J
jstdv8
Guest
did you change feeding habits at all since you got the scrubber going?
LOL, TO MUCH INFO, and its all different
- Thread starter jeff10
- Start date
king_neptune
Active Member
My feeding habits were aggressive and wasteful the first 6months. (thats when I had the scrubber going).
Like I said, .1 would be a bad day.After I put in the skimmer I began to tone down the feeding to respectable levels.
But my readings did climb a little. I dont consider 5-10 really that bad, so I claim the skimmer did work just fine.
Ive continued to reduce feeding over the last few months and as a result:
Right now, im at the point were my skimmer really doesnt put out a whole lot of skim.
There is some, but not much.I havent tested in a couple weeks, but I would shocked if i read anything past 10(I'm guessing still around 3-5).
I turned on the scrubber 3 days ago, haven't seen any growth yet (usually by now i would get at least a green film).
Again probably the conservitive feeding.
The main point I think that I would like to make about scrubbers is they are a safety net for noob mistakes.
I wouldn't call my tank invincible, but it was extremely forgiving of my first 6 months of learning.
For more advanced reef keepers, you would probably be more satisfied with a skimmer, because you cant argue with the pristine water they produce.(I love my clear water!)
On a closing note:Ive seen a drastic dip in my pod population, I have noticeably less pods now, than I did 3 months ago. The scrubber is a perfect hatchery for pods. Its tough to beat. So for that alone, I'm really looking forward to getting it back and running.
Honestly this is one of those situations where Id like to have my cake and eat it too.
I hope my scrubber works in conjunction with my skimmer. Although, if you ask SM, hell probably say "no cant be done" ^_^
Like I said, .1 would be a bad day.After I put in the skimmer I began to tone down the feeding to respectable levels.
But my readings did climb a little. I dont consider 5-10 really that bad, so I claim the skimmer did work just fine.
Ive continued to reduce feeding over the last few months and as a result:
Right now, im at the point were my skimmer really doesnt put out a whole lot of skim.
There is some, but not much.I havent tested in a couple weeks, but I would shocked if i read anything past 10(I'm guessing still around 3-5).
I turned on the scrubber 3 days ago, haven't seen any growth yet (usually by now i would get at least a green film).
Again probably the conservitive feeding.
The main point I think that I would like to make about scrubbers is they are a safety net for noob mistakes.
I wouldn't call my tank invincible, but it was extremely forgiving of my first 6 months of learning.
For more advanced reef keepers, you would probably be more satisfied with a skimmer, because you cant argue with the pristine water they produce.(I love my clear water!)
On a closing note:Ive seen a drastic dip in my pod population, I have noticeably less pods now, than I did 3 months ago. The scrubber is a perfect hatchery for pods. Its tough to beat. So for that alone, I'm really looking forward to getting it back and running.
Honestly this is one of those situations where Id like to have my cake and eat it too.
I hope my scrubber works in conjunction with my skimmer. Although, if you ask SM, hell probably say "no cant be done" ^_^
J
jstdv8
Guest
actually I think ive read alot of his posts that say that running both is just fine. except that the skimmer works off of sucking up food and converting it before it becomes phosphates ect. there the scrubber actually removes the phosphates that are in the water itself and keeps the food going through the system until it breaks down far enough to be a phospahte factory. I don't see why you couldnt run both other than the electricity increase.
J
jstdv8
Guest
are the pods noticeable? is it big pods or millions of tiny specs like SM says? My mandarin is allready fat and happy without the scrubber going, but now I'm hoping to be able to have a sixline and a scooter too 
king_neptune
Active Member
Originally Posted by Jstdv8
http:///forum/post/3270441
are the pods noticeable? is it big pods or millions of tiny specs like SM says? My mandarin is allready fat and happy without the scrubber going, but now I'm hoping to be able to have a sixline and a scooter too
BIG!
And they really seem to favor the foam wall more than the LR, MUCH more so!
http://www.reef-eden.net/Amphipod1.jpg
Mostly amphipods such as these.
I used to have them by the thousands, now I have them by the hundreds.
Could be many culptrits, feeding habits included. Ive noticed my bristle worm population shrank as well.
Jsut like everyone told me they would, they keep thier population in check directly related to excess waste.
p.s. sorry for the thread jacking. my bad.
http:///forum/post/3270441
are the pods noticeable? is it big pods or millions of tiny specs like SM says? My mandarin is allready fat and happy without the scrubber going, but now I'm hoping to be able to have a sixline and a scooter too
BIG!
And they really seem to favor the foam wall more than the LR, MUCH more so!
http://www.reef-eden.net/Amphipod1.jpg
Mostly amphipods such as these.
I used to have them by the thousands, now I have them by the hundreds.
Could be many culptrits, feeding habits included. Ive noticed my bristle worm population shrank as well.
Jsut like everyone told me they would, they keep thier population in check directly related to excess waste.
p.s. sorry for the thread jacking. my bad.
J
jstdv8
Guest
its all good, i resurected this thread by posting my scrubber pics after I told florida joe I would about a month ago or better. LOL
handbanana
Member
Very cool. I noticed a huge amount of pods on my rock/roam wall as well. My scooter ate them all I guess because there are very few now. I look forward to sterting a scrubber project as well.
Thanks for the info King and JSTDV8!
Thanks for the info King and JSTDV8!
J
jstdv8
Guest
HB, alot of times the pods will look scarce after you add a predator to the tank. You will see them everywhere with no fish to eat them but they will only be out at night more once they realize they have to run for thier lives.
I'm fairly possitive i have more pods than ever in my system but i don't see them on the glass very often anymore since my mandarin was added.
Just like you wouldnt hang out in a field if you were in jurrasic park, but if you didnt know dinosaurs lived there that could kill you you'd probably frolic around in the field all day long
Hows that for an analogy? LOL
I'm fairly possitive i have more pods than ever in my system but i don't see them on the glass very often anymore since my mandarin was added.
Just like you wouldnt hang out in a field if you were in jurrasic park, but if you didnt know dinosaurs lived there that could kill you you'd probably frolic around in the field all day long
Hows that for an analogy? LOL
handbanana
Member
Originally Posted by Jstdv8
http:///forum/post/3271222
HB, alot of times the pods will look scarce after you add a predator to the tank. You will see them everywhere with no fish to eat them but they will only be out at night more once they realize they have to run for thier lives.
I'm fairly possitive i have more pods than ever in my system but i don't see them on the glass very often anymore since my mandarin was added.
Just like you wouldnt hang out in a field if you were in jurrasic park, but if you didnt know dinosaurs lived there that could kill you you'd probably frolic around in the field all day long
Hows that for an analogy? LOL
Nice analogy. I guess I just figured pods wouldnt be smart enough to figure out theres a preditor in there, but I guess its more about instinct than intellegence. I know their must be pods cuz my blenny darts in little nooks and snaps at stuff I cant see. Theres Just next to nothing on my glass. Plus I cut feeding down a lot so maybe he's more actively hunting the pods.
Hey a little off topic, but are the pods on my glass the same type as the larger ones that look like small beetles crawling around my LR?
http:///forum/post/3271222
HB, alot of times the pods will look scarce after you add a predator to the tank. You will see them everywhere with no fish to eat them but they will only be out at night more once they realize they have to run for thier lives.
I'm fairly possitive i have more pods than ever in my system but i don't see them on the glass very often anymore since my mandarin was added.
Just like you wouldnt hang out in a field if you were in jurrasic park, but if you didnt know dinosaurs lived there that could kill you you'd probably frolic around in the field all day long
Hows that for an analogy? LOL
Hey a little off topic, but are the pods on my glass the same type as the larger ones that look like small beetles crawling around my LR?
J
jstdv8
Guest
copepods and amphipods are different, but they are all good and all lunch