Opinions on Ice Cap Algae Scrubber?

[BanjoBandito]

I'm kicking around building a DIY algae scrubber, but I might be able to snag a lightly used ice cap (less than 6 months). Does anyone run this unit or have any insight into performance? I know awhile back some people posted on issues with fitments, but it sounds like the manufacturer made some corrections.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Overall I hear good. I use Clearwater cw100

 

[Jimbo662]

I got one about a month and a half ago. No issues that I can see and it's working great.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Overall I hear good. I use Clearwater cw100

The price tag on the CW-50 kinda puckered me a bit. lol.

 

[BanjoBandito]

I got one about a month and a half ago. No issues that I can see and it's working great.

Does it create a lot of noise or anything with the trickling water?

 

[Jimbo662]

Does it create a lot of noise or anything with the trickling water?

I've got it sitting behind the tank and it's dead silent.

 

[Ribo15]

I have the large one. The acrylic lid has warped (as acrylic does). And now it is louder than I would like. Not sure what a person can do to fix or avoid the problem. I have an open stand and it’s the loudest thing in my system. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ribo15]

Also are you taking the old one or the in sump model?

 

[BanjoBandito]

Also are you taking the old one or the in sump model?

I was looking at the "out of tank" model, it was between that and the CW-50, I looked at the rain and some other non-mainline versions too. I was kicking around making one also. I've done enough homework on these things to know it is how I want to approach an upcoming tank build. I kinda hate chaeto and refugiums. My concern for the ice cap model was that I had seen some threads on here and online that it was "lacking in polish" and did not fit together...I actually just bought the CW-50 because it was on sale and hopefully this thing will eliminate GFO and all that stuff.

 

[SPS2020]

I was looking at the "out of tank" model, it was between that and the CW-50, I looked at the rain and some other non-mainline versions too. I was kicking around making one also. I've done enough homework on these things to know it is how I want to approach an upcoming tank build. I kinda hate chaeto and refugiums. My concern for the ice cap model was that I had seen some threads on here and online that it was "lacking in polish" and did not fit together...I actually just bought the CW-50 because it was on sale and hopefully this thing will eliminate GFO and all that stuff.

Any update on how well it is working?

I have GHA in my display tank and protein skimmer is working great along with good growth of ulva in the refugium. NO3 and PO4 are low, but for whatever reason GHA decided it would rear its ugly head. Thinking that if it grows in the scrubber, it will eventually clear up the DT as long as I keep removing it manually.

 

[BanjoBandito]

Any update on how well it is working?

I have GHA in my display tank and protein skimmer is working great along with good growth of ulva in the refugium. NO3 and PO4 are low, but for whatever reason GHA decided it would rear its ugly head. Thinking that if it grows in the scrubber, it will eventually clear up the DT as long as I keep removing it manually.

I'm actually hooking everything up right now. lol. My original tank had some bad chips in it so I had to pony up for a new one. I'll prob. do a post with updates here by the weekend.