Algae scrubber concern

[PYRU]

I've been looking at adding one on a couple tanks. It scares me that this could get on your main display though.

Any experiences with this long term?

 

[AZRipp]

I've been looking at adding one on a couple tanks. It scares me that this could get on your main display though.

Any experiences with this long term?

What do you mean, "It scares me that this could get on your main display though". I've been running one for many years and it's worked great.

 

[PYRU]

What do you mean, "It scares me that this could get on your main display though". I've been running one for many years and it's worked great.

I'm worried about it getting in the main display.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

So an algae scrubber doesn't quite work like that. With an ATS you are having a media for the algae to grow on as well as very algae favorable light. By introducing an algae scrubber it won't be like the light gives life to spores that will settle anywhere in your tank. The algae will grow where the light is shining on the media.

 

[PYRU]

So an algae scrubber doesn't quite work like that. With an ATS you are having a media for the algae to grow on as well as very algae favorable light. By introducing an algae scrubber it won't be like the light gives life to spores that will settle anywhere in your tank. The algae will grow where the light is shining on the media.

So the strands that make it to the display won't take off with several 165w units? Which I guess you don't seed so there already there anyway. It's just worrying me.

I had a old fuge that transferred macro up. I believe it was gracilaria. Which looked good in a fowlr. This stuff would be uglllyy.

 

[AZRipp]

So the strands that make it to the display won't take off with several 165w units?

I have not experienced this. Then again, my ATS' output goes into a pre-filter pad. If you keep the ATS fairly free of stray algae, then the screen is the only area that should contain significant amounts of GHA. I guess if you were to allow the output from the ATS to dump directly into the the sump's outlet to the return pump, this could possibly happen, but I wouldn't recommend that.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

So the strands that make it to the display won't take off with several 165w units? Which I guess you don't seed so there already there anyway. It's just worrying me.

I had a old fuge that transferred macro up. I believe it was gracilaria. Which looked good in a fowlr. This stuff would be uglllyy.

With appropriate nutrient control you will be able to maintain growth to areas you want it. Keep in mind you won't be able to out compete your tank lights with a hardware store shop light. If you have an appropriate light on a ~18 hour schedule than you should be fine. Having a filter after the ATS will always make sure very little makes it to your tank, but some will. Usually it doesn't thrive or an algae eater takes care of it. I have never had an ATS cause algae grown in my DT, it actually caused the opposite.

 

[PYRU]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to give it a shot.

I doubt it matters because it's already present and the display parameters keep it at bay.

I have grow flood lights or UFO's. I think that'll work at the close range.

 

[vangvace]

What do you mean, "It scares me that this could get on your main display though". I've been running one for many years and it's worked great.

My question is getting the sizing correct so it doesn't require dosing. Yup, I get that I can adjust flow and lights for Nitrates and Phosphates, but I think I am more concerned about things that I don't test for being stripped out.

 

[ca1ore]

So the strands that make it to the display won't take off with several 165w units? Which I guess you don't seed so there already there anyway. It's just worrying me.

The algae that grows on the screen is already in your system - you're not seeding the screen (or not in most cases) from another source - so there's nothing to 'get into' the display that isn't already there. As noted, the idea is for the scrubber screen to provide an ideal, protected place for the algae to grow. There are ALWAYS enough nutrients for algae to grow in your system; the idea is to get them low enough and have adequate herbivores so that it cannot gain a foothold inside the display. Not sure I entirely understood your macro comment - the ATS uses turf algae (thus the T in ATS) not macros.

 

[NS Mike D]

The algae that grows on the screen is already in your system.

^ This

 

[Marklugo23]

I understand your concern, but its outcome is highly unlikely. I have run one for 3 years...and weekly have to clean off hue tufts of algae. I keep a sponge pad in the final baffle which I wash monthly....sometimes I catch strands that float there. sort of an insurance policy

 

[PYRU]

Tossing ideas area. What do you think of this scrubber design?