Diy algae scrubber

[Kfactor]

Hi all I made a algae scrubber for my tank it’s only around 40 g total i don’t really have problems with no3 and po4 as I’m doing to keep them up . The reason I want to add this to my tank I’m really stingy on feeding and I think my corals are starving and read a lot about the heavy in heavy out thing and want to start feeding more and what not my question is would this be a big mistake to do add a algae scrubber with low nutrients .

 

[DSEKULA]

Nice build, I made mine as well. Good luck with it!

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I'm a huge fan of algae filtration. I run both a turf scrubber and a large refugium.

I don't think there is such a thing as an algae turf scrubber doing harm to your tank. The reason is because algae is adjustable. If your scrubber had no lights at all, then it would just be another piece of plumbing. If you run really intense lighting 24/7, the algae would probably die, but if it did grow a proverbial ton of algae it could possibly strip out some needed food for your corals. Somewhere in the middle of those two extremes is going to be the sweet spot that will absolutely be a benefit for your tank. Exactly where that sweet spot is will take some experimenting and time. Definitely worth it in my opinion and it's been working really well on my 220.

 

[Kfactor]

Thank you for your replys I guess I’m just a little worried but I guess it’s worth a try . I just want to start feeding more and stuff and just worried about driving nutrients to high

 

[R.Weller]

Agreed with above. We use both macro algae & a DIY ATS for our build. I love the idea of plants filtering the water & simply discarding excess growth a few times a month. It will take a little time to break in, especially if you already have very low nutrients. If you suspect your livestock are suffering now (e.g. skinny fish or you want to add reef roids), I would get it running & go ahead & increase feeding. There's nothing worse than watching something starve. Give it a month or two & keep an eye on the corals. Daily obersvation & taking photos is a great way to measure a response to changes in nutrition.

 

[Rp8]

can you post how you made it? it would be helpful to us who would like to DIY

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

DIY works great too.

 

[Rp8]

is it plumbed in or so you have a separate pump pushing water thru?

 

[20 gallon nano]

I made algae scrubber for my 20 gallon innovative marine reef tank with all the plumbing internal.

 

[laverda]

Depending on the size and light schedule of your ATS it is very easy to strip all the nutrients from your system. Mine is three sheets wide in my overflow. When I first set it up I ran it 24/7and quickly stripped my previously very high nitrate (50) and phosphate to zero. Now I just adjust my light schedule to give me the levels I want.

 

[Kfactor]

I only run my scrubber for 6 hours at night and seems to be doing a really good job . I had to run my skimmer on a schedule I only run it 3 times a week for 6 hours at a time I have bottomed out my nutrients and trying to get them back up . The only thing I want to do next is get the flow meter kit for my apex jr too see what flow I’m getting on my scrubber and my uv

 

[laverda]

Don't waste your money on the flow meter. They aren't reliable. Just measure the flow out of your UV into a 5 gallon bucket. If it takes 1 minute to fill it your flowing 5 gallons a minute or 300 GPH. Simple. The flow to your ATS really dose not matter if your sheet is completely wet all the time and you getting the growth to keep you nutrients under control. You can also measure the flow into a plastic bag in your sump or tank.
it sounds Like you may need to reduce your light schedule more on your ATS.

 

[TheAngryReefer]

DIY works great too.

Awesome build

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

Awesome build

Thanks

 

[Kfactor]

Instead of starting a new I thought I would ask here I got lots of algae growing now on my diy scrubber and really happy with it but my question is my algae on it isn’t that nice green algae it’s more of a slimy algae is that ok ? I will take a pic tomorrow to show it when the scrubber light is off

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

Instead of starting a new I thought I would ask here I got lots of algae growing now on my diy scrubber and really happy with it but my question is my algae on it isn’t that nice green algae it’s more of a slimy algae is that ok ? I will take a pic tomorrow to show it when the scrubber light is off

Yes that's ok as long as it's growing in your ATS and not tank.

 

[OREGONIC]

I ran a DIY ATS for several years on my last tank. They work great and you can adjust their export to an extent by photo period. Mine had nothing but slimy algae for the first few months. I actually ended up seeding the screen a little with some hair algae and dosed a little PO4 and NO3 to finally get it going. Was pretty much auto pilot once it took off.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I ran a DIY ATS for several years on my last tank. They work great and you can adjust their export to an extent by photo period. Mine had nothing but slimy algae for the first few months. I actually ended up seeding the screen a little with some hair algae and dosed a little PO4 and NO3 to finally get it going. Was pretty much auto pilot once it took off.

Yes sir that's nice I really like useing a ATS.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

Instead of starting a new I thought I would ask here I got lots of algae growing now on my diy scrubber and really happy with it but my question is my algae on it isn’t that nice green algae it’s more of a slimy algae is that ok ? I will take a pic tomorrow to show it when the scrubber light is off

The type, color, size, of algae is irrelevant. All that matters is the water quality and tank results. If the scrubber is doing what you need it to do, then don't change anything.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

The type, color, size, of algae is irrelevant. All that matters is the water quality and tank results. If the scrubber is doing what you need it to do, then don't change anything.

Agree don't change anything if it's working sometimes you different kinds of algea in scrubbers. As long as it's working I would leave it be.