Best Algae turf scrubber???

[Jimr7]

Looking at purchasing a turf algae scrubber. Opinions would be great!
Thanks

 

[skol]

i have a santa monica surf2x - loving it so far. I pull out a handful or two of algae on a weekly basis in a ~120g system. also the form factor is great as it just floats in the sump. The only downfall IMO is it requires an air pump.

https://www.santa-monica.cc/SURF2-o...cultivator--2-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_40.html

 

[exnisstech]

I don't know about best as I have only used one brand. I run @SantaMonica surf 4x on my WB 330.7. When I started the tank I decided I wanted to run a cryptic fuge with an ATS. Being cryptic I needed one that didn't have a lot of light spill. Some I looked at were made of a translucent material and look like a glowing box. The Surf has zero light spill. Also it just floats in the sump so I have more room for rock and no plumbing is required just electricity for the LEDs and an air pump.

Tang food

I like it so well I put a surf 2 in this 40g breeder and just have it floating in a corner.

 

[Jimr7]

I’m looking at the rain2 or rain4. Reef tank loaded with phosphates and nitrates.

 

[Jimr7]

I don't know about best as I have only used one brand. I run @SantaMonica surf 4x on my WB 330.7. When I started the tank I decided I wanted to run a cryptic fuge with an ATS. Being cryptic I needed one that didn't have a lot of light spill. Some I looked at were made of a translucent material and look like a glowing box. The Surf has zero light spill. Also it just floats in the sump so I have more room for rock and no plumbing is required just electricity for the LEDs and an air pump.

Tang food

I like it so well I put a surf 2 in this 40g breeder and just having floating in a corner.

Whoa!

 

[JHSteepat]

I've had the Santa Monica Rain2 (4-lights) for over a year. I am trying to out-compete GHA explosion in tank, and it hasn't grown macroalgae until recently, when the original screen was starting to crumble and I attached it with small zip-ties to a knitting screen (roughed up and coated with some e-marco-400 cement) to establish a new screen. Algae seems to grow between the screens, and slime on the light-facing surfaces. That said I am now seeing the macroalgae forming between the screens and at edges. Maybe four lights is too much.

 

[exnisstech]

Whoa!

The one in the 40g I'm having to clean every 3 days, its growing like crazy. I only have experience with the surf models. @VintageReefer has long time experience with the SM scrubbers but I'm not sure if he has used the rain?

 

[Jimr7]

I've had the Santa Monica Rain2 (4-lights) for over a year. I am trying to out-compete GHA explosion in tank, and it hasn't grown macroalgae until recently, when the original screen was starting to crumble and I attached it with small zip-ties to a knitting screen (roughed up and coated with some e-marco-400 cement) to establish a new screen. Algae seems to grow between the screens, and slime on the light-facing surfaces. That said I am now seeing the macroalgae forming between the screens and at edges. Maybe four lights is too much.

Does it suppose to grow Macro algae??

 

[JHSteepat]

The stuff shown above I believe is what is supposed to grow and is not gha, but a form of Ulva. See the following link.

https://www.nano-reef.com/articles/equipment/the-complete-guide-to-algae-turf-scrubbers-part-3-r37/
After a year I am still on the fence regarding a scrubber in a tank that has well-established gha in the display. Again, after a year, I am still having a hard time growing competitive algae on a single screen. I am thinking the problem might be light inhibition as the algae grows at the bottom of the scrubber, outside the drain hole and between screens.

Because the old screen fell apart, to establish the new screen I zip tied the old one it to the new, with zip tie loops holding things in place in the water tube.

New screen, “ulva” on bottom of picture. One light on this side.

Old screen (two lights on this side, and I just unplugged one).

Between screens.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'll move this to the main forum since its not an experiment.

 

[Jimr7]

Thanks. Wasn’t sure where to post

 

[VintageReefer]

There are lots of scrubber designs out there. There are good designs/models and poor ones. Some are more effective / efficient than others.

Being a scrubber user for many many years there are two that I would recommend. The surf series from Santa Monica and the turbo aquatics one, but production on the turbo has been on hold for a while.

The only one I recommend to anyone is the surf. It’s a excellent design, it works well, and is easy to install and doesn’t require any plumbing changes. It just floats in the tank and is connected to a high power air pump.

Mines been running 10 years with minimal issues. It grows it’s own type of algae and can not be seeded. It will grow its own algae colony naturally

 

[JHSteepat]

I'll move this to the main forum since its not an experiment.

My apologies for adding my own drama (experiment?) to the scrubber discussion. Bottom line is my experience was mostly negative with the Rain2, but may have had to do with the state of the tank (too far along with gha and low available nutrients due to the gha). I am sure the rain works for some but not great for me (I am an optimist, so I’ll add “not great for me so far”). I find it too “fiddly” so I am not sure if it is worth the $500 as opposed to a filter roller and maybe the SM surf.

 

[Jimr7]

Great to hear. I’m looking at the surf4x at the moment.
Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My apologies for adding my own drama (experiment?) to the scrubber discussion. Bottom line is my experience was mostly negative with the Rain2, but may have had to do with the state of the tank (too far along with gha and low available nutrients due to the gha). I am sure the rain works for some but not great for me (I am an optimist, so I’ll add “not great for me so far”). I find it too “fiddly” so I am not sure if it is worth the $500 as opposed to a filter roller and maybe the SM surf.

Not an issue. There's no problem posting any reasonable thing to any thread. I just moved it because the experiment forum is really about running and interpreting experiments in real time, and getting advice on how to do that, not really for discussion of how to best carry out some reefing task. :)

 

[Science/G]

@SantaMonica

 

[BryanM]

I am also a Santa Monica fan and user.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ice Cap units

 

[Dave-T]

I have this one, and it's awesome:

https://www.foursquareaquatics.com/

 

[JoJosReef]

There are lots of scrubber designs out there. There are good designs/models and poor ones. Some are more effective / efficient than others.

Being a scrubber user for many many years there are two that I would recommend. The surf series from Santa Monica and the turbo aquatics one, but production on the turbo has been on hold for a while.

The only one I recommend to anyone is the surf. It’s a excellent design, it works well, and is easy to install and doesn’t require any plumbing changes. It just floats in the tank and is connected to a high power air pump.

Mines been running 10 years with minimal issues. It grows it’s own type of algae and can not be seeded. It will grow its own algae colony naturally

Do you think there is an appreciable difference in a similarly sized Surf vs HOG (hang on glass)?