Thinking about building an Algae Turf Scrubber. It just makes sense. (1 Viewer)

[Reefahholic]

Check out this awesome video.

Algal Turf Scrubber _Proven Large Scale Algae Production and Water Treatment Systems - YouTube

Does anybody run a turf scrubber right now? Good results or big noticeable difference?

 

[d2mini]

ATS have been a proven, effective, efficient means of nutrient export for quite a while now.
Definitely a good option for setups that can't fit or don't want a typical refugium.

 

[chris85]

do it they work great

 

[Reefahholic]

I see them working better than a Fuge. What do you think D2mini?

 

[chris85]

I put system one on my system and it is out competing my fuge and the hair algae in my tank.

 

[d2mini]

I see them working better than a Fuge. What do you think D2mini?

I think it depends how you set either of them up.
An ATS is growing a single type of algae and hits it with a lot of light and from all sides. Just water and light, nothing else.
My "refugium" is basically the same thing except in cube tank form. A lot of light hitting one kind of algae from all sides as it rotates.
But a display refugium with various types of macros, substrate, low flow, probably not as good as a nice ATS for nutrient export, but cooler to look at.
An ATS (and my fuge) is set up strictly for max growth and nutrient export. Just another tool in the toolbox, and a good one.
SantaMonica sells the ones like thin boxes that attach to the wall of your sump, and some that float. Good for tight spaces.

 

[Reefahholic]

So you already have an ATS.

I'm trying to figure out if I want to DIY one or just buy one.

I'm really not sure how big I can go or exactly what's good or bad.

I don't really know much about them.

 

[d2mini]

So you already have an ATS.

Well, not really. I was talking about my Chaeto Death Star. lol
But my point was it's performing the same function and probably just as efficiently, judging by the growth i get.
Just takes up more space than most ATS.

 

[Reefahholic]

That surely is a fat ball of cheato with record growth.

 

[Cody]

I've used them before and had good success with them. I would say that they can export nutrients much more aggressively than macro algaes, however, that's what makes them difficult. They are very quick to starve themselves out, especially on smaller tanks. The most important thing is to size and dial them in correctly. If you're running a larger tank with more nutrients in the system, then I've seen them do better than on smaller tanks. Again, the size of the screen and how much feed are very important to keep in mind.

For the records, I have been using them for years. This is my personal experience.

 

[jqsquared]

What Cody said ^

I have ran both, the last ATS I built was a waterfall type where the water sheeted down a roughed acrylic piece. Worked well initially then starved itself out. That type does require a seperate pump or water source. The ones Dennis mentioned from Santa Monica work well and are compact. You wont need a large one this is one of those things where smaller is better imo or you will have to dump tons of food into your tank to get them to work, which is counter productive in my eyes.

 

[Reefahholic]

I appreciate the info Cody because I haven't got a clue when it comes to ATS.

I've used them before and had good success with them. I would say that they can export nutrients much more aggressively than macro algaes, however, that's what makes them difficult. They are very quick to starve themselves out, especially on smaller tanks. The most important thing is to size and dial them in correctly. If you're running a larger tank with more nutrients in the system, then I've seen them do better than on smaller tanks. Again, the size of the screen and how much feed are very important to keep in mind.

For the records, I have been using them for years. This is my personal experience.

 

[Reefahholic]

It's crazy they starve themselves out, they must be 3x as affective as a Fuge.

What Cody said ^

I have ran both, the last ATS I built was a waterfall type where the water sheeted down a roughed acrylic piece. Worked well initially then starved itself out. That type does require a seperate pump or water source. The ones Dennis mentioned from Santa Monica work well and are compact. You wont need a large one this is one of those things where smaller is better imo or you will have to dump tons of food into your tank to get them to work, which is counter productive in my eyes.

 

[Cody]

In a head to head challenge, what do you think would grow/consume more aggressively: GHA or Chaeto? The GHA will out compete it. But like I said, you have to find that line to walk with a scrubber for it to be effective. Error on the size of small for the screen. If you have any other questions, then ask away. I'm fairly knowledgeable of them.

 

[Jason]

They work but you have to scrape the algae off the screen, which is a chore.

 

[Reefahholic]

I'll harvest the algae as long as my nutrient export is low.


Turf algae will trump them all. This stuff is a nightmare. I have my PO4 levels at near zero, and it's not growing but not completely dying.


I know of one critter that eats this stuff like mad. All the other suggested problem solvers don't make a dent in turf algae.


Anybody wanna take a guess what it is. I'm curious if you guys can guess.

 

[Cody]

I'm guessing an Emerald Crab. Or a Sea Hare. Or an Emerald Hare.

 

[Reefahholic]

I'm guessing an Emerald Crab. Or a Sea Hare. Or an Emerald Hare.

Neither, guess again! I'm fixing to get 30 of these for my turf algae. Can anybody guess now that I've posted pics?