Shutting down Algae Turf Scrubber

[Treefer32]

My Algae scrubber started leaking and found that the seams on the inner acrylic box have released in a few spots. I might try to repair the acrylic box, but have fears of it leaking when I'm not around.

I was getting a full sheet of hair algae every 5 to 7 days. I run a skimmer and a reef mat on my 340 gallon system as well as a denitration factory (a cannister filter filled with matrix rock instead of filter cartridge).

The tank has been operational with a algae turf scrubber since day 1. My phosphates generally rise week to week even with the scrubber. I feed around 9 -10 cubes of frozen food a day and a sheet of nori every 2-3 days. I have some very large fish that eat 1-2 cubes of food each a couple times a day.

So, what happens to all the phosphates that the hair algae was consuming? (I tried to skim wet but got very little skimmate most days). Will the skimmer now pick up pace and pick up where the ATS was? Or do I need to monitor phosphates every 2-3 days to see what's happening?

I was dosing phosphate e every 4-5 days as it stood to supplement the scrubber.

My 340 is full of actively growing SPS and LPS. A few softies as well.

I don't have any issues with hair algae in the display, wondering if it will start growing in the display now that it's not growing in the scrubber?

 

[LavenderTi]

I'd say your phosphates are likely to increase due to the scrubber being taken offline. I would monitor and be ready to dose Phosphate-E again.

When I took my ATS offline, I only noticed that my algae on the glass grew back faster. I did not notice any increase in other algaes in the display.

 

[Treefer32]

Thanks! I am noticing the algae on the glass. Usually I could go around 5-7 days between cleanings. It was already growing in thick within 3 days.

The scrubber has been offline for 4 full days now, and so far, I'm impressed. First time I've tested phosphates in close to a year and they were .14 (Hanna ULR). I'm o.k. with this. Heh. I'm curious if there's evidence of phosphates being controlled some other more natural way. E.g. the skimmer picking up more now that the scrubber isn't? Or Roller mat being more effective or if there's natural established biomes of bacteria etc, that will consume the phosphates. Maybe the scrubber was holding things back?

We'll see in a few weeks. heh.