Algae Scrubber vs Algae Reactor

[ontop27]

I never had luck with scrubbers personally. Tried santa monica and didnt have much luck and hated the air pump. Tried an ebay one that was basically a convered hang on back filter which looked nice and was very well designed but not much again. Started using a reactor with a home depot strip light and best results i ever had. Even beat a refugium i had (in tank and in sump ones)

 

[OhMatic]

ontop27
I also have an "ebay" scrubber, its in a box, I never used it, I bought it mostly because I wanted to know how it was made and the LED used and they accepted a crazy low offer lol.
I never got a SantaMonica scrubber I don't like their design: cleaning wise and air pump. I do have a L4 HF Rev3 From TurboAquatics I like it but it is not big enough. In my experience the L4 has not lived up to claims of "four cubes a day" So I ordered an Algae Reactor and some things to make a DIY center light reactor.
I noticed you have an outer light reactor. How long has it been running? Do you need to clean the inside of your reactor? Which HD strip light did you use?

 

[ca1ore]

If you have even a slight inclination to DIY, making a ATS is a trivial undertaking. OK, I've been running them for decades and have built my fair share of duds, but current waterfall designs really are pretty straightforward. At the time I made mine, the commercial options were decidedly underwhelming.

 

[OhMatic]

ca1ore,
I urge people all the time to use Algae Scrubbers. Why is it soo many people love skimmers so much (I skim 24/7) but are hesitant about algae scrubbers? or say things like "I didn't have luck with scrubbers"
I even built a ATS for a lady I work with just to get her to try it. After using it she wanted to pay me for it...
And I agree ATSs are probably a lot easier to build than most people think. I mean growing algae is not rocket science.... I had used refugiums for many years but now prefer the ATS.
I am getting/purchasing an Algae Reactor because my ATS is not doing enough for me. If the Algae Reactor works good enough maybe Ill take the ATS offline who knows.... I want to also build a DIY algae reactor just because its something I have not built yet.

 

[OhMatic]

I guess I'll just have to try the screen on the inside of the reactor when I get mine. I don't think it will hurt or decrease the reactors effectiveness. And adding screens wouldn't require any modification to the reactor. Other than not being able to see chaeto growth as well (cut a window in the screen) and having one more thing to clean/scrap off what's the downside to the experiment?

 

[OhMatic]

One week growth in fuge...

DamonG
What light is on your fuge?

 

[DamonG]

DamonG
What light is on your fuge?

MarsHydro Mars300 Mars600 LED Grow Light(Mars300 with Veg/Bloom Spectrum for Hydroponic Indoor Greenhouse/Garden Plant Growing, 132W True Watt Panel) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XC3LBI2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_9Ym.wb2F5750J

 

[OhMatic]

Thanks DamonG

 

[OhMatic]

If you have even a slight inclination to DIY, making a ATS is a trivial undertaking. OK, I've been running them for decades and have built my fair share of duds, but current waterfall designs really are pretty straightforward....

Ca1ore
What is the size of the screen you use for your current ATS?

 

[OhMatic]

This is my third week of using both a ATS and an algae reactor and the ATS is doing a much better job the way I have them set up

 

[ksed]

Are you using the ARID reactor?

 

[OhMatic]

No, I am curren5ly using a CT algae reactor. And planning a DIY Algae Reactor.

 

[wildman926]

This is my third week of using both a ATS and an algae reactor and the ATS is doing a much better job the way I have them set up

Hair algae grows much faster than chaeto.

IME, I have to clean my ats biweekly. I will be cleaning my chaeto reactors this weekend as they are full with little flow through them. The last time I cleaned/emptied them was last October.

 

[prickles]

i have a couple ATS' and I like them but I do find cleaning them to be a pain. (They are undersized for my tank, hence two). I was planning on adding two more in a couple months, but dreading the screen cleaning. I might try one of these as it sounds easier/quicker to clean out.

 

[Devaji108]

I really like the ideas of ATS and cheato reactors... will be running a ATS on my newly up and running 90.

for ME the coast of the reactor is just way to much.. I mean come on its a great idea and ppl should make a profit but really?? that's just crazy...

would rather just get a nice light for my fuge like a kessil H160 or wire up a custom DIY..

thanks for the link to the DIY scrubber plans I have been looking for that. not sure I am gonna build it. dont have all the tools but I might give it a try.

lets keep an open mind and keep this thread going guys. as I think we are not the norm here.

 

[OhMatic]

good luck

 

[yacn]

I used to grow chaeto in my sump. I took it out about 5 months ago. I hated having to clean the algae that grew everywhere. My skimmer walls would be covered in algae where the light hit it so would other equipment housed in my sump...not to mention the acrylic sides of my sump which required mr clean majic eraser to get rid of.

I don't have room for an ATS.

I like the concept of the algae reactor....but not willing to pay $500+ for one. I also don't think thumb screws make for easy maintenance. There needs to be a better design....especially at that price!

Wondering if I just wrap some LED's around a 2 little fishies phosban reactor would work.

 

[wildman926]

Wondering if I just wrap some LED's around a 2 little fishies phosban reactor would work.

Yes it will...

 

[roosterchef]

OnTop27, what led strip did you use and do you recommend it? Did you try or think about wrapping the lights more densely around the reactor? TIA

 

[OhMatic]

I had some problems with Chaeto... I was growing some weird yellow stuff inside a silicone tube feeding the reactor which killed off the cheato. Glad I had a carbon reactor being fed from the reactor...