Waterfall vs. Upflow Algae Scrubber

[sundog101]

Im looking to redesign or buy/DIY a new scrubber. I know the waterfall has been around forever. The upflow is newer and I can see some advantages. But does either one perform better than the other? I would guess the flow rate to be slower for the upflow, but I'm not sure if that would make a difference.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[sundog101]

It's my understanding that more flow = more nutrients delivered to the screen in less time. Would this affect an upflow scrubber differently than a waterfall?

 

[Cory]

Waterfall kicks upflows but. For some reason, algae grows profusely on a waterfall than in the tank.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Waterfall kicks upflows but. For some reason, algae grows profusely on a waterfall than in the tank.

I had heard the opposite actually. I had understood that a UAS is better than a waterfall, but I've never had both to really give a personal experience on it.

 

[Cory]

I had heard the opposite actually. I had understood that a UAS is better than a waterfall, but I've never had both to really give a personal experience on it.

Cool. Im actually trying a floating scrubber now because i had water spray everywhere out of my waterfall tube.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

My understanding is that algae grows just as good on either as long as the flow and light intensity are balanced. If anything it will grow slightly better on a waterfall as the air/water mixes better than with just bubbles.

However waterfall scrubbers grow more algae per square inch as they can be lit from both sides, so per square inch a waterfall is twice as efficient. You can also increase and decrease flow as necessary to help it match your lighting and nutrients where as with an upflow that is a lot harder. So IMO waterfalls are by far better. Only benefit of an upflow for me is that in a long power outage the algae wont die as it is submerged, and that's it.

If you haven't already have a good read of this link. great info in there. http://algaescrubber.zohosites.com/

 

[MaccaPopEye]

It's my understanding that more flow = more nutrients delivered to the screen in less time. Would this affect an upflow scrubber differently than a waterfall?

This is true to a point, same with more light = more algae, at a certain point it can be a bit detrimental to growth with too much flow or too much light. But balance to two with a screen size that isn't under or over sized for your nutrient input and you will get good growth (lighting and flow are both based off of screen size)