Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
IMO that's a big :thumbsup:
JohnnyB in SD
New member
I know you are a big proponent of multiple filtration methods.
I use wet skimming water changes with an ATS but never tried pellets. Kind of hesitate getting more complicated, adding another expense.
You use pellets? If so, how do you implement them & how are they / what are they doing for you?
Nope. I don't use pellets. Just skimmer, ATS and light carbon.
But the TOTM winner in question appears to have had a lot of success. So I suspect that if he's using pellets too, he's figured out how to make the combo work for him.
My thumbs up was more for seeing a massively successful reefer using multiple filtration methods, with ATS's as a tool in that arsenal. I'm sure the ATS-only vs. ATS-plus-other-filtration argument will continue for a while. I'm just glad to see more highly successful reefers including ATS's in their toolbox. IMO our entire hobby will benefit from that.
But the TOTM winner in question appears to have had a lot of success. So I suspect that if he's using pellets too, he's figured out how to make the combo work for him.
My thumbs up was more for seeing a massively successful reefer using multiple filtration methods, with ATS's as a tool in that arsenal. I'm sure the ATS-only vs. ATS-plus-other-filtration argument will continue for a while. I'm just glad to see more highly successful reefers including ATS's in their toolbox. IMO our entire hobby will benefit from that.
nanomania
New member
True "scolley".... iv seen massive tanks using only ATS and smae size with multiple filteration too..... its really good..... the people who dont want to try ATS are not intrested coz they dont like cleaning it and as skimmers are easier to maintain, they are like we dont wana go for it.... these people dont even do WC as they completely rely on supplements to replenish their lost trace elements... well the tanks are really well maintained with sps growing like weed, so i dont argue with them 
Crazy_Beaver
New member
More on the multiple filtration
More on the multiple filtration
Guys lot of people that run biopellets occasionally, need to run phosphate remover in order for them to be in check!
Do you feel that an ats could play that role by auto-adjusting it's rate of growth eliminating the need for it? The sunroom reef owner mentions skimmer ,ats and biopellets !
More on the multiple filtration
Guys lot of people that run biopellets occasionally, need to run phosphate remover in order for them to be in check!
Do you feel that an ats could play that role by auto-adjusting it's rate of growth eliminating the need for it? The sunroom reef owner mentions skimmer ,ats and biopellets !
JohnnyB in SD
New member
I run 2 screens in separate boxes, same concept as you're considering. Alternate cleaning them every 10 days = 5 days this screen / 5 days that screen. I'm probably going to move to 12 days total per screen. For me, 10 is too often and 14 is too long.
This strategy does appear to keep N&P from spiking after a cleaning. But if I had a light bioload & small screen, I wouldn't bother.
This strategy does appear to keep N&P from spiking after a cleaning. But if I had a light bioload & small screen, I wouldn't bother.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Algae do adjust nutrient uptake, taking up more of the more-available one.
Crazy_Beaver
New member
Hello guys
I am reconsidering joining the club and ditching the pellets idea.
Would you think that a skimmer pump connected to a slotted tube could work for an UAS?
Also as this is my first tank how many cubes do you think should I design the scrubber for.I know that this is hard to answer as each system is different but something to start from!Display will be 220 gallons lps-sps
cheers
I am reconsidering joining the club and ditching the pellets idea.
Would you think that a skimmer pump connected to a slotted tube could work for an UAS?
Also as this is my first tank how many cubes do you think should I design the scrubber for.I know that this is hard to answer as each system is different but something to start from!Display will be 220 gallons lps-sps
cheers
Floyd R Turbo
Either busy or sleeping
The Basics Summary location is in my signature on every post
On #2, I have never, ever, ever had yellow water since I installed the scrubber. I only ran carbon for a few months following a 13 hour power outage, and that was just in nylon filter socks as an insurance policy. After a week I'm sure they were doing nothing.
I had run Purigen for a while but have not for a long time. Water is crystal clear.
However, if you are wanting to run heavy SPS, the word I have been hearing from scrubber users is that scrubber-only systems tend to lead to lack of PE (polyp extension) and browning of corals as the zooxanthellae appear to be overfed. So adding a small amount of carbon, or a skimmer and carbon, seems to make the PE return.
What interests me the most is why the PE declines. Theories abound. One of them is that since scrubbers do not remove food, the coral is fed well and the polyps don't need to extend. Increasing the light may cause better uptake and thus the need for more food? Dunno...thinking aloud.
Some also report better growth without the skimmer/carbon.
So perhaps the method to get good growth AND color / PE is to time feeding and skimmer operations right. For instance - many shut off the return pump/skimmer during feeding for a period of time. Perhaps this should be extended so that you only run the skimmer & carbon starting about 1 hour before lights on, this would strip the water of food. Lights come one and polyps extend - searching for food.
Tank is fed a few hours before lights off. Skimmer/carbon are shut off at this time and the scrubber comes on after lights out, then turns off before skimmer & carbon come back online.
Anyone trying this on a heavy SPS tank?
SantaMonica
Well-known member
"Regular cleaning", by definition, is cleaning before the roots die, which is what causes yellow water.
Does not affect carbon dosing. Dosing, however, will slow down the scrubber.
Not sure about this.
As for PE, I've heard of many increases...
crn005
New member
I finally finished my scrubber! It has a dimmable driver pushing 6 reds and 1 royal blue LED on each side lighting up a 8"x3" screen. It will be fed off of my overflow.
I will be running a skimmer as well and I wanted to know what should come first in the sump? I've read before that the ozone from the skimmer might help the scrubber but I'm not sure.
I will be running a skimmer as well and I wanted to know what should come first in the sump? I've read before that the ozone from the skimmer might help the scrubber but I'm not sure.
srusso
Active member
Good idea, keep us posted. Yes, clean screen every seven days regardless of growth.
_shorty_
New member
Good work. Looks nice. I'd run the skimmer first or at least output the skimmer into the scrubber (depending on your skimmer design). higher concentration of CO2 for scrubber to use.
crn005
New member
Well I did a DIY (worlds ugliest skimmer, all PVC) design. I was actually thinking about running the output to cascade over the screen as well but if the skimmer shifts then it's going to be a mess. I can't plumb it into the scrubber input because it isn't pressurized and the water would be forced backwards into my skimmer. I'm kind of at a loss for what to do. I only want the skimmer to be a supplement to the scrubber but I want them to complement each other if possible.
ReefKeeper64
Wanna be a reefkeeper
Guys lot of people that run biopellets occasionally, need to run phosphate remover in order for them to be in check!
Do you feel that an ats could play that role by auto-adjusting it's rate of growth eliminating the need for it? The sunroom reef owner mentions skimmer ,ats and biopellets !
The sunroom reef owner mentioned has the best of both worlds. He uses "some" biopellets and has a massive ATS. If his biopellets are doing 50% of the water cleansing, his ATS is handling the other 50%. When he cleans his screen, the ATS looses some of its efficiency while the biopellets remain constant in their workload. The ATS pulls as much PO4 and NO3 as it can from the water column and is self regulating as a result. That guy knows his reefs!
I ran a large ATS (Santa Monica 100) for 2 years in my last reef (90 gal) and am experimenting with biopellets on my new tank. With no GFO, the PO4 hovers around .015 and the NO3 is always at 0. I run GFO to keep PO4 at around .006. Acro is growing fine. Monti seems to be a bit pale (undernourished). In the future I will replace the GFO with an ATS and see what the PO4 readings are when aligned with biopellets. That should be interesting.
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