Clearwater Algae Turf Scrubber CW100

[i0nz]

I have the opportunity to buy a CW100 Clearwater ATS V1 that’s used with a Sicce for $100. I’ve been dealing with GHA in one of my tanks and came across this. I’ve read the reviews on BRS and people have complained about them leaking along with light bleed.

I was curious to see if anybody has used one and has any feedback on it? Also curious to see if the asking price is reasonable for what I’m going to achieve.

I carbon dose and skim wet with no refugium. I have trouble keeping my nitrates above 0 but my phosphates are around 1. I’m hoping to find a way to achieve an NP balance. I’m also curious if the ATS happens to workout, would I need to discontinue carbon dosing?

 

[Brandont21]

If youre struggling with nitrates why are you carbon dosing?

 

[i0nz]

If youre struggling with nitrates why are you carbon dosing?

As of recently sorry. I’ve been carbon dosing for several years now and upon siphoning the detritus from my sump it bottomed out. Prior I was able to feed heavy and adjust my dose every so often if my nitrates dipped below 10 or above 20. I maintained 10-15 consistently but can’t seem to get them up despite disabling my dosing pump schedule a few days ago. I want to try and raise them with food prior to dosing nitrate

 

[Seansea]

Sick deal. Take it. Make sure lights are working. Paid 600 for my cw-50 no pump. Hair algae will clear up i. A couple weeks

 

[i0nz]

Sick deal. Take it. Make sure lights are working. Paid 600 for my cw-50 no pump. Hair algae will clear up i. A couple weeks

Ah thank you! I’ll be sure to check! Is yours a V2?

 

[Seansea]

Yes

 

[paintman]

Where could they possibly be leaking from other then the bulkheads? Mine is close to 4 years old now and hasn't skipped a beat. Yes there is some light spill. Quite frankly I think it's criminal what clearwater charges for the light shields separately. I would never pay it so I just run like you see in the pic.
Although.....I would never put one where if it did leak it wouldn't just go back into the sump. Some of the half baked stuff you see here on R2R just makes me shake my head.
Heres mine sitting on a shelf in my sump so if it did leak what would it matter?

 

[i0nz]

Sick deal. Take it. Make sure lights are working. Paid 600 for my cw-50 no pump. Hair algae will clear up i. A couple weeks

Ah the one I’m checking out is the V1 which is why I had some concerns. Seems like they improved the V2

 

[i0nz]

Where could they possibly be leaking from other then the bulkheads? Mine is close to 4 years old now and hasn't skipped a beat. Yes there is some light spill. Quite frankly I think it's criminal what clearwater charges for the light shields separately. I would never pay it so I just run like you see in the pic.
Although.....I would never put one where if it did leak it wouldn't just go back into the sump. Some of the half baked stuff you see here on R2R just makes me shake my head.
Heres mine sitting on a shelf in my sump so if it did leak what would it matter?

Thank you for posting this! I suppose you are right about the leaking potential and the bulkheads. After re reading the posts about it leaking others stated it was due to clogging from the side spay bar design yet the reviews weren’t as bad as I thought. I’d just need to manufacturer some sort of a brace to be able to mount it above my sump with my current setup. Even then the space is pretty tight. I think for the price it’s worth giving it a shot.