Algae Scrubber vs. Refugium

[Manny D. Mandarin]

Refugium! And it also give you space to hold fish or be a second display tank and have different types of macro on display

 

[NowGlazeIT]

refugium with black acrylic baffles.
Algae scrubbers are a hit or miss on new tanks

 

[BeltedCoyote]

I’d rather have a scrubber for nutrient control and a cryptic space for pods and other desirables like sponges.

 

[Torres reef]

I use both on my system. I ran just a fuge for about a year before adding the scrubber.

Did you find one failing more than the other? I’ve read that having both isn’t ideal because one will outcompete the other and the losing fighter eventually starves.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

Did you find one failing more than the other? I’ve read that having both isn’t ideal because one will outcompete the other and the losing fighter eventually starves.

Has not been the case for me. It's more likely that the lighting on the one that "starves" is a lower intensity of duration. You can absolutely adjust your lighting to run both successfully.