Thoughts on a algae reactor vs a HoB refugium

[captan42]

All,

I'm contemplating adding either a HoB refugium or a Algae reactor (like the marine depot version). I'd like your thoughts on which one would be the best and most effective for my setup and what my needs are. Any pro's con's to each system and if anyone has experience with either of them how it benefited you or not.

My setup, I do have a tank thread here, the only changes were a skunk cleaner shrimp added along with 2 frogspawn frags. All tank livestock are doing well and the frogspawns are looking healthy.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cap’s-30g-tank-thread.414676/#post-4873221

In case you don't want to read my tank thread it's a 30g breeder, HoB aquaclear 150 filter, HoB skimmer M-50. Reefsaver cured live rock, carib sea sand bed 1.5 inches deep, 2 oscellaris, 5 blue legged hermits, 1 emerald crab 6 nerite snails and 2 nassarius snails. Tank is now around 3 months old.

Water parameters as of today
Temp 79
PH 7.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10ppm

I only test these on a weekly basis (Red Sea kits)
Alk 9
Calc 410
Mag 1320
Phos .08

Now why I am considering adding macro algae with one of these 2 systems.

1. I don't have a stand to add a sump/refugium so it limits me to either HoB equipment or a standalone like the marine depot reactor. I also don't have any room next to it or anywhere else to add another tank at the current time.

2. My nitrates and phosphates are steadily climbing even with weekly 5 gallon water changes (it's actually around every 5 days currently). I have cut back drastically on feeding (I'm a newb so still learning what is the right amount).

3. There is large increase of GHA and red slime algae (Not sure exactly what the red slime algae is). When my CuC eats the GHA it is replaced very quickly with the red slime algae. So I am hoping macro algae will help out compete the algae growing in the DT. Trying to stay ahead of the algae but it grows back very quickly even when manually removing during WC's.

4. Lastly I am still battling low PH. After I added the HoB skimmer it helped keep the PH from tanking below 7.6 (I had a few days where it would drastically drop to 7.0/7.2 using my pool's PH test kit as my high range test PH couldn't read it (immediate water changes occurred to correct). Since the skimmer add and leaving my glass top open PH has been staying around 7.8. I haven't tested it during the night time where the lights have been off to see what it drops to but I am sure it's below safe levels. I am hoping macro algae on a reverse light cycle will help bolster PH and at very least keep night time swings from going dangerously low.

5. Very important on this one, keeping the DT cleaner. When I get to the point of needing a water change sometimes 5 or 6 days from the last I am getting nasty tank smell which my wife absolutely won't tolerate. She loves the tank but the smell will quickly make her say get rid of it.

I am using RODI and saltwater from my LFS

So thoughts and comments welcome.

Thanks

 

[lapin]

My choice would be "Algae Reactor". It will handle more nutrient export, per space it takes up, than the fuge. It will also be enclosed so it will not smell. The red slime is most likely cyano. Your GHA and Cyano are using the same nutrients. You have one, then the other. Macro will help with both. They will go away with time and macro algae. You can also add "red grape" or the "red tang heaven" macro in your tank. You might think about testing your LFS water. It could be a source of your nutrients if its not truly "0" TDS.