Algae Scrubbers?

[FullSend]

Where did the community fall on algae scrubbers? Are they effective or a gimmick?

 

[Paul B]

I have been using a DIY one for about 10 years. I can't tell if it is a gimmick but I do remove a lot of seaweed from it.

 

[JTP424]

I believe there are several Algae scrubber sponsors!

 

[SPS2020]

Highly recommend Turbos Aquatics, a Reef2Reef sponsor.

 

[iannarelli]

Highly recommend Turbos Aquatics, a Reef2Reef sponsor.

Is he back to taking orders?!!?!?

 

[exnisstech]

If nothing else my Santa Monica surf scrubbers provide a nice supply of tang food. I haven't bought nori since adding mine.

My nutrients are high but I have 24 fish included 9 tangs and I feed multiples times a day. I have never had nuisance algae in the display. I can't prove the scrubber is the reason but I'm not pulling it to find out. I run a cryptic zone so having a ATS without a lot of light spill was a requirement and the surf fit the bill. It also floats so it leaves more room for rock on the sump. I also like that its driven by an Air pump so no additional pump or plumbing is needed.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics Verified Sponsor]

Is he back to taking orders?!!?!?

No I'm pretty much out of the hobby and business entirely at this point. Not making new units, barely able to do customer support. After the cancer, life priorities had a major shift.

 

[BryanM]

Santa Monica ATSes work quite well, and they have a lot of information on their website.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

Why are the ATS so expensive? It seems like a very simple mechanism of LED (specific spectrum and controller etc.), water/air pump, and rough surface area. Am I missing something?

 

[BryanM]

If I hazard a guess, supply and demand and the cost of keeping a business running.

if the price is too high you can always go down the DIY road.

 

[exnisstech]

Why are the ATS so expensive? It seems like a very simple mechanism of LED (specific spectrum and controller etc.), water/air pump, and rough surface area. Am I missing something?

I thought the same thing when unboxed mine. Then I thought about it and decided I lack the knowledge of leds etc and skill to build one so I figured I was paying for that knowledge and skills. I made a living for 35 years getting paid for my knowledge and skills so I used that to justify it to myself.

 

[BriansBrain]

Why are the ATS so expensive? It seems like a very simple mechanism of LED (specific spectrum and controller etc.), water/air pump, and rough surface area. Am I missing something?

Welcome to this hobby

 

[jackintheboxfish]

If I hazard a guess, supply and demand and the cost of keeping a business running.

if the price is too high you can always go down the DIY road.

Yeah that’s actually what I 'm experimenting.

For my IM 25 I designed & 3D printed:

I put it in the back chamber a few days ago and waiting to see if turf algae will actually grow on it.

 

[BryanM]

Yeah that’s actually what I 'm experimenting.

For my IM 25 I designed & 3D printed:

I put it in the back chamber a few days ago and waiting to see if turf algae will actually grow on it.

with new scrubbers it can take quite some time (4-6 weeks) for it to grow.

 

[jackintheboxfish]

I thought the same thing when unboxed mine. Then I thought about it and decided I lack the knowledge of leds etc and skill to build one so I figured I was paying for that knowledge and skills. I made a living for 35 years getting paid for my knowledge and skills so I used that to justify it to myself.

Yeah that's a fair point. It seems to me this hobby there are no limits in terms of DIY. But the time and effort needed to learn what to do, try things out, fail and learn, and eventually get it working sometimes makes me feel like maybe it's better to buy something that's is more guaranteed to get the job done.

That being said I feel like ATS's pricing was still a little hard to swallow... which is why I'm trying the DIY option

 

[jackintheboxfish]

with new scrubbers it can take quite some time (4-6 weeks) for it to grow.

Yeah and it's not guaranteed to grow the turf algae I want. Last iterations it grew brown slime (some kind of cyano?). It was probably not enough flow and the screen wasn't getting enough light. Hopefully 3rd time's the charm

 

[PPBlimpy]

I have used them and just about finished my newest one that will go on my 10G sump. picked up plumbing pieces today and printing the top tonight. I prefer a ATS over a macro algae (wannabe refugium) chamber.