Turf scrubber or refugium

Steve13 · Feb 12, 2026

I have a 38 gallon aio Fuji aquarium. I’m dealing with hair algae. I’m tired of adding chemicals and media to hold down nutrient levels. What can I add that’s compact to my tank? All the algae scrubber I see look too big and I’m not quite sold on refugiums that hang on the back. Any ideas? Thanks

JTP424 · Feb 12, 2026

Hmmm we may be able to help with your nutrient export in another way!
Can you post a few things for us to help?
Tank parameters, full tank shot, feeding schedule and lighting schedule, tank inhabitants etc.

We may be able to provide advice beyond adding chemicals or adding components :)

Steve13 · Feb 12, 2026

Alk 7 cal 400 lights 6 hrs led. Wrasse, hawkfish, damsel and goby. Feed once a day mostly pellets

JTP424 · Feb 12, 2026

Nitrates? Phosphates?
What type of clean up crew do you have?
What is your water change schedule like?
I saw one of your previous posts you were having issues with RODI TDS, has that been fixed and you're using 0 TDS water for top off and salt mix?
Pellets are very nutrient dense, many people have success with them, I personally have better control of my nutrient import with frozen etc.
Let's see what we can do :)

exnisstech · Feb 12, 2026

I've found scrubbers more effective than refugiums for helping with nutrient levels. That said I've not found high nutrients to be a driving force of nuisance algae IME. I have a tank with NO3 20 - 40 and PO4 0.4 - 0.9+ and no nuisance algae in the tank. High levels of N and P seem to get blamed often for nuisance algae but I think there is much more involved than just nutrient levels causing it. For me dry rock is terrible and nuisances algae loves to grow on it. If I start a display with dry rock to get a certain look I pack the sump full of live rock. Also many people underestimate the value if a robust CUC.

My high nutrient tank. The glass is the only place I get algae.

BryanM · Feb 12, 2026

I'm a huge fan of algae turf scrubbers.

Steve13 · Feb 12, 2026

JTP424 said:
Nitrates? Phosphates?
What type of clean up crew do you have?
What is your water change schedule like?
I saw one of your previous posts you were having issues with RODI TDS, has that been fixed and you're using 0 TDS water for top off and salt mix?
Pellets are very nutrient dense, many people have success with them, I personally have better control of my nutrient import with frozen etc.
Let's see what we can do :)

Nitrates 20 and phosphates 0.15. Weekly water changes. Ato issue has been resolved. Small clean up crew because hawkfish likes the snails. I have an urchin, conch and a few snails.