Algae scrubber vs Algae reactor...

[VintageReefer]

I've been looking into the SM scrubbers, but I have a hard time understanding their sizing guide. Is it really as simple as the amount of food you're feeding? I have a 100G DT + 50G Sump and only feed 1 cube per day (may get up to 2 once it's more stocked). It seems crazy to me that the Surf 2 would be sufficient, but that's their claim.

Any thoughts?

Sort of.

The feeding amount is the primary factor. Additional factors are current phosphate level and how much “problem rock” you have - ie rock bound up with phosphates, usually those rocks that always seem to grow algae while others don’t.

If you have have high phosphate or lots of problem rock, you would need a 2x or a 4

 

[VintageReefer]

It seems crazy to me that the Surf 2 would be sufficient, but that's their claim.

Any thoughts?

the surf series of scrubbers do not grow a sheet of algae like typical scrubbers, theh grow a brick nearly 2” thick. It allows more algae to grow in a smaller space. The leds are also nearly touching the algae, less than a inch away. It’s a very efficient design

 

[mjszos]

Sort of.

The feeding amount is the primary factor. Additional factors are current phosphate level and how much “problem rock” you have - ie rock bound up with phosphates, usually those rocks that always seem to grow algae while others don’t.

If you have have high phosphate or lots of problem rock, you would need a 2x or a 4

the surf series of scrubbers do not grow a sheet of algae like typical scrubbers, theh grow a brick nearly 2” thick. It allows more algae to grow in a smaller space. The leds are also nearly touching the algae, less than a inch away. It’s a very efficient design

These both make sense. I'm dealing with some bound up phosphate in rock from an old tank that I've been slowly dealing with GFO, but once I pull that rock out I was planning on using that sump chamber as a fuge. If I don't have success with Chaeto, I'll probably pull the trigger on a scrubber.

Honest question; how's the smell when cleaning them out?

 

[BryanM]

All I can offer is I went with a Santa Monica Surf 4 after chatting with @VintageReefer and reading @exnisstech posts.

 

[exnisstech]

These both make sense. I'm dealing with some bound up phosphate in rock from an old tank that I've been slowly dealing with GFO, but once I pull that rock out I was planning on using that sump chamber as a fuge. If I don't have success with Chaeto, I'll probably pull the trigger on a scrubber.

Honest question; how's the smell when cleaning them out?

Mine has no smell that I notice. I pull the algae out by hand and leave it in a container next to the tank since I use it as food. The surf is so easy to clean. Just remove the lid and pull the algae out.

 

[VintageReefer]

These both make sense. I'm dealing with some bound up phosphate in rock from an old tank that I've been slowly dealing with GFO, but once I pull that rock out I was planning on using that sump chamber as a fuge. If I don't have success with Chaeto, I'll probably pull the trigger on a scrubber.

Honest question; how's the smell when cleaning them out?

There is absolutely zero smell

I empty it by grabbing a handful and throwing it out or flushing it. Quick rinse to get sw off and then towel dry. Zero smell

 

[PharmrJohn]

I have never heard of an Algae Reactor, but that ain't surprising. I'm gonna get an SM scrubber when I launch. I'll wait a bit before installing it, but I'm confident it'll do just fine.