Algae Turf Scrubbers - What are your best practices?

[Stevorino]

My Turf Scrubber (Foursquare APIS-300) is settling in and.... oh my lord it is sucking out nutrients like a boss.

My current settings:

- Pump = Always on
- Lights = 8hrs/night
- Harvesting ~monthly

I'd love to hear what your sweet-spot has been in balancing the light-time/harvest frequency?

I've used Chaeto for years and felt like the tank went through a Nitrate swing/cycle when I would do a major harvest, am I right in assuming that will also be the case here to some extent?

Thanks in advance and happy St Pattys !

 

[Llyod276]

Don't use a scrubber, but refugium. And i harvest weekly about a fat ziploc baggie full... sometimes I feed to the fish, but otherwise, toss...
Pump always, light 24/7...

 

[BryanM]

18hrs a day light, pump always on, harvest about every 10 days.

 

[Stevorino]

18hrs a day light, pump always on, harvest about every 10 days.

Do you notice a big swing in Nitrates after harvest?

 

[Reefer Matt]

I run both of mine 24/7. They keep nitrate level. I have to dose phosphate, but had to before I got them. I harvest half of the algae once a week. It took about 2 months to get good turf algae.

 

[BryanM]

Do you notice a big swing in Nitrates after harvest?

I've never tested nitrates or phosphates after I've harvested algae from the ATS.

 

[Stevorino]

I run both of mine 24/7. They keep nitrate level. I have to dose phosphate, but had to before I got them. I harvest half of the algae once a week. It took about 2 months to get good turf algae.

Thanks!

I may try your half & half technique myself just to keep it more consistent day to day