Diy chaeto reactor?

[Webslinger]

I would say AIO but it doesn't matter

 

[Amstar]

I would think this would help in case any of the macro algae “escapes” the reactor it would go in the AIO “sump” - use sponges or no in the reactor

 

[Webslinger]

no sponges for better flow and less maintenance and your pods will get into tank better

 

[canadianeh]

Instead of a reactor, I would recommend a DIY HOB refugium. You can use a HOB breeder box or Aquaclear filter. Many videos on YouTube about it.

 

[Amstar]

Saw the HOB option, just didn’t like the look or more equipment showing. The reactor will be down in my stand with the tubing coming up and over the back into the AIO sump area

 

[justinkdenny]

So for the reactor return. Do you suggest the return go back into the sump/back area of my AIO tank or have the return go back into the Main tank

I would think into the back area

 

[justinkdenny]

Instead of a reactor, I would recommend a DIY HOB refugium. You can use a HOB breeder box or Aquaclear filter. Many videos on YouTube about it.

I thought about that. I just didn't know which breeder box would wour with my setup and be large enough. I have an IM nuvo 10 nano tank which has 3 separate compartments in the back area that makes it hard to fit a breeder box back there. Do you know of anyone doing this with my tank?

 

[Tathamet]

I thought about that. I just didn't know which breeder box would wour with my setup and be large enough. I have an IM nuvo 10 nano tank which has 3 separate compartments in the back area that makes it hard to fit a breeder box back there. Do you know of anyone doing this with my tank?

I think I’ve read of people using an aquaclear 70 with an aquaclear 50 impeller or something (maybe just clip the 70 impeller down a bit) for chaeto on a 10g. Not your tank specifically. I’m sure you could use a 50 altogether if you don’t have the room. You’ll just have to pull chaeto more often.

To make it fit you may have to cut a piece of plastic vertically between the intake and over flow so you can have it hang over 2 of your 3 compartments. Or on the right side of your tank, you could have the intake in the back compartment and the overflow going into your display. I doubt hanging it on the left side of your tank would work with the size of the overflow.

The part I’m pointing at on my aquaclear 30 is the part I think you’d have to cut. Ignore how dirty it is lol.

 

[canadianeh]

I thought about that. I just didn't know which breeder box would wour with my setup and be large enough. I have an IM nuvo 10 nano tank which has 3 separate compartments in the back area that makes it hard to fit a breeder box back there. Do you know of anyone doing this with my tank?

Well you just have to buy one and try to dry fit it. Otherwise, you will never know. They are not expensive and you can exchange it to one that fit your tank.

 

[Amstar]

Agree - before I went with my reactor route I was even looking in the kitchen/bathroom sections for various different acrylic “boxes” that might of fit in my tank. Search on eBay for all kinds of breeder boxes or acrylic aquarium box for a lot of different ideas

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

You’re definitely on the right track! I built one out of a 64oz mason jar, some pvc, couple fittings, an MJ pump and a grow light led strip with a brightness controller.

I have to agree with the other people saying it’s a PITA... it works amazing but chaeto grows so fast it’ll get filled too quickly and start sludshing inside! Good luck cleaning that stuff and the smell? Boy oh boy! Definitely a fun DIY and one that works extremely well but for my next chaeto diy I will definitely go another route... possibly a box or bucket of some kind or just straight up an algae scrubber instead.

 

[justinkdenny]

I think I’ve read of people using an aquaclear 70 with an aquaclear 50 impeller or something (maybe just clip the 70 impeller down a bit) for chaeto on a 10g. Not your tank specifically. I’m sure you could use a 50 altogether if you don’t have the room. You’ll just have to pull chaeto more often.

To make it fit you may have to cut a piece of plastic vertically between the intake and over flow so you can have it hang over 2 of your 3 compartments. Or on the right side of your tank, you could have the intake in the back compartment and the overflow going into your display. I doubt hanging it on the left side of your tank would work with the size of the overflow.

The part I’m pointing at on my aquaclear 30 is the part I think you’d have to cut. Ignore how dirty it is lol.

Very helpful thanks

 

[Magnus042]

For a pump i was using a maxijet for a few months, but i built a manifold for my return pump so it runs off of that now. i placed it above my sump so if for whatever reason theres a leak itll leak into the sump.

 

[Magnus042]

that’s the reactor top left corner

 

[Tathamet]

So 3 days in on my algae reactor and the sanded white plastic is already gaining some colour to it after seeding it. I just rubbed some algae across it when I put it together.

The bigger lump of algae you can see in the first image is what I used to rub all over the white plastic in there. Second image zoomed in so you can see the new specs forming on the plastic.

Seems to be working so far

 

[Amstar]

How is the heat of the lights

 

[Tathamet]

How is the heat of the lights

It has low, medium, high options on it (16.4f strip. Cut maybe 4-5 feet off). From what I’ve noticed in the last couple days is having it on high the tank seems to raise 1 degree F every couple hours which triggers my cooling fan on the tank (strip is faintly warm to the touch). On low it seems like it still raises but maybe 1degree every 12-14 hours (didn’t notice any warmth from the strip on low). Definitely recommend a heating and cooling thermostat for a small tank though.

I still want to build a housing around It with the lights attached to that instead to prevent the plastic from going brittle and white. Might even keep the tank from heating up at all with how slow it rises on low.

 

[Tathamet]

Day 6 update

still seeing some good growth. the entire piece of plastic looks like it’s coated in yellow/green now.

also to update on the heat output. I’ve been keeping it on the lowest light setting and the cooling fan only seems to turn on about once a day at the hottest time of day. yesterday it only raised half a degree and the cooling fan never turned on.

since starting my nitrates have dropped from 5 to 2 ppm and my po4 went from 0.12 to 0.08 with no other nutrient export (edit: actually that’s not true I have 1tbsp of each carbon and gfo in the sump which weren’t helping at all before hand. po4 was still rising at the time). I really didn’t expect it to do anything at all this early though! Definitely going to have to reduce the photoperiod on this thing soon so it doesn’t get stripped clean.

 

[justinkdenny]

Day 6 update

still seeing some good growth. the entire piece of plastic looks like it’s coated in yellow/green now.

also to update on the heat output. I’ve been keeping it on the lowest light setting and the cooling fan only seems to turn on about once a day at the hottest time of day. yesterday it only raised half a degree and the cooling fan never turned on.

since starting my nitrates have dropped from 5 to 2 ppm and my po4 went from 0.12 to 0.08 with no other nutrient export (edit: actually that’s not true I have 1tbsp of each carbon and gfo in the sump which weren’t helping at all before hand. po4 was still rising at the time). I really didn’t expect it to do anything at all this early though! Definitely going to have to reduce the photoperiod on this thing soon so it doesn’t get stripped clean.

That's awesome Tathamet!

 

[Amstar]

So what did you use for the return hose that goes back into the sump/tank to secure it? Or did you just shove it in the sump and it’s stayed?

Trying to figure Out a way to secure the reactor return line into the back of my AIO tank.

My led strip lights arrive tomorrow