Help between refugium or turf scrubber for my setup

[GARRIGA]

No need to scrape a screen on the surf ATS. Just remove the lid and pull it out. I reach in daily and pull algae to toss in the display for the tangs which is a plus vs a chaeto fuge.

That's an option and my diy HOB ran the same way although not by design. GHA was growing over the Pom Pom :crying-face:

 

[VintageReefer]

While both refugiums and chaeto-reactors rely upon macroalgae to sequester nutrients, an algae turf scrubber is unique in that it promotes the growth of microalgae, Turf Algae to be specific. Turf algae are fast-growing and more efficient at removing nitrogen than chaetomorpha. Anecdotal tests have revealed up to 50% more nitrogen by weight in turf algae compared to chaetomorpha. Under ideal growing conditions, an established turf scrubber can pull up to 30 ppm of nitrogen per day. Since algae uptakes CO2 as it grows, you get less carbonic acid in the water and therefore less suppression of your tank's natural pH level.

 

[GARRIGA]

No need to spend $500 plus an off the shelf product. It's GHA with little concern for how much one spent. Here's my diy HOB. Got the idea off YouTube along with what I've learned since the 80s after Adey made it popular. In reality, no need for the light chosen and next iteration using AquaClear 110 as that can be illuminated from the back getting that glare off my eyes.

 

[GARRIGA]

Here's where I got my concept for switching to the AquaClear and if you notice what he converted from that provides best of both worlds by utilizing a sponge to grow algae which means can house pods, too. I'm building one where the HOB has sponges and lit from above and the back maximizing growth. Just take the sponges out periodically and scrape it. Going to first try by using two of the sponges made for this HOB and if not then one sponge plus soap pads floated on top that another has been successful deploying.

 

[GARRIGA]

Forgot who posted this but rather brilliant. This isn't rocket science and rather ridiculous to pay crazy sums of money just to grow nuisance algae. Just because it's labeled reef ready doesn't need to be bank robbery :)

 

[VintageReefer]

Turf scrubbers are designed to grow hair algae or turf, as mine did. Although folk can call their particular macro algae growing devices such as tiny refugiums "scrubbers" if they wish. My 500 grammes harvest removed about 1.5 to 2 ppm nitrate in a 500 litre tank per week. So that's just 0.5 ppm ammonia a week, as far as I can tell. Happy to be corrected though.

Edit - dry weight was 5% of wet weight, harvest 10 days (upto 14)

Sorry it didn’t work out for you.

Geez this is like someone buying a Toyota 12 years ago that worked, but wasn’t fast/powerful enough for their needs, and then telling everyone 12 years later not to buy a Toyota

 

[VintageReefer]

Forgot who posted this but rather brilliant. This isn't rocket science and rather ridiculous to pay crazy sums of money just to grow nuisance algae. Just because it's labeled reef ready doesn't need to be bank robbery :)

I remember this but I forgot who posted. I believe they owe us an update

 

[GARRIGA]

I remember this but I forgot who posted. I believe they owe us an update

Recall him stating this was working and not sure if this was when pads first added or he cycled through them. My plan is not to return clean pads as I need it seeded to start growing quickly vs constantly waiting a few weeks. Fortunately or unfortunately, GHA all too easy to get going if even a slither left.

 

[Garf]

Sorry it didn’t work out for you.

Geez this is like someone buying a Toyota 12 years ago that worked, but wasn’t fast/powerful enough for their needs, and then telling everyone 12 years later not to buy a Toyota

You really haven't read my thread I linked earlier, lol.

https://search.app?link=https://www..._campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl2,sh/x/gs/m2/4

 

[exnisstech]

No need to spend $500 plus an off the shelf product. It's GHA with little concern for how much one spent. Here's my diy HOB. Got the idea off YouTube along with what I've learned since the 80s after Adey made it popular. In reality, no need for the light chosen and next iteration using AquaClear 110 as that can be illuminated from the back getting that glare off my eyes.

I don't know what algae is growing in my scrubber but it is not gha. It is lighter in color and thicker long strands as well as being soft and tender so my tangs gobble it up like spaghetti. I have an aqua clear 110 that does a great job growing gha but gha is also growing in the display. I don't think comparing gha growing in a hob to the different palatable algae that grows in a scrubber is an apples to apples comparison. Maybe the hob works for some but not in my experience. I'm a simpleton and I have no evidence of which it better at reducing nutrients so I won't argue one being better or if either is scientifically proven to be useful. I'm just providing my personal experience which is pretty useless to most but it means a lot to me ;)

EDIT : I'm all for diy. There are many diy options so spending $500 is definatly not a requirement. I'm not much of a diy guy and wanted to pack as much live rock in my sump as possible and I needed to keep the area dark so the floating scrubber was exactly what I needed. I will say when I opened the box and saw the surf I thought to myself I paid hundreds of dollars for this? Lol. But it works for me and I could not have built one so I'm OK

 

[VintageReefer]

You really haven't read my thread I linked earlier, lol.

https://search.app?link=https://www..._campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl2,sh/x/gs/m2/4

herbivores eat algae. Great info,
I appreciate your contribution

 

[Garf]

herbivores eat algae. Great info,
I appreciate your contribution

I'll let you mull over the fact that those reefs have vanishingly low nutrients, yet still grow algae in the absence of herbivores.

 

[VintageReefer]

I'll let you mull over the fact that those reefs have vanishingly low nutrients, yet still grow algae in the absence of herbivores.

Fully aware nutrients are extremely low in natural reefs yet grow algae in zones both with and without herbivores

Comparing the ocean and our reefs in this situation is irrelevant. There are too many variables, things that can’t be replicated in a box, and things we can do in a box that can’t be done in the ocean

 

[VintageReefer]

Numerous people in this thread, and many others, reporting praise and success from scrubbers. You always have this compulsion to join in and tell them they are wrong. It didn’t work for you. Your scrubber was flawless and the epitome of perfection. Despite not asking for it, we know your opinion. Despite you joining this thread stating you are not going to get into a debate, you did anyway. you can put down the pitchfork anytime

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Despite not asking for it, we know your opinion.

Wouldn't alternate views to a preference to ATS be desired in a thread literally titled
"Help between refugium or turf scrubber for my setup"?

 

[VintageReefer]

Wouldn't alternate views to a preference to ATS be desired in a thread literally titled
"Help between refugium or turf scrubber for my setup"?

He’s derailed enough here

OP wants opinions between refugium and ATS. Neither was not an option lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

He’s derailed enough here

OP wants opinions between refugium and ATS. Neither was not an option lol

OK, I'll leave you guys in your echo chamber.

 

[VintageReefer]

OK, I'll leave you guys in your echo chamber.

I did reply to you earlier in this thread, agreeing with you, and looking forward to open discussion from your perspective. I will provide my icp results when I get them back, maybe they will show something with an unusual amount of consumption that can explain the positive results ats users experience

 

[exnisstech]

Wouldn't alternate views to a preference to ATS be desired in a thread literally titled
"Help between refugium or turf scrubber for my setup"?

It would be but IME they can both work but some people refuse accept that an ATS can work so it just turns into an argument with one party wanting to disprove the usefulness of an ATS which provides nothing but a distraction to the thread. JMO

EDIT: I may be wrong but not all of us need scientific evidence that a method works. Personal experience is often what we are seeking when asking for opinions on methods used. Sometime anecdotal evidence is enough for us. No disrespect meant to the scientific community that has contributed so much to the hobby.

 

[GARRIGA]

I don't know what algae is growing in my scrubber but it is not gha. It is lighter in color and thicker long strands as well as being soft and tender so my tangs gobble it up like spaghetti. I have an aqua clear 110 that does a great job growing gha but gha is also growing in the display. I don't think comparing gha growing in a hob to the different palatable algae that grows in a scrubber is an apples to apples comparison. Maybe the hob works for some but not in my experience. I'm a simpleton and I have no evidence of which it better at reducing nutrients so I won't argue one being better or if either is scientifically proven to be useful. I'm just providing my personal experience which is pretty useless to most but it means a lot to me ;)

EDIT : I'm all for diy. There are many diy options so spending $500 is definatly not a requirement. I'm not much of a diy guy and wanted to pack as much live rock in my sump as possible and I needed to keep the area dark so the floating scrubber was exactly what I needed. I will say when I opened the box and saw the surf I thought to myself I paid hundreds of dollars for this? Lol. But it works for me and I could not have built one so I'm OK

I pointed out previously where an ATS differs to a Fuge in one more efficient drawing co2 from atmospheric air and the other better at raising pH by drawing co2 from water.

My points about the HOB nothing to do with that being better than or worse option and just that it’s an option. One also has to consider if large enough for their system. Might need two HOB to solve that they seek. At which point off the shelf might be cheaper, more pragmatic and best fit.

Agree on the point scrubber or Fuge likely won’t outcompete display algae and CUC likely best option as that’s how I understand it works on any reef. Why here in Florida and rest of Caribbean theres efforts underway to protect grazers as heat waves keep depleting our corals and algae take their place.

No one way to reef as no two likely running the same exact tank even if equipment being identical. Too many variables but I’m a big believer in naturally solving all issues even if it means dosing more trace consumed by adding more algae