Commercial ATS

[Shilpan]

Just researching at the moment. Considering chucking an ATS once my cycle finishes.

Anyone used a commercial algae turf scrubber like Santa Monica's Hogs? I'd buy the $150 one for one cube feeding a day. It's the magnetic upflow algae scrubber.

1) Suggestions regarding this brand? I worry if I DIY because I'm not handy I'll just waste money making an ineffective algae scrubber.

2) UAS vs waterfall style?

 

[Shilpan]

Oh and...noise?? Air pumps aren't that noisy eh?

 

[beaslbob]

IMHO any refugium with macros or ats is 1) easy to make and 2)very effective.

You can have the same effect by just partitioning your tank with 1/4" square plastic grid (egg crate) sold as lighting diffusers for dropped ceielings. (4'x2' is like $13 or so). I put one 3" in front of the back glass in my old 55g and added 2 cheapie 2 tube 4' utility fixtures pointing forward. Macros and pods thrived between the glass and grid, nitrates went to unmeasureable in 3 weeks, phosphates a few months later, and two tangs and other fish really enjoyed the macros and pods that poked through the grid. Best $30 I spent on that tank.

Still just my .02

 

[2quills]

I haven't used his particular brand of uplfow scrubbers.

But I was probably one of the first handful of people who starting experimenting with the higher wattage 660nm red leds on my own custom scrubber design and can attest that they work very well for growing algae.

IMO, the water fall style are going to be a little more noisy. And potentially more messy due to salt creep. A quality air pump isn't terribly noisy but I suppose it's a matter of personal preference.

Algae scrubbing has been around for decades. Santa Monica showed up in the scene a number of years ago and started aggressively promoting his own designs as though he invented some new break through technology.

But when it comes down to it, if you have good light and nutrients there are a million and one different methods for employing algae to scrub nutrients from tanks.

 

[geridoc]

santamonica has been an advocate and producer of ATS systems for many years, and is well known. His preference seems to be for upflow systems. OTOH, www.algaescrubbing.com produces downflow units utilizing LED lighting and come in a variety of sizes. I use his L1 on my 40 gallon reef, and the L4 on my 220 system, and produce prodigious amounts of algae.

 

[Shilpan]

Wow $500, out of my price range unfortunately.

The Santa Monica hog for 1 cube feeding a day is $150 which is a bit better for my wallet

Hmm I'll check some DIY builds