Algae scrubber or chaeto on Fluval Flex 32.5?

[Kilman805]

I’m looking for some nutrient export options. I want to reduce both nitrate and phosphate. I have a skimmer running that helps slow down the accumulation of both, but they both remain high. I could carbon dose for nitrates and lanthanum dose for phosphate, but I would rather take a more natural approach.

I have not found many posts about adding algae scrubbers, refugiums, or chaeto to this tank. I’m considering the @SantaMonica HOB 1 or 1X algae scrubber. Larger models are too big. I’ve got two InTank media baskets running though. Could I turn one into a mini refugium with chaeto? Maybe hang a light on the back of the tank to light it? I’ve seen some HOB refugium options too, but I worry about overflow potential.

 

[Tahoe61]

What are the nitrate and phosphate values?

 

[Kilman805]

Nitrate is around 30 ppm if I keep up with 10 gallon biweekly water changes.

Phosphate is about 1 ppm.

Those are from Salifert tests. LFS AquaSpin gives same results.

Right now I’m still fish only with ocean live rock. I’m letting things get established before I start adding coral.

 

[VintageReefer]

The scrubber will outperform the cheato

Thinking in terms of volume and space, it takes more than 3x the cheato to perform equal to a scrubber

 

[Kilman805]

Yeah, and volume is pretty limited in the filter chamber. Especially once I sandwich the chaeto with filter floss on both ends to contain it. The only advantage is it’s out of sight.

Santa Monica rates the HOB1 at 1 cube of frozen food per day. That should keep up with my feeding. I might need to dose lanthanum or something to get it down and then use the algae to maintain it. The downside is it become an ugly black box in my display. But it should fit on the back wall at least.

 

[VintageReefer]

Yeah, and volume is pretty limited in the filter chamber. Especially once I sandwich the chaeto with filter floss on both ends to contain it. The only advantage is it’s out of sight.

Santa Monica rates the HOB1 at 1 cube of frozen food per day. That should keep up with my feeding. I might need to dose lanthanum or something to get it down and then use the algae to maintain it. The downside is it become an ugly black box in my display. But it should fit on the back wall at least.

What about the drop .7
Can you give up a chamber

 

[Kilman805]

What about the drop .7
Can you give up a chamber

Maybe? The Drop.6 might just barely fit inside the InTank basket. I would need to measure more carefully to confirm. Don’t I need to keep some floss / mechanical filtration on both chambers?

If I don’t keep some floss in that chamber then any water coming in that side would be unfiltered. And since the flow resistance would be lower than the chamber with floss, I think the more flow would go through the unfiltered side.

I know some people run with no mechanical filtration at all, but not sure it’s generally a good idea?

The 0.6 cube capacity might not be enough either.