Algae scrubber who uses one and why

[Trio91]

Question can I use the outflow from my UV light as water source

Probably not, but that's depending on the build, it would be easier overall to have a second, smaller pump for the ATS

Personally, I've never like chaeto. Its messy and can be very finicky at times.....(to me atleast)

With an ATS, your growing turf algae which is more straightforward. Just light, scrape and repeat

 

[Mrx7899x]

Since we are on the topic of scrubbers and refugiums. I've been thinking lately about how much my refugium is actually doing. My total water volume is around 220 to 230 gallons. My refugium is 10" × 15" and about 8" deep. It being so small I wonder if it's worth having its growing cheato, hair algae and cyanobacteria slowly. My nitrates are between 10 and 25 and phosphates are .02. Thinking about pulling it all out and putting some bio media in there and bumping up my auto water changes from 1 gallon a day to 2 gallons a day and seeing what happens. What do you guys think.

 

[Hockeynut]

I

Since we are on the topic of scrubbers and refugiums. I've been thinking lately about how much my refugium is actually doing. My total water volume is around 220 to 230 gallons. My refugium is 10" × 15" and about 8" deep. It being so small I wonder if it's worth having its growing cheato, hair algae and cyanobacteria slowly. My nitrates are between 10 and 25 and phosphates are .02. Thinking about pulling it all out and putting some bio media in there and bumping up my auto water changes from 1 gallon a day to 2 gallons a day and seeing what happens. What do you guys think.

would probably keep it going and even though I am building a scrubber myself, when my parts finally show up. I’m gonna keep my refugium going.
it serves more purpose then just a spot to grow cheato. I have deep sand in mine and the cheato is a pod hotel.
As far as auto water changes and 1 or 2 gallons a day that’s another subject all together. Some here know I am dead set against auto water changes. I feel it’s more beneficial to take (bad) water out in a lump some and replace the same way. I know the logic is that if you change a little every day it’s more stable bla, bla, bla.
when I do a water change it forces me to get deep into tank maintenance stir up crap remove gunk if I didn’t do it this way my maintenance would drop off and I’m sure I would eventually be battling something bad. This is only one mans opinion of course.

 

[ecam]

Well said. @Hockeynut

 

[Paulie 069]

I

would probably keep it going and even though I am building a scrubber myself, when my parts finally show up. I’m gonna keep my refugium going.
it serves more purpose then just a spot to grow cheato. I have deep sand in mine and the cheato is a pod hotel.
As far as auto water changes and 1 or 2 gallons a day that’s another subject all together. Some here know I am dead set against auto water changes. I feel it’s more beneficial to take (bad) water out in a lump some and replace the same way. I know the logic is that if you change a little every day it’s more stable bla, bla, bla.
when I do a water change it forces me to get deep into tank maintenance stir up crap remove gunk if I didn’t do it this way my maintenance would drop off and I’m sure I would eventually be battling something bad. This is only one mans opinion of course.

Well understood on the refugee a question I will order more cheato today from ACC just because I can get it quicker than if I went through Algae Barn

 

[DangerDave]

@Paulie 069 This article is a bit dated, but it’s a very good read to help understand scrubbers.

This is the guy begins turbo aquatics, I followed along well over a decade ago (Jeez maybe 16/16 years) as he discussed this on RC, to build my first scrubber.

Algae Scrubber Basics

This is the 2nd revision of the "Algae Scrubber Basics" post that I posted on Reef Central, Reef 2 Reef, 3Reef, Reef Sanctuary, Reef Frontiers,...

www.algaescrubbing.com

 

[Paulie 069]

Tha

@Paulie 069 This article is a bit dated, but it’s a very good read to help understand scrubbers.

This is the guy begins turbo aquatics, I followed along well over a decade ago (Jeez maybe 16/16 years) as he discussed this on RC, to build my first scrubber.

Algae Scrubber Basics

This is the 2nd revision of the "Algae Scrubber Basics" post that I posted on Reef Central, Reef 2 Reef, 3Reef, Reef Sanctuary, Reef Frontiers,...

www.algaescrubbing.com

Thank you brother I’ll watch it tomorrow

 

[Paulie 069]

@Paulie 069 This article is a bit dated, but it’s a very good read to help understand scrubbers.

This is the guy begins turbo aquatics, I followed along well over a decade ago (Jeez maybe 16/16 years) as he discussed this on RC, to build my first scrubber.

Algae Scrubber Basics

This is the 2nd revision of the "Algae Scrubber Basics" post that I posted on Reef Central, Reef 2 Reef, 3Reef, Reef Sanctuary, Reef Frontiers,...

www.algaescrubbing.com

I read most of it so far and very helpful and shines light on how it works
Thank you for this link

 

[Paulie 069]

I read most of it so far and very helpful and shines light on how it works
Thank you for this link

So I took some pics of my sump and refugium so u all can see what I got going on,, especially inside my refugium. You will notice all the turf like green hair algae along the sides of the chamber and along the back wall you will also notice that I have blockage put up to keep the light out of other chambers and finally you will notice how crappy my cheato is,, Also you will be able to notice I have the hose from the UV light returning into the chamber also it seems to be making the whole thing act like an Algae scrubber almost

 

[Paulie 069]

So I took some pics of my sump and refugium so u all can see what I got going on,, especially inside my refugium. You will notice all the turf like green hair algae along the sides of the chamber and along the back wall you will also notice that I have blockage put up to keep the light out of other chambers and finally you will notice how crappy my cheato is,, Also you will be able to notice I have the hose from the UV light returning into the chamber also it seems to be making the whole thing act like an Algae scrubber almost

I think I have it figured out to build my own algae scrubber quick question the pump for the water do I put that in the same chamber as my algae scrubber is going to be in or does that water pump go into a different chamber does it matter

 

[Justin]

I think I have it figured out to build my own algae scrubber quick question the pump for the water do I put that in the same chamber as my algae scrubber is going to be in or does that water pump go into a different chamber does it matter

Doesn't really make a huge difference I'd say

 

[Paulie 069]

Doesn't really make a huge difference I'd say

Cool that’s what I was hoping