Lowest cost and easiest way to eliminate green hair, bubble, turf and slime algae

[Emac909]

Hi wade. Any pics. I still do run a skimmer tho. But depending on how the tank looks I only run it 4 to 6 hours a day

 

[WB7]

I can post a few pics once I get my hands on a camera maybe tomorrow.

 

[sklywag]

I scrub.

 

[bustayanky]

How did you integrate it into your system? Cold Turkey (cut out protein skimmer complete from beginning), or Weened the Protein skimmer out, or still use protein skimmer partially. I'm having trouble with sump space so I wanted to see if my system get a shock if I went cold turkey. I don't want to lose any corals or brown out the ones I already have. Let me know. Thanks in advance!

WILL

 

[anthony911us]

I.have a scrubber tooooo

 

[SantaMonica]

Since skimmers don't remove nitrate or phosphate (and scrubbers do), you probably would not see any difference at all by removing the skimmer.

 

[acesq]

Since skimmers don't remove nitrate or phosphate (and scrubbers do), you probably would not see any difference at all by removing the skimmer.

I'm interested in the ATS an addition to the other filtration I use, including skimming. But, this article says that skimming does aid in the removal of phosphate and the precursors to nitrate: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature So, I'll keep my skimmer, carbon reactor, Biopellets and GFO. I may add an ATS as well.

 

[SantaMonica]

Skimmers remove food particles, which contain phosphorus, not phosphate.

Instead of removing the food particles, however, just buy less food and put less food in the tank.

 

[watchguy123]

Skimmers and algae scrubbers have a long track record of improving growth and well being in saltwater tanks. Exactly understanding how they do it is not 100% clear but certainly much is nonetheless understood. The most promising aspect in my opinion is perhaps combining the two within the restricted confines of our tanks and/or sumps and significantly improving reef keeping success. Good husbandry is always paramount with our "livestock" and so both under and over feeding should be avoided.

I know that I am striving for a tank that is easier to maintain and continues to remain stable long term so that my coral, fish and other inhabitants thrive.

Just ordered the hog-1, and planning on giving it a test ride. I certainly am hopeful about the possibilities

 

[solitude127]

For the one that uses the air line, is there a lot of salt creep?

 

[acesq]

You should read the article. Skimmers remove a boat load more than "food particles" (which is a pretty vague term). They certainly are not the only or perhaps even the best way to maintain water quality, but they take out alot of organic junk before it can be broken down into inorganic junk like phosphate. I feed pretty heavy, skim pretty heavy, use biopellets, carbon and GFO. My nitrates are undetectable and my phosphates run at less than .03. Would I benefit by an ATS? -- no doubt. But I wouldn't take the skimmer off line.

 

[SantaMonica]

Air Pump Recommendations for UAS upflow algae scrubbers. Having bought and tried all of these, here are the best ones:


Flow (highest to lowest):

Coralife Super Luft... TONS of flow for multiple outlets or multiple scrubbers
Tetra Whisper 300... High flow if both outlets are combined into one
JW Aquatic Fusion 700... High flow if both outlets are combined into one
Tetra Whisper 150... Good flow for one outlet
Coralife Luft (regular)... Good flow for one outlet


Noise (most to least):

Coralife Super Luft... (Loud; vibrates)
Coralife Luft (regular)... (Vibrates)
JW Aquatic Fusion 700... Slight vibration
Tetra Whisper 300... Silent
Tetra Whisper 150... Silent


Size: (big to small):

Tetra Whisper 300... Large
JW Aquatic Fusion 700... Medium
Coralife Super Luft... Medium
Tetra Whisper 150... Medium
Coralife Luft (regular)... Small


Cost (most to least):

Coralife Super Luft
Coralife Luft (regular)
Tetra Whisper 300
Tetra Whisper 150
JW Aquatic Fusion 700

Overall winner for a single UAS scrubber used at home: JW Aquatic Fusion 700 (also is the only one with adjustable flow)
Overall winner for multiple UAS scrubbers if noise if ok: Coralife Super Luft

 

[Emac909]

Cleaned my screen last Sunday this is what I got

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-y-_sJ2RM

The vid is a little over 7 min long but wanted to show how much junk I am getting out of my tank with the ats.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

1982: The original dump-bucket style algae scrubber (works, but very hard to build, install, operate, and harvest)

2008: Waterfall style algae scrubber (works good but hard to build and install; must be removed to harvest)

2011: Upflow style scrubber (work goods, easier to build and install on the glass; must be removed to harvest)

2013: ??? (work great, all 3D growth, easy to build, and instant in-place harvesting without needing to remove anything or turn anything off).

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

If anyone has been waiting to build a waterfall or upflow scrubber, we

will soon be posting plans of the new floating surface scrubber. It

floats at the top and does not need a waterfall, and it does not shine

through the glass.

 

[mark.a.smith405]

Sounds great man lets see the plans!!

 

[Emac909]

Do the fish feed off of the screen?

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

If you take out a little bit the algae from the screen to feed fish , fish will eat it.

Do the fish feed off of the screen?

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

First 13 days of growth in a floating surface scrubber. This one used four LEDs of 3 watts

each, 660nm (red), but you could also use a CFL bulb...

 

[wowdude11]

Anyone good at building these? If ya pm I'll pay you to build me one

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