Algae reactors
- Thread starter Oscaror
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Swingline77
Active Member
I recently posted a thread on the toxicity of the type of rubber that grommets are made of. What I'm trying to do is route the outflow of my protein skimmer to a bucket within which I'll have macro algae. The bucket will then empty through a screened bottom. The advantage of this is that I'll be able to position a light directly above the bucket, and isolate it from illuminating anything else. The big advantage to the algae reactor seems to be that light can reach many areas of the plants in the absence of tumbling. Aside from that, I don't know what the advantages would be. I'm looking forward to seeing where this thread goes!
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Oscaror
Back In It
Interesting info about the rubber toxicity. I'm gonna write that down for future reference
Old Fritz
Valuable Member
I think it has to do with the type of rubber because I've used rubber bands in tanks without issue. Although I'm no grommet expert so I dont know what type of rubber it uses.
However I do know certain plastics break down in saltwater tanks, its why most freshwater decorations are not safe in a saltwater system (a friend of mine got a shipwreck decoration and found out the hard way that it wasnt safe), on top of the fact that it breaks down much faster and loses color fast.
I only use a refugium, but it's enough to drive my nutrient levels low enough that I deliberately overfeed. I think that it's really all about light intensity/area plus algae ina given water volume, so as long as you have enough water/chaeto volume and enough light to drive high growth, then any of these methods will work. Algae scrubbers, too (based on what I've read, though I've never had one). My 2 cents
Swingline77
Active Member
I didn't mean to imply that grommets are toxic, only that I have questions regarding their toxicity, and started a thread as a result. I'm hoping Randy will weigh in on the issue.
Swingline77
Active Member
This is the conclusion I came to also. Algae "reactors" and "scrubbers" are just other ways of keeping algae in a system.
BadgerReefer
New Member
2 and a half months ago I started a 60g reef tank. At startup I set up an algae reactor similar to that pictured above except I used a larger Aquamaxx media reactor. I have an AIO and send the output of one of the sump return pumps to the algae reactor and the return then goes straight to the water return nozzles of the tank. I did it from the start to see if it could prevent algae build up in the DT from the very beginning but similar to what was reported by BRS in the BRS160 series, the algae growth has not been great. I think I need more biomass to get it really growing. Anyone else have this experience?
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
I have a Skimz algae reactor. I don’t really have room for a refugium or I would have one.
I use it along with NoPox dosing and 4 liters of Seachem Matrix in super low flow, and rowaphos for nutrient control.
Seeded, and 5 weeks growth.
I use it along with NoPox dosing and 4 liters of Seachem Matrix in super low flow, and rowaphos for nutrient control.
Seeded, and 5 weeks growth.
BadgerReefer
New Member
What’s your bio load like? I’m hoping my chaeto growth starts improving as I add more livestock.I have a Skimz algae reactor. I don’t really have room for a refugium or I would have one.
I use it along with NoPox dosing and 4 liters of Seachem Matrix in super low flow, and rowaphos for nutrient control.
Seeded, and 5 weeks growth.
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Oscaror
Back In It
Nice. What I've realized from all my reading about this stuff is that they're a great solution for people who are constrained by space and can't have a fuge, but a big ball of chaeto is generally superior especially with great lightingI have a Skimz algae reactor. I don’t really have room for a refugium or I would have one.
I use it along with NoPox dosing and 4 liters of Seachem Matrix in super low flow, and rowaphos for nutrient control.
Seeded, and 5 weeks growth.
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
This was my second attempt. Like you, I tried early, too early.
I now have 20 small fish and feed well.
Nitrates stable at 16, phosphates .02-.04
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
I came to that conclusion as well!
I’m hoping for the day that I can keep the reactor full and running 12 hours off cycle and no longer dose NoPox.
We’ll see.......I’m very patient this time around.
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
Fits nicely and easily removed for simple maintenance
Swingline77
Active Member
Do you have any unwanted algae in the DT? If you don't, and the algae reactor seems to be fine, even though you aren't experiencing growth, I don't know what the problem would be. You could introduce more that could be consumed by the algae into the tank, but I don't know why you'd want to do this. Do you want to get other benefits from the reactor than just keeping nutrients low? If so, you could theoretically add biomass to the tank, or overfeed a little. Dosing a small amount of chelated iron could help, if it's a limiting factor. I'm mentioning this from a theoretical point of view, though. Personally, I wouldn't change anything just to get more growth in your algae reactor. The tank is very young, and you could cause a crash. As long as everything is alive, you are successful. The tank will be going through more cycles as time goes on.
BadgerReefer
New Member
I have 0 algae in my DT (thankfully). I believe mta_morrow hit it on the head - you need significant bioload for the chaeto to really start growing. More critters will be going into my DT shortly so I will be patient...even though it’s really hard.
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
It was hard for me too! It now it growing well and a actually helping!
Hang in there!
I know I'm pretty late on this thread but I've used a DIY reactor using an Aquamaxx reactor and Amazon LED's. I have a 60 cube so I don't have much space in my stand next to my sump. I used the reactor since I set up my tank for about a year. I will say that it works for the most part. The first time I set it up, I put the lights directly on the reactor. But I eventually learned that its best to put some space between the lights and reactor because there is some sludge or something that builds up under the lights that eventually dims it for the rest of the algae. Also, you need to ensure you have good, clean algae from the start or you'll end up with that sludge building as well. Another benefit is that you get a ton of fauna growing inside which seeds the tank with pods. The downside is that the algae grows FAST sometimes too fast which is good but you have to keep up with cleaning it out or the middle algae will die off. I took it off my tank recently to try GFO. GFO worked well for phosphate control but I now have crazy nitrate levels and my ph is too low. I'm gonna go back to the algae reactor. Also, quick tip: have it come on at night and it'll help with pH swings. Hope that was helpful.
rmchoi
Active Member
Though there are several ways to use algae to uptake nutrients, the algae reactors are high tech and cool for sure! I don't think there is any better conservation of space than the algae reactor or turf scrubber. Though these are space savers, it appears you trade saving space for capacity. I have a 25 gallon refugium that averages about 1o-12 gallons of chaeto and any one time. The algae gets dense. Once a month I remove a packed 5-6 gallons of chaeto. So I think it comes down to a matter of available space. If you have the room, the refugium seems to have more grow capacity and easier to empty. However, any of these methods are probably all very efficient at nutrient transport.
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