Algae Reactor
- Thread starter OhMatic
- Start date
wildman926
Active member
Yes, that is correct
Have you experimented with having the overflow go to the Algae Reactor first and from there to the ATS?
I was not getting good growth from my algae reactor (it was gettng it's flow from the ATS's discharge) so I split the flow from the tank so now my ATS and the Algae Reactor both get the same water...
I was not getting good growth from my algae reactor (it was gettng it's flow from the ATS's discharge) so I split the flow from the tank so now my ATS and the Algae Reactor both get the same water...
wildman926
Active member
No, everything is working fine as it is. My goal is not to grow algae, but to remove excess nutrients, and whatever else feeding introduces to the tank. The algae growth is indicative of that removal. The more I feed, the more it grows, and vice versa. Sometimes, for a week, I will feed every other day, just to keep the system in check.
Yes. Of course my goal is not a algae farm either... I am curious as to which will do a better job. I do not want to run both...
Ultimately I want the one that is best for me and appropriately sized.
Years ago I used to run two skimmers to see which was better and when it was obviously clear my airstine skimmer was not the best for me it went away. But I had to experiment to come to that conclusion. At the time my goal was not to produce skimmate but to remove junk from my tank.
At this time I don't have enough personal experience to know which is best for me...
Ultimately I want the one that is best for me and appropriately sized.
Years ago I used to run two skimmers to see which was better and when it was obviously clear my airstine skimmer was not the best for me it went away. But I had to experiment to come to that conclusion. At the time my goal was not to produce skimmate but to remove junk from my tank.
At this time I don't have enough personal experience to know which is best for me...
After two weeks of having the ATS going head to head with the Algae Reactor I am convinced the ATS is more effective than the Algae Reactor. I have cleaned the ATS three times and the Algae Reactor zero. The growth in the reactor is slow compared to the ATS growth.
I may experiment with some new/ more lights for the reactor but at this point it's not even close.
I may experiment with some new/ more lights for the reactor but at this point it's not even close.
wildman926
Active member
I use both also, just to ensure that I remove the unwanted nutrients and what not out of the system. It works great.
Converted Aquamaxx biopellet reactor. SMD 5050 lights, Sicce Syncra 1 pump. It complements my ATS.
The lights are described as .5M so I'm assuming you used the XL reactor or did you cut the lights down to fit the standard one ?
What driver did you use for the lights ?
Thanks in advance for any information. This looks ideal for my set up.
wildman926
Active member
The hair algae will always outpace the growth of chaeto, which in turn, outpaces it in nutrient removal.
I run both because my ats is undersized. My chaeto reactor is only used to compliment the ats. If I had the room, my preference would be to run a large ats. It doesn't hurt to have both, even if you have the room to run a large ats.
I tried an algae reactor to subliment my ATS becuase you seemed to be having success....
The reactor is a PITA. It's harder to clean, Maintain etc..
Sometimes I have to clean the chaeto becuase it gets slime algae on it... My ATS is soo easy just clean it/harvest every 5 to 7 days.
The reactor is a PITA. It's harder to clean, Maintain etc..
Sometimes I have to clean the chaeto becuase it gets slime algae on it... My ATS is soo easy just clean it/harvest every 5 to 7 days.
