Questions on Algae Scrubber

[arthurk0722]

After doing some research and watching some videos on youtube, i was debating on adding algae scrubber to my tank. My nitrates are pretty high, about 40ppm and I've tried multiple water changes to attempt to reduce them, with no luck. I read that algae scrubbers help to reduce nitrates, phosphates and other elements that are present in the reef tank..


How do i go about perhaps adding an "algae scrubber"? Is it something i can just buy? Does it pretty much work like chaeto where it builds up and after a while i have to get clean it out?
I'm a little confused on this process and if someone can explain it to me a little better that would be awesome!

 

[JSully526]

After doing some research and watching some videos on youtube, i was debating on adding algae scrubber to my tank. My nitrates are pretty high, about 40ppm and I've tried multiple water changes to attempt to reduce them, with no luck. I read that algae scrubbers help to reduce nitrates, phosphates and other elements that are present in the reef tank..


How do i go about perhaps adding an "algae scrubber"? Is it something i can just buy? Does it pretty much work like chaeto where it builds up and after a while i have to get clean it out?
I'm a little confused on this process and if someone can explain it to me a little better that would be awesome!

I was vodka dosing it works but u have to be on the ball every day..Ive been using Purigen it brought mine down some...I just made a scrubber to try give me about a week and I'll let you know if it works

 

[arthurk0722]

I was vodka dosing it works but u have to be on the ball every day..Ive been using Purigen it brought mine down some...I just made a scrubber to try give me about a week and I'll let you know if it works

I vodka dosed as well and it didn't do much. Yeah let me know how yours works. How did you make it? Could you post a pic for me to see yours?

Thanks

 

[JSully526]

I vodka dosed as well and it didn't do much. Yeah let me know how yours works. How did you make it? Could you post a pic for me to see yours?

Thanks

I watched a bunch of videos on youtube everything I got I bought at Walmart lol...if it works I'll post lol....search algae scrubber DIY on youtube that's the 1i made by king of DIY .

 

[xclusive252]

following

 

[Justcause0_1]

+1

 

[5thChorseman]

Yes, you can buy or DIY like I did.
It does work like chaeto, with the recommended cleaning schedule of a week to 14 days. When you clean all you do it scrape off most of the algae.

Search for algae scrubbing dot com and read the forum for a better sense of design and practice of using an algae scrubber.

It is my main filter, with a remote deep sand bed as my secondary, and my nitrate is around 5 ppm even with heavy feeding twice a day.

How do i go about perhaps adding an "algae scrubber"? Is it something i can just buy? Does it pretty much work like chaeto where it builds up and after a while i have to get clean it out?
I'm a little confused on this process and if someone can explain it to me a little better that would be awesome!

 

[arthurk0722]

Yes, you can buy or DIY like I did.
It does work like chaeto, with the recommended cleaning schedule of a week to 14 days. When you clean all you do it scrape off most of the algae.

Search for algae scrubbing dot com and read the forum for a better sense of design and practice of using an algae scrubber.

It is my main filter, with a remote deep sand bed as my secondary, and my nitrate is around 5 ppm even with heavy feeding twice a day.

Is it possible to buy a algae scrubber thats already made instead of having to make it myself?

 

[lnevo]

Yes there was a brand that was pretty cool. I was looking at their stuff the other day. Its a magnet with lights on one side and a screen and input output on the other. You put it in your sump and let it go. Let me try and find it...

 

[lnevo]

Here you go.

http://www.santa-monica.cc/

 

[arnaldolex]

I made my own for under 10 bucks and maybe 30 minutes very simple and effective. the best product that I have found to bring nitrates down is this liquid I buy in petco in a black bottle called nite out its amazing

 

[arnaldolex]

try to determine whats bringing your nitrates up maybe clean your sump out completely or maybe you have dead spots in your tank full of junk maybe feeding to much or to many fish maybe you need a bigger protein skimmer.

 

[arthurk0722]

Here you go.

http://www.santa-monica.cc/

Thanks for that, very helpful website. But maybe on ebay or something there will be cheaper ones?

 

[arthurk0722]

try to determine whats bringing your nitrates up maybe clean your sump out completely or maybe you have dead spots in your tank full of junk maybe feeding to much or to many fish maybe you need a bigger protein skimmer.

I have a 75 gallon and my protein skimmer is rated for up to 120 i believe if i remember correctly. I've always had high nitrates so this isn't something out of the blue. I don't believe i have deadspots but i could always be wrong. I have 7 fish in my tank which could be a factor..

 

[nagrom]

I've got a santa Monica scrubber, works well, took about a month to start producing algae, now I clean it once a week. Definitely helped lower my nitrates.

 

[JavyJaverson]

I set up an ats at some point but ended up taking it offline once i determined that a section of chaeto in my system could outcompete my well designed ATS watt per watt. In addition to that, chaeto is a lot easier to prune than an ats is to clean. I would also add that neither works efficiently in conjunction with GFO.

 

[rbtwo4]

7 fish in a 75 doesn't sound like the problem unless they are big fish like tangs who crap a lot. But maybe ur over feeding and that's the reason for the nitrates. How often do u do water changes and how much? That might be a factor as well. Chempure elite is what I use in a reactor.

 

[arthurk0722]

I've got a santa Monica scrubber, works well, took about a month to start producing algae, now I clean it once a week. Definitely helped lower my nitrates.

Which one do you have since there are quite a few to choose from? What size tank do you have so we can compare?

 

[arthurk0722]

7 fish in a 75 doesn't sound like the problem unless they are big fish like tangs who crap a lot. But maybe ur over feeding and that's the reason for the nitrates. How often do u do water changes and how much? That might be a factor as well. Chempure elite is what I use in a reactor.

I change my water once a month and between 15%-20% each time. But for the last few months that hasn't helped at all. I feed once every other day (raw shrimp) and seaweed every day for the tangs ( i have 3)

 

[nagrom]

Which one do you have since there are quite a few to choose from? What size tank do you have so we can compare?

I think I've got the HOB1, it's the one rated for one cube of frozen per day. My tank and sump are about 130 gallons altogether.

As others have noted, it's just about nutrient export. You need to choose scrubber or chaeto, I don't run GFO.