What do you think of algae reactors as opposed to (or in line with) refugiums? I think it's a really promising form of natural filtration (plus they look super cool).
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Interesting info about the rubber toxicity. I'm gonna write that down for future referenceI 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!
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.Interesting info about the rubber toxicity. I'm gonna write that down for future reference
Interesting info about the rubber toxicity. I'm gonna write that down for future reference
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
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.
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.
What’s your bio load like? I’m hoping my chaeto growth starts improving as I add more livestock.
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 lighting
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?
It was hard for me too! It now it growing well and a actually helping!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.