FishHead79
Member
How many of you reefers run an algae scrubber? What kind of light do you use? How often do you harvest algae?
Algae scrubbers
- Thread starter FishHead79
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FishHead79
Member
I use one on both systems. On the reef system i use a 150w halogen bulb and harvest every 3 weeks. On the 620 Breeding system I use a 75w High pressure sodium bulb. The system hasn't been setup very long so I will keep you posted when I start harvesting algae.
minicrazy592
Member
I've been wanting to try one, does that count? 
FishHead79
Member
Hey Eric,
Call me dumb but what is ATS?
Call me dumb but what is ATS?
I just started using one a month ago and my brown algae in my tank vanished in a week. I have not gotten brave enough to shut my skimmer off yet though. For light you dont need any special bulb just a 5 or 6k screw in spiral PC works fine in one of those clamp on dome lights works great. Cost about 20 bucks to make including the light and bulb. Rule of thumb on flow is 35gph per inch of width so 10 inches wide 350gph. Make sure you rough up the screen material with a saw blade or something to help the algae stick it should feel like a cactus across the whole thing. You will start to see it starting in a few days after firing it up. They say you should harvest weekly and make sure you leave some on it or you will start from scratch again. If I had a camera I would take before and after shots but mine is broken .
By the way heres a link. It should tell you all you need to know.
Algae Scrubbers • Index page
Algae Scrubbers • Index page
FishHead79
Member
yeah after I posted that I looked it in the acronyms section..duh
so here is a couple of pictures of the ats I just built
You can see I cut it to fit in my 150 gal sump. I did double layers so when I harvested from one I could leave one and not disrupt the system too much. I will take some pictures of the first one i built and post later along with after pictures of this one.
so here is a couple of pictures of the ats I just built
You can see I cut it to fit in my 150 gal sump. I did double layers so when I harvested from one I could leave one and not disrupt the system too much. I will take some pictures of the first one i built and post later along with after pictures of this one.
much more elaborate than the one I built. I used a piece of needlepoint mesh from Michaels which I inserted into a piece of 1 in PVC which I cut a slot in the side with a dremel after that I put a piece of 1/8 in acrylic on either side of it as a splash shield it is hanging vertically in my sump with the bottom submerged 1 inch or so . When I first made it I didnt put a splash shield on it and made a mess and probably almost electrocuted my tank The splash shield has 3/4 pvc sheet spacers on either side of the screen. THis stuff is kind of hard to come by in small pieces luckily a coworker has a sign business and I can get all the scrap I want. It comes in handy I may even build raised panel doors out of it for my cabinet when I finally trim it out. Very stable and totally impervious to water. I have my scrubber powered by a Rena XP3 canister filter with nothing in it since I didnt have an extra powerhead laying around and it runs at 350 gph which is perfect.
waucedah_joe
Active Member
My LED version is on this page.
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...-replaces-skimmer-refugium-everything-78.html
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...-replaces-skimmer-refugium-everything-78.html
Here is an old shot with skimmer.
And a picture of it minutes ago with scrubber after 6 weeks and no skimmer for 9 weeks.
I see definite improvements as well as things seem to pop back open quicker after being bump or touched. And I just realized after taking these pictures I only have 4 of 6 lights on.
And a picture of it minutes ago with scrubber after 6 weeks and no skimmer for 9 weeks.
I see definite improvements as well as things seem to pop back open quicker after being bump or touched. And I just realized after taking these pictures I only have 4 of 6 lights on.
cheely13
Member
I have been using a alge scrubber for about 6 months now with no skimmer the only think i do is use a sock with carbon in it for my corals that i place in new every month i harvest one side every 7 days then the next week do the other side. My tank is very clear and seems to be doing very well. all tests are good. I do, do a 15 to 20 percent water change every week you know theres nothing like a good old water change.
You're right. Makes it hard to convince yourself to make the switch as it did with me. Luckily I hated the constant drone of my skimmer which aided in the push.
I really do see an improvement and I believe my tank is healthier for it.
Cleaned my screen today, tons of pods on it. Hurts to wash those critters down the drain after thinking of the money spent trying to stock them. And I don't like killing beneficial animals. Flies, mosquito/es no biggy.
I really do see an improvement and I believe my tank is healthier for it.
Cleaned my screen today, tons of pods on it. Hurts to wash those critters down the drain after thinking of the money spent trying to stock them. And I don't like killing beneficial animals. Flies, mosquito/es no biggy.
I am actually considering one as an addon but personally I am still running my standard equipment.
The screen will be 36"x9" with a mag 1800gph to power, my main problem is the lights, if I do 1wpg I will have 8x39w 312w T5ho that's just insane. I can do 4x39w for 156w or CFLs I suppose, what would you do, since I am running all my normal equipment the scrubber may not need to be as big.
The screen will be 36"x9" with a mag 1800gph to power, my main problem is the lights, if I do 1wpg I will have 8x39w 312w T5ho that's just insane. I can do 4x39w for 156w or CFLs I suppose, what would you do, since I am running all my normal equipment the scrubber may not need to be as big.