DIY Macroalgae Reactor questions

[GiannisK]

I got this phosban reactor for very cheap and wanted to make it a diy macroalgae reactor as I don't have any way to have a refugium and would like higher pod populations as well as some pH benefits etc. I set it up with a pump and got a bunch of red ogo from algaebarn and have the following questions now, for those who have attempted this or similar things:

1. Does the gracilaria need to be tumbling? There's quite a lot of it and its kinda just staying still en masse
2. The order was bigger than I expected, how full of gracilaria should the reactor be before I take some out? Does this also depend on whether there's enough space for it to tumble?
3. I've used this as an opportunity to plumb-in the fluval UVC clarifier. Is this going to sterilize outgoing pods? I want to know so that I have it turned off unless I really need it if that's the case.

Thank you! Any other tips and tricks would also be appreciated.

 

[Subsea]

With that cylinder, forget trying to get Gracilaria Hayi to tumble.

What light source? My issue with light source on outside of algae reactor is film algae forming on inside glass obstructing light source.

I doubt that you will get much pH control with that arrangement. However, consider using it as a zooplankton reactor by filling it with rubble and inoculating with pods.

Leave UV out of the loop if you want pods feed to tank.

 

[twentyleagues]

I like those little reactors from 2LF I have used them in the past for many things from moving sand bed filters to what they are designed for. They are not set up well or large enough to be an efficient algae reactor as @Subsea points out. You would be better served by making an above tank fuge on a shelf for pod production and some algae growth or like they say turning that reactor into a sort of cryptic/pod home.

 

[GiannisK]

Are you saying that it does need to tumble? I understand it may not be very efficient and thank you for the feedback but I really do not have another way of having any sort of refugium or scrubber due to how my tank is set up, this is the only thing I can do besides buy a $500+ algae reactor so I'm just trying to get some benefit out of what I got, even a little bit.

 

[twentyleagues]

Are you saying that it does need to tumble? I understand it may not be very efficient and thank you for the feedback but I really do not have another way of having any sort of refugium or scrubber due to how my tank is set up, this is the only thing I can do besides buy a $500+ algae reactor so I'm just trying to get some benefit out of what I got, even a little bit.

I believe it grows better if it does tumble as does cheato. The main issue is the size of the cylinder and the lighting factor. Will it work to some extent? probably.

 

[FUNGI]

IMO, Tumbling is so light gets to all areas....this is typical for a sump situation where only the top gets the light. In a cylinder, tumbling is not needed as (assuming you wrap a led rope light around) the light covers all the area and there is no "dark'bottom" side. Take a look at all the higer end reactors, i.e. Octo, GEO, PAX Bellum)...none tumble (as far as I know).

 

[GiannisK]

IMO, Tumbling is so light gets to all areas....this is typical for a sump situation where only the top gets the light. In a cylinder, tumbling is not needed as (assuming you wrap a led rope light around) the light covers all the area and there is no "dark'bottom" side. Take a look at all the higer end reactors, i.e. Octo, GEO, PAX Bellum)...none tumble (as far as I know).

Yes, this is how I have it set up. I also am prepared to clean the cylinder of microalgae when it gets to that point. When it comes to size, I only have a 60 gallon so I don’t think I need a huge refugium.

 

[SantaMonica]

Does not need to tumble. Just wrap a light around it, and make a little shelf in the middle to hold the growth there.

 

[GiannisK]

Does not need to tumble. Just wrap a light around it, and make a little shelf in the middle to hold the growth there.

Sorry, what do you mean by make a shelf in the middle to hold the growth?

 

[SantaMonica]

Look at how the other ones have places in the middle of the tube to hold growth; this way all the growth does not clump up at the end and get no light.