Algae Scrubber Basics

[nanomania]

Im planning on ATS, my questions might sound silly.....

1)Can i use 1w warm white with plant grow led?
2)Can i go for bigger ATS then recomended (as im plannin on attachin a tank to my current setup)?
3)Does it help eliminating pest anemones?
4)i have cheato and skimmer, do i need to get rid of them?
5)im using GFO and Carbon, do i need them too?
6)Will it help geting rid of bubble algae that comes even if the nutrients are low-0?
7)How heavy can i go when it comes to feeding/Stock?
8)Im also facing a small issue of cotton candy and green turf... how long it takes to eliminate all these algae?
9) does it help pod population and plankton to increase?

Please help, here is my thread but reply anywhere:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=20806943#post20806943

 

[Theomi]

It´good to see scrubbers getting more attention

 

[saitoking]

Well not much but this is the 7th day starting to grow some algae. 6X8 with 2X23w Spiral CFL bulbs at 9 hours a day. saitoking

 

[silverwolf72]

After talking about a ATS Skimmer I found a old CPR backpack skimmer I had hiding in my closet and hooked it to my skimmer. The screen is held in place with a tie wrap just pressed in the riser. After a day I have gotten a little pit of skimmate just from the bubbles produced from the drains, see how well it grows this week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[silverwolf72]

Very cool idea Paul!

 

[nanomania]

Im planning on ATS, my questions might sound silly.....

1)Can i use 1w warm white with plant grow led?
2)Can i go for bigger ATS then recomended (as im plannin on attachin a tank to my current setup)?
3)Does it help eliminating pest anemones?
4)i have cheato and skimmer, do i need to get rid of them?
5)im using GFO and Carbon, do i need them too?
6)Will it help geting rid of bubble algae that comes even if the nutrients are low-0?
7)How heavy can i go when it comes to feeding/Stock?
8)Im also facing a small issue of cotton candy and green turf... how long it takes to eliminate all these algae?
9) does it help pod population and plankton to increase?

Please help, here is my thread but reply anywhere:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=20806943#post20806943

Please help....

 

[silverwolf72]

1)Reds are better for algea.
2)if you look at the sizing guide your going to be using a very small piece of screen.
3) No
4)No, cheato might die off after ATS gets going
5) not sure
6) not sure
7) refer to new size guide towards start of thread
8)
9) Yes, I have had a huge jump in my pods since adding mine

 

[nanomania]

1)Reds are better for algea.
2)if you look at the sizing guide your going to be using a very small piece of screen.
3) No
4)No, cheato might die off after ATS gets going
5) not sure
6) not sure
7) refer to new size guide towards start of thread
8)
9) Yes, I have had a huge jump in my pods since adding mine

Thanks..... But about GFO and Carbon, im getting mixed reviews.. Some say that GFO will Kill ATS as there is not phosphates and some say that u can use gfo.. And carbon, many suggest that it should be used for removing bad stuff from the tank and some say ATS removes everything thats bad including toxants from corals, metals and also the yellowness from water..... Iv seen tanks using only ATS and no other filter in mixed reef..... a bit confused...

And for size Santamonica people calculate on the amount of feeding.....

 

[sail33]

Thanks..... But about GFO and Carbon, im getting mixed reviews.. Some say that GFO will Kill ATS as there is not phosphates and some say that u can use gfo.. And carbon, many suggest that it should be used for removing bad stuff from the tank and some say ATS removes everything thats bad including toxants from corals, metals and also the yellowness from water..... Iv seen tanks using only ATS and no other filter in mixed reef..... a bit confused...

And for size Santamonica people calculate on the amount of feeding.....

Although there is science involved, we're still in the experimental stages. You will find conflicting opinions so expect to remain confused.

Once some opinions have been indorsed and confirmed often enough, they will create a trend, then a culture but still a long way from science. Best is to try some and see what happens. Then report back.

 

[Kenfuzed]

Testing the tank several weeks ago showed my Potassium levels had declined to around 340 so I started dosing K and I've been maintaining the tank at ~410 since. So far I have not seen any changes in the tank or parameters. PO4 is still the concern and it never drops below 0.22 whereas previous to the upgraded ATS I was maintaining PO4 at 0.14. Nitrates have always been undetectable and the DT is completely free of any algae since the upgrade. 20 gallon water changes are done consistently each week and the RO/DI has already been checked. I'll give it some more time but I'm not sure the lowered K levels were tied to the elevated PO4.

I'm apprehensive about starting up GFO again. It was always such a hassle with clumping/clogging. I feed 3 cubes of frozen every other day and alternate Spectrum pellets or other dry foods in between.

 

[nanomania]

Testing the tank several weeks ago showed my Potassium levels had declined to around 340 so I started dosing K and I've been maintaining the tank at ~410 since. So far I have not seen any changes in the tank or parameters. PO4 is still the concern and it never drops below 0.22 whereas previous to the upgraded ATS I was maintaining PO4 at 0.14. Nitrates have always been undetectable and the DT is completely free of any algae since the upgrade. 20 gallon water changes are done consistently each week and the RO/DI has already been checked. I'll give it some more time but I'm not sure the lowered K levels were tied to the elevated PO4.

I'm apprehensive about starting up GFO again. It was always such a hassle with clumping/clogging. I feed 3 cubes of frozen every other day and alternate Spectrum pellets or other dry foods in between.

Well is K necessary for reef? never testes nor heard about it, how does it help?... Iv read that PO4 at high levels can cause some problems in hard corals but since there is no algae issues in DT, How are the SPS and LPS doing?
Also Does it mean that ATS does not remove PO4 but since the main concern is algae, it out competes the DT for algae and doesnt let the algae grow there.....

 

[srusso]

Im planning on ATS, my questions might sound silly.....

1)Can i use 1w warm white with plant grow led?
2)Can i go for bigger ATS then recomended (as im plannin on attachin a tank to my current setup)?
3)Does it help eliminating pest anemones?
4)i have cheato and skimmer, do i need to get rid of them?
5)im using GFO and Carbon, do i need them too?
6)Will it help geting rid of bubble algae that comes even if the nutrients are low-0?
7)How heavy can i go when it comes to feeding/Stock?
8)Im also facing a small issue of cotton candy and green turf... how long it takes to eliminate all these algae?
9) does it help pod population and plankton to increase?

Please help, here is my thread but reply anywhere:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=20806943#post20806943

1) No

2) with LEDs this is really being tested, but it's currently based on food for sizing.

3) No, not that I have seen.

4) After the first week or so the cheato should be removed. Skimmer can stay if you prefer.

5) GFO is better used for what I am calling spot treatments...

6) I have found in my own tank that it does limit bubble algae to an extreme minimum and its hardly noticeable.

7) size is based on feed, so how much food will be fed...

8) time all depends and can't even give you a guess. More tank info is needed.

9) pods are estimated in the millions per day. Algae scrubbers promote pods like the industry has never seen, with any other filtration.

 

[srusso]

Well not much but this is the 7th day starting to grow some algae. 6X8 with 2X23w Spiral CFL bulbs at 9 hours a day. saitoking

Should be 18 hours on, 6 hours off...

This is the advised starting point for scrubbers and should be adjusted from there based on growth.

 

[srusso]

After talking about a ATS Skimmer I found a old CPR backpack skimmer I had hiding in my closet and hooked it to my skimmer. The screen is held in place with a tie wrap just pressed in the riser. After a day I have gotten a little pit of skimmate just from the bubbles produced from the drains, see how well it grows this week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

This is just what I was thinking when I first saw the UAS. Thank you for testing! Please keep us updated!!

 

[srusso]

My new algae scrubber is this motorized version. It will be mounted above the tank with just the lower roller in the water. Each revolution takes about 2 minutes but the belt will stay wet.
I have found that algae grows best if it is out of the water and just wet like the top edge of a tank or the rocks surrounding a tide pool. There will be LEDs suspended all around it. I will let you know how (and if) it works

Of course I am still keeping my algae tround seen here just cleaned. I removed it to add new LEDs

Great work Paul, thank you. Please keep us updated on your design!

 

[srusso]

Although there is science involved, we're still in the experimental stages. You will find conflicting opinions so expect to remain confused.

Once some opinions have been indorsed and confirmed often enough, they will create a trend, then a culture but still a long way from science. Best is to try some and see what happens. Then report back.

You are 100% right, my feeling on GFO and algae scrubbers are that it's an effective tool to aid in correcting an imbalance of phosphate. In my opinion should only be used to do just that in an algae scrubbed tank. Correct the imbalance and then removed.

But a lot of testing still needs to be done for us to really know...

 

[srusso]

Testing the tank several weeks ago showed my Potassium levels had declined to around 340 so I started dosing K and I've been maintaining the tank at ~410 since. So far I have not seen any changes in the tank or parameters. PO4 is still the concern and it never drops below 0.22 whereas previous to the upgraded ATS I was maintaining PO4 at 0.14. Nitrates have always been undetectable and the DT is completely free of any algae since the upgrade. 20 gallon water changes are done consistently each week and the RO/DI has already been checked. I'll give it some more time but I'm not sure the lowered K levels were tied to the elevated PO4.

I'm apprehensive about starting up GFO again. It was always such a hassle with clumping/clogging. I feed 3 cubes of frozen every other day and alternate Spectrum pellets or other dry foods in between.

Thank you for testing potassium! I have used GFO to correct an imbalance in my tank. Search my posts and you should be able to find my info from my tests.

 

[nanomania]

1) No

2) with LEDs this is really being tested, but it's currently based on food for sizing.

3) No, not that I have seen.

4) After the first week or so the cheato should be removed. Skimmer can stay if you prefer.

5) GFO is better used for what I am calling spot treatments...

6) I have found in my own tank that it does limit bubble algae to an extreme minimum and its hardly noticeable.

7) size is based on feed, so how much food will be fed...

8) time all depends and can't even give you a guess. More tank info is needed.

9) pods are estimated in the millions per day. Algae scrubbers promote pods like the industry has never seen, with any other filtration.

Hey, Thanks...

1) should i just go for reds 3w 660nm (why people add a blue?)
2)Max size i can go for is 20" x 5" will that be enough?
4) Will it effect the tank if i remove skimmer too after a while?
5) spot treatment means spot algae?
8)Currently the tank is a 30g TTV with 2 OC clowns, 1 Chromis and 1 Molly, i feed twice a day, for fliteration i use skimmer, cheato, LR, Carbon and GFO (in sump). I feed plankton once a week not only for corals but also pods.

2 more questions, Does it in any way help eliminating/reducing fish disease like common ich & is it advisable to use UV sterlizer with it?

Here is my tank video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p_TlhNwwyM&feature=plcp (check my other vids too if possible)

 

[srusso]

Well is K necessary for reef? never testes nor heard about it, how does it help?... Iv read that PO4 at high levels can cause some problems in hard corals but since there is no algae issues in DT, How are the SPS and LPS doing?
Also Does it mean that ATS does not remove PO4 but since the main concern is algae, it out competes the DT for algae and doesnt let the algae grow there.....

The need for potassium is being tested by a few of us. It's use is not at all required (at least not yet) for algae scrubbers and can be disregarded at present time. I posted a document on my believe, you can search my posts to find that.

 

[SPotter]

I have been testing it now for a little over a month now and while I dont think you need to dose K, I think it does help your over all system. I have noticed slight improvement in my scrubber growth, I have noticed improvement in the blues in my tank and more and more sps keepers have been trying it out as well. I look at it as its a natural element that is part of NSW and our goal is to try and simulate NSW as closely as possible. I have been able to maintain 390-410ppm by dosing 35ml per day of a stock solution that I made using the Brightwell Potassium-P product.