Algae scrubber questions

[RadagastWizard]

Hi guys I'm setting up a 220 and I haven't decided on filtration yet and I'm looking into An algae scrubber setup

My question is can it be your sole filtration? And what is the benefit of a algae scrubber vs a refugiun algae like chaeto?

This will be a fowlr with moderate to heavy bio load when fully stocked and I'm okay with some tank maintenance

I'm just unsure if you run a algae scrubber if you need a protein skimmer as well or not

 

[lilphil26]

A properly sized ats would be fine I think. There is a ton of info and hours of reading about them. Turbos aquatics makes really nice ones that include lights. You can diy one too. Check out this link. This guy takes his protein skimmer and all other filtration out and just uses an ats.

https://youtu.be/wD6kA3xDPaM

 

[AZRippster]

I guess allot of it would depend on how big the ATS was in relation to the tank's bio load/demands and also your requirements for gas exchange skimmers assist with. I've been running an ATS for quite awhile now and find my skimmer is still necessary, although the ATS works fantastic.

This question would likely be better addressed in the following link where additional information regarding ATS' can also be found.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1977420&page=369

 

[RadagastWizard]

A properly sized ats would be fine I think. There is a ton of info and hours of reading about them. Turbos aquatics makes really nice ones that include lights. You can diy one too. Check out this link. This guy takes his protein skimmer and all other filtration out and just uses an ats.

https://youtu.be/wD6kA3xDPaM

This actually the video that made me want one in the first place lol

Now, I had a 75g fowlr I ran before with no filtration other than a filter sock, chaeto, and water changes. So I know a ats only can work.

However this is going to be a 220 where water changes are bigger and more expensive so I'm relying more on filtration as I'm going to try to change only 20% a month if possible

 

[wildman926]

Definitely run an ATS and Skimmer. If you can not deploy a large enough ATS, then a chaeto reactor will assist with excess nutrient removal.

I have followed my own advice and have been very successful with it.

One of my ATSs on my 150g -

What it looks like every week if I run the lights 24x7, or every two weeks running them 16on/8off -

Chaeto Reactor-

My harvest from both -

 

[RadagastWizard]

Alright so I guess the general consensus is that it's good to have both ats and skimmer

Well let's say I have a skimmer plus a refuge with chaeto, is chaeto better than a ats?

 

[ca1ore]

They do different, but complementary, things. I always advocated both a skimmer and turf scrubber. Scrubber and chaeto refugium do the same thing, where nutrient removal is concerned. ATS is just more compact.