.
What are your personal experiences with algae scrubbers used in conjunction with algae reactors/chaeto\to growth?

 

[Cory]

Id look into predators. It looks like a mix of bubble algae, and hair algae.

So you got emerald crabs, algae rock blennies, sea urchins etcetera.

The same happend in my tank with an ats. If you dont scrape the screen weekly at least, algae grows in the tank.

Sometimes i left it a month and the ats algae would turn to slime, then it would grow in tank.

 

[OhMatic Jr]

Cory
No bubble algae just gha
Yeah Its got crabs etc.
The blennies I can catch are not very effective and they like to find their way out of tanks, so I don't keep them.
I clean my L4 ATS every five or six days, by that time it's full and the "emergency drain" as bud calls it is making noise. I could only imagine what it would be like to let it run for a month.

 

[Cory]

Cory
No bubble algae just gha
Yeah Its got crabs etc.
The blennies I can catch are not very effective and they like to find their way out of tanks, so I don't keep them.
I clean my L4 ATS every five or six days, by that time it's full and the "emergency drain" as bud calls it is making noise

My screen was 12"x14" long in a 25 gallon, how big is yours?

Sea hares work amazing for hair alge. Plus with your ats you can feed it the scrapings when it runs out

 

[OhMatic Jr]

I'm using a L4 one of bud carlsons scrubbers. I've found that it's not just the screen size but the amount of light(and spectrum) on the screens that's important.
My fish seem to like the scrubbers algae much better than the Algae that grows in my tank.

 

[reefwiser]

Algae scrubbers work great. San Monica scrubbers are what I use. They have been making them for a very long time and can set you up with the proper one for the fish load and feeding. Scrubbers just take a couple of months to kick in.

 

[OhMatic Jr]

I have not been a fan of the Santa Monica Algae Scrubbers. The new SM waterfall design looks better but too small for me.
My L4 too two weeks before it really kicked in. If an algae scrubber takes a couple of months to work something is probably wrong.

 

[OhMatic Jr]

Bump
It should be easier to find now

 

[sundog101]

I would add another scrubber or get a bigger one. I would say that an ats is going to outcompete an algae reactor.

1. I'm assuming your grow chaeto which is more complex and slower growing than the algae on a scrubber. The scrubber can grab nutrients faster.
2. Photosynthesis. Santa Monica has talked about how scrubbers increase the total light area for photosynthesis by spreading the algae out on the screen. (Not sure how this would apply to upflows though). More surface area + light = more photosynthesis.
3. Santa Monica has also discussed the air/water boundary . In an ats there is a very thin layer of water across the algae, compared to really no air at all in a reactor. A smaller water gap between the algae and air = better gas exchange to the algae, most importantly CO2.

I made my own scrubber and did a lot of research. Feel free to correct me though . So if possible I would add a bigger/another scrubber. If that won't work for whatever reason I would probably look into carbon dosing.

 

[OhMatic Jr]

Sundog101
The ATS you made, what are the demensions of the screen?
I notice that Bud's ATS do not have much height. Where most DIY ATS I have seen are much taller. Bud seems to do things for a reason... Just curious if too tall = more issues with the algae disconnecting from screen...

 

[sundog101]

Mine is 6 in tall by 8 in wide. I chose those dimensions because that's what would fit under the stand. I do remember reading something that said shorter is better than taller. That's probably what I would do if possable.

 

[TbyZ]

Mine is 6 in tall by 8 in wide. I chose those dimensions because that's what would fit under the stand. I do remember reading something that said shorter is better than taller. That's probably what I would do if possable.

The wider the screen the higher the flow can be, & hence, more water = more nutrients delivered