Looking for Santa Monica surf 4 or 4x scrubber review

[Abhishek]

Hi ,

Space constraint making me look into Santa Monica Surf 4 or 4x scrubber . Has anyone used them and how’s the review ? Mostly could find reviews a little old and hence wondering how do they stack up against a waterfall scrubber ?

regards,
Abhishek

 

[Feet4Fish]

Hi ,

Space constraint making me look into Santa Monica Surf 4 or 4x scrubber . Has anyone used them and how’s the review ? Mostly could find reviews a little old and hence wondering how do they stack up against a waterfall scrubber ?

regards,
Abhishek

I have the surf 8x and love it. I harvest algae about once every three days from each side. Since installing it, I have not experienced any algae on rocks or sand. Only need to clean glass weekly. It is well made and sturdy. Of course IMO with an algae scrubber, when you look at it you think you could have made it yourself for much less. Feel free to ask anything else. The picture attached was after one week. Can take a pic tonight if it would help.

 

[Abhishek]

I have the surf 8x and love it. I harvest algae about once every three days from each side. Since installing it, I have not experienced any algae on rocks or sand. Only need to clean glass weekly. It is well made and sturdy. Of course IMO with an algae scrubber, when you look at it you think you could have made it yourself for much less. Feel free to ask anything else. The picture attached was after one week. Can take a pic tonight if it would help.

The 8x will be too big for my system
Want to know if you had a chance to measure the phosphates and nitrates after installing and harvesting it ? Also what pump do you use ?

 

[Feet4Fish]

The 8x will be too big for my system
Want to know if you had a chance to measure the phosphates and nitrates after installing and harvesting it ? Also what pump do you use ?

Thought I would chime in since a the surf 4/4x is hall of the 8 . Nitrates typically run in the 15 ppm range and phosphates 0.04 ppm. The system I use it on it a large fish only with about 25 fish ranging from 6-16”. Other filtration includes filter socks, a fluidized bed reactor and a downdraft skimmer.

 

[MERKEY]

@sp1187 which version do you use?

I went with the icecap but with I would have gotten 2 of the 4x4 for the space I have.

From what I've heard and seen Monica is the way to go....want to buy my icecap for cheap hahahah just kidding it works well also.

 

[sp1187]

@sp1187 which version do you use?

I went with the icecap but with I would have gotten 2 of the 4x4 for the space I have.

From what I've heard and seen Monica is the way to go....want to buy my icecap for cheap hahahah just kidding it works well also.

I've got a SM SURF4X.
if I end up doing the frag build I'll be getting another one.

 

[Abhishek]

Thought I would chime in since a the surf 4/4x is hall of the 8 . Nitrates typically run in the 15 ppm range and phosphates 0.04 ppm. The system I use it on it a large fish only with about 25 fish ranging from 6-16”. Other filtration includes filter socks, a fluidized bed reactor and a downdraft skimmer.

Thats quite a feet my friend ! Yeah you have a fish only system am very envious of . I would gladly sell all my acroporas if I could keep a large tank and only butterflies

I've got a SM SURF4X.
if I end up doing the frag build I'll be getting another one.

Thank you for the reply. May I ask what model of pump do you use ?
I havent seen the bubbles in action but wondering how well do they perform in reducing nutrients

 

[Abhishek]

@sp1187 which version do you use?

I went with the icecap but with I would have gotten 2 of the 4x4 for the space I have.

From what I've heard and seen Monica is the way to go....want to buy my icecap for cheap hahahah just kidding it works well also.

I looked into Icecap but its waterfall I have no space

 

[Feet4Fish]

Thats quite a feet my friend ! Yeah you have a fish only system am very envious of . I would gladly sell all my acroporas if I could keep a large tank and only butterflies

Thank you for the reply. May I ask what model of pump do you use ?
I havent seen the bubbles in action but wondering how well do they perform in reducing nutrients

This is the air pump I use

 

[sp1187]

Thats quite a feet my friend ! Yeah you have a fish only system am very envious of . I would gladly sell all my acroporas if I could keep a large tank and only butterflies

Thank you for the reply. May I ask what model of pump do you use ?
I havent seen the bubbles in action but wondering how well do they perform in reducing nutrients

pump is a Danner AP-8. they work good for nutrient reduction in most cases.
I feed very heavy, so it can't keep up with what I got going on.

 

[sp1187]

This is the air pump I use

I had that pump. couldn't get it to run quiet.

 

[Abhishek]

pump is a Danner AP-8. they work good for nutrient reduction in most cases.
I feed very heavy, so it can't keep up with what I got going on.

Feeding heavy is my problem too as I easily go through 4-5 packs of LRS and 2 flat packs of hikari mysis a month in a 160 gallon system with 25 + fishes and only acros .. If it cannot keep up , I might need to look into other solutions

 

[Feet4Fish]

I had that pump. couldn't get it to run quiet.

I have mine suspended which helps but admittedly it is in my basement so I don’t care much.

 

[MERKEY]

I looked into Icecap but its waterfall I have no space

Tell me about it haha

 

[MERKEY]

I will eventually be replacing it with a Monica.

 

[sp1187]

I have mine suspended which helps but admittedly it is in my basement so I don’t care much.

had mine suspended also.
and in the basement. oh wait.... my tanks in the basement too.
I found it got very hot also.
The Danner is a lot quieter.

 

[Feet4Fish]

Thats quite a feet my friend ! Yeah you have a fish only system am very envious of . I would gladly sell all my acroporas if I could keep a large tank and only butterflies

Thank you for the reply. May I ask what model of pump do you use ?
I havent seen the bubbles in action but wondering how well do they perform in reducing nutrients

Btw I just added a pair of Red Sea raccoons and a pair of Aurigas to the main display and they have quickly become some of my favorites!

 

[Feet4Fish]

had mine suspended also.
and in the basement. oh wait.... my tanks in the basement too.
I found it got very hot also.
The Danner is a lot quieter.

I doubt, the danger is a higher quality pump. I have also heard good things about the Alita pumps.

 

[sp1187]

Feeding heavy is my problem too as I easily go through 4-5 packs of LRS and 2 flat packs of hikari mysis a month in a 160 gallon system with 25 + fishes and only acros .. If it cannot keep up , I might need to look into other solutions

you running a skimmer?

 

[Abhishek]

Yeah I run a Lifereef SVS30 powered by Fluval SP4