Fuge vs Algae scrubber

jason2459 · Dec 6, 2023

A great bang for the buck is the WSR that can be found on eBay. I highly suggest a Turbos and believe it's the best one out there and when the Rev 5 comes out I want one. But the WSR for budget would totally be my choice.

You can see my experience running both the WSR and Turbo's Aquatics in my tank thread from this post on and I just did some tests that I posted just now on the last post in my thread here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/jasons-tank-journey.1007525/page-2#post-11817340

dzolot · Dec 6, 2023

I’ve used both chaeto fuge and Ats over last 8 years with both good and bad with each. My issue with the ats is that i couldn’t avoid algae spores getting into the dt when i cleaned it so kept getting patches of algae in the display.

Right now I’m running bio pellets and just tried adding chaeto to my fuge a couple weeks ago, so too early to make a call how well it works. One issue already is that the bacteria scum seems to be getting caught in the chaeto, so I’ve been blowing it off every couple days. Anyway, will see how well it works (or not)…

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

If algae spores getting out of scrubber and into tank then something is a bad design or setup incorrect

Phosphate bound rock - the live rock has pored and crevices and is porous and absorbed phosphates over time. It’s a sponge for phosphate and numbers will
Never come down until you extract it. The scrubber extracts phosphates from the tank including the rock. It will each out of the rock. Turn into hair algae. Then die. Then the rocks will be clean

Many people get scrubbers and display tank gets more hair algae - this is a temporary phase you need to wait out. It has to clean everything including the rocks

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

@NanJ Please see above. I forgot to tag you

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

chaeto algae does not have as much chlorophyll as green hair or slime algae, and therefore cannot do photosynthetic filtration as fast. So it generally takes 5 times as much chaeto to filter the same nutrients as green hair or slime algae

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

Just harvested my scrubber :)
Took 10 seconds
Why everyone doesn’t run one I have no idea. So many people using chemicals and reactors and a properly sized scrubber could replace it all naturally

NanJ · Dec 7, 2023

VintageReefer said:
Just harvested my scrubber :)
Took 10 seconds
Why everyone doesn’t run one I have no idea. So many people using chemicals and reactors and a properly sized scrubber could replace it all naturally

Besides harvesting, is there other maintenance? Like cleaning the grid?

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

The lid has the leds behind a acrylic cover. If you go too long between harvesting then you can get algae growing on the acrylic, which blocks the light. It scraps off easily

But typically, for my model, no nothing additional besides
Remove lid
Take out 2-3 handfuls of algae
Replace lid

I have freedom to harvest at my convenience. I don’t even really track or schedule it. I can do it after a minimum of 5 days (that’s what’s needed to become worth it to harvest again) or I can wait up to 3 weeks. So really you aren’t locked into a strict schedule, any time in 5-21 days that you get a free moment, you can remove the algae

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

Why I like this model scrubber is because there is zero plumbing involved meaning there is zero risk of anything overflowing or leaking outside the tank. It requires no modification to install. And it’s silent

Here is a pic of it in the refigium (middle) section of my sump. I have the scrubber on one side, live rock on the other side, and a 3” sand bed below it all

I just harvested and this is what I left behind. You basically just grab whats loose and comes out easily. This leftover will regrow and fill the unit, using the nutrients from your tank

The two clear tubes on the bottom of the scrubber connect to a dual outlet air pump running 24x7. The black wire is the power cord for the lights, hooked up to a basic mechanical timer running 18 hours a day

NanJ · Dec 7, 2023

After reading your original post about the Santa Monica scrubber, I looked at other styles and realized the simplicity of the Santa Monica scrubber. Big plus!

Heres_doe_ · Dec 7, 2023

VintageReefer said:
Why I like this model scrubber is because there is zero plumbing involved meaning there is zero risk of anything overflowing or leaking outside the tank. It requires no modification to install. And it’s silent

Here is a pic of it in the refigium (middle) section of my sump. I have the scrubber on one side, live rock on the other side, and a 3” sand bed below it all

I just harvested and this is what I left behind. You basically just grab whats loose and comes out easily. This leftover will regrow and fill the unit, using the nutrients from your tank

The two clear tubes on the bottom of the scrubber connect to a dual outlet air pump running 24x7. The black wire is the power cord for the lights, hooked up to a basic mechanical timer running 18 hours a day

You need air if submerged in water if outside of water there’s natural air correct?

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

with the surf model scrubber, air pumped in serves two functions
1) it provides oxygen rich environment for algae to grow
2) air is forced in through two openings causing bubbles and pressure. There are other openings at the bottom for water to come in and out

So by blowing air in you are also forcing water in and out the scrubber due to the additional ports at the bottom

So the air also acts as a water pump in this scenario constantly adding new tank water into the scrubber and forcing the depleted water out

VintageReefer · Dec 7, 2023

Just to prove success in more challenging conditions…here is my exact same tank, sump, and some of the rock a decade ago, using my surf2 scrubber, a skimmer, and zero water changes, back when I was a sps keeper with t5 and halides

Cprivi · Dec 9, 2023

VintageReefer said:
Just to prove success in more challenging conditions…here is my exact same tank, sump, and some of the rock a decade ago, using my surf2 scrubber, a skimmer, and zero water changes, back when I was a sps keeper with t5 and halides

What is your bioload? Looks like a big tank for such a tiny ATS. I want an ATS but don’t have much room in my sump area. Could replace my skimmer with a RAIN2 but not ready to take that leap of faith. The surf2 costs about the same as rain2 but I’m not sure that surf2 would grow enough algae for my bioload.

VintageReefer · Dec 9, 2023

scrubbers are based on feeding
I have used this unit with 13 fish and I have used it with 4 fish.

There are multiple models and sizes of surf based on the amount you feed
Surf 2
Surf 2x
Surf 4
Surf 4x

And you could always get dual surfs that collectively are enough instead of one big one and then you harvest them alternating times

Mine currently is for 2 cubes of food a day, and I feed less than one. Never had an issue. You either harvest more or a little less

I have 4 fish currently but I broadcast feed a daily slurry of multiple coral foods and aminos

The thiwith the surf is you aren’t just growing algae on a 2d screen surface, you are growing it in a 3d box. It’s not a sheet, it’s a enclosure growing a large amount of turf algae in a cube shape about 2” thick and 8” wide

ScubaSkeets · Dec 9, 2023

I built a DIY algae scrubber using an old HOB filter, knitting screen, grow light, and plastic take-out container for the lid.
The screen right before scraping it:

Absolutely no algae in the display

I have a somewhat heavy bioload and feed sort of heavy.
Nitrates are 1.0
Phosphates are 0.08

Going on 2 months now with the algae scrubber and I'm enjoying my tank again!!