Official Declaration of War

yannifish

Active Member
I'm declaring war against the hair algae in my tank.
First thing I'm going to try is a phosphate reactor. I was hoping the new skimmer would solve the issue, and it has helped, but not enough.
I actually have the phosphate reactor coming, but it is on backorder. As it has been for two months...

So, what else should I do? I want to get rid of the algae. I plan on upgrading from my crappy stock fluorescent lighting to 216w of T5s this summer. So, I want the algae taken care of before the new lights so I don't get a huge algae bloom.
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Back order is an understatement. Waaaaaaaayyyyy back order is mroe like it. Why don't you try a ATS (algae turf scrubber).
 

yannifish

Active Member
I was thinking about an ATS. I've been debating between that and a refugium. A refugium would be easier to put in my system than an ATS, but I think an ATS would be more effective. I just need to figure out where I'm going to put it.
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by yannifish http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383552
I was thinking about an ATS. I've been debating between that and a refugium. A refugium would be easier to put in my system than an ATS, but I think an ATS would be more effective. I just need to figure out where I'm going to put it.
I'm thinking about doing both. Building a scrubber over my fuge and just using the fuge for pods. Here's some designs you can check out from the scrubber site. http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26
 

btldreef

Moderator
ATS is going to be much more effective, and basically make the Phosphate reactor a waste of money.
What reactor were you looking to purchase that's on back order?
 

bullitr

Active Member
I just try ozone ...
So far so good except my Reeflo skimmer pump seal is not ozone safe.
But before using it you need a reliable ORP probe so no ozone gets into system or else you will lose your fish and corals :(
With that said it's clear up my sand algae in few hours the next day .
Also it will get rid of my life long battle with ick and much much much more effective than UV sterilizer and more energy efficient!
 

yannifish

Active Member
Its just the ViaAqua poly reactor. Nothing special.
I think I'm going to see if I can cancel the order.
I just need to figure out where I'm going to put the ATS. I'm going to re plumb my drain line so that some water is diverted to the ATS, which will drain into the return section of my sump. The thing is, the sump is 14 inches high, so obviously for water to drain the ATS has to he higher than that. But, I'm limited on space under the stand (sometimes I think it would be worth having a larger tank simply for more stand space).
Also, I need an RO/DI unit. What units are good? I was looking at the BRS one, is it any good? Obviously it is cheap, but it has good reviews. I'm looking at the 75 gpd 4 stage system.
 

bullitr

Active Member
also vodka or vinegar works well too!
Or combonation of all three vodka , vinegar and sugar!
It Lower nitrate and a little bit of phosphate
But I have to tell you ozone is looking good to me right now
Even mr. Ching Chai have it on his wonderful system
It just never popular because of the risk and the cost of either reactor , orp probe or the system itself .
But if installled properly it's great it polished the water like nothing else I've seen.
Also I suggest running the ozone generator outside in case of accident.
 

al&burke

Active Member
I am running an ATS on my system, it is working great so far. Lately I notice that there is no algae on the glass anymore. Funny enough with the lights in the fuge area on the screen there is quite a bit of hair algae growing in the sump. My numbers have been great, I have some hair algae in the DT but it is from before i upgraded to a sump fuge ATS system. Here are a few pictures maybe it willhelp you out.
INITIAL SET UP

THE SCREEN TODAY
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by yannifish http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383587
Its just the ViaAqua poly reactor. Nothing special.
I think I'm going to see if I can cancel the order.
I just need to figure out where I'm going to put the ATS. I'm going to re plumb my drain line so that some water is diverted to the ATS, which will drain into the return section of my sump. The thing is, the sump is 14 inches high, so obviously for water to drain the ATS has to he higher than that. But, I'm limited on space under the stand (sometimes I think it would be worth having a larger tank simply for more stand space).
Also, I need an RO/DI unit. What units are good? I was looking at the BRS one, is it any good? Obviously it is cheap, but it has good reviews. I'm looking at the 75 gpd 4 stage system.
Air Water Ice makes a great RODI unit and they're not too expensive.
I don't know much about the BRS one.
Why not go with a Two Little Fishies PhosBan Reactor. They work great. I use one for carbon and one for phosphate remover.
Is there any way that you can make a refugium next to your tank/stand that the drains into your sump? This is what I did and it's worked well for nitrate issues. I've never had a phosphate problem, but I'm sure it would help with that as well.
 

yannifish

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383599
I am running an ATS on my system, it is working great so far. Lately I notice that there is no algae on the glass anymore. Funny enough with the lights in the fuge area on the screen there is quite a bit of hair algae growing in the sump. My numbers have been great, I have some hair algae in the DT but it is from before i upgraded to a sump fuge ATS system. Here are a few pictures maybe it willhelp you out.
What size light bulb are you using in your lights?
Also, how do you remove the screen for the weekly cleaning?
 

al&burke

Active Member
There are two 23 watt spiral compact flourescent bulbs. I think they are equivalent 75 watts each. I have a shut off and a union, really easy to remove and clean, it is due for a cleaning tomorrow. Here is a shot of the piping.
 

yannifish

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383604
Air Water Ice makes a great RODI unit and they're not too expensive.
I don't know much about the BRS one.
Why not go with a Two Little Fishies PhosBan Reactor. They work great. I use one for carbon and one for phosphate remover.
Is there any way that you can make a refugium next to your tank/stand that the drains into your sump? This is what I did and it's worked well for nitrate issues. I've never had a phosphate problem, but I'm sure it would help with that as well.
I already ordered the other reactor. It isn't the best one out there, but that's okay. I just want to run that with GFO to get rid of the phosphates present in the water (and then maybe use it to run carbon in the future).
What I need is a RO/DI unit to stop the phosphates from entering my tank in the first place.
I like the looks of the Air Water Ice Typhoon unit.
How often do the membranes need to be changed?
Also, do you know if this unit comes with a pressure gauge, TDS meter, flush kit, etc?
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Best little hair algae eater I have ever had is my lemonpeel dwarf angel. I read Hectors goby is a great hair algae eater as well. Those turf scrubbers look like a pain in the backside to keep up on....Every week you have to remove it and wash it off.
 

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383629
Best little hair algae eater I have ever had is my lemonpeel dwarf angel. I read Hectors goby is a great hair algae eater as well. Those turf scrubbers look like a pain in the backside to keep up on....Every week you have to remove it and wash it off.
If you have an easy way of removing them it takes all of 5 minutes to do, the benefit from the nitrate and phosphate removal out ways it. Plus I notice an increase in pods in both tanks!!!
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383630

If you have an easy way of removing them
it takes all of 5 minutes to do, the benefit from the nitrate and phosphate removal out ways it. Plus I notice an increase in pods in both tanks!!!
I'm not handy, but I'm pretty inventive....do you use some kind of clip to be able to remove it? Want to help me design something I can use on my 90g?
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
The more and more I read about these things the more I want to build one. Instead of using zip ties to remove the screen for cleaning I seen one guy just using some thin strips of velcro. Probably takes him all of about 5 seconds to pull the screen off and then take it to the sink.
There are folks all over the internet running these things now with excellent results. Vodka dosing can be dangerous, especially if you ever have a power outage last for several hours you risk losing all of your fish from the depleted oxygen levels in the tank, pluss more skimmer sludge to remove. Livestock that eats algea just poops it back into the tank. Macro algea seems kinda 50/50 to me. People report pods breeding like crazy with the scrubber. Less need for water changes if your main reason for water changes is nutrient removal. No worries about over feeding the tank. I think I'm sold. I'm going to build one for the new set up.
 

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383637
The more and more I read about these things the more I want to build one. Instead of using zip ties to remove the screen for cleaning I seen one guy just using some thin strips of velcro. Probably takes him all of about 5 seconds to pull the screen off and then take it to the sink.
There are folks all over the internet running these things now with excellent results. Vodka dosing can be dangerous, especially if you ever have a power outage last for several hours you risk losing all of your fish from the depleted oxygen levels in the tank, pluss more skimmer sludge to remove. Livestock that eats algea just poops it back into the tank. Macro algea seems kinda 50/50 to me. People report pods breeding like crazy with the scrubber. Less need for water changes if your main reason for water changes is nutrient removal. No worries about over feeding the tank. I think I'm sold. I'm going to build one for the new set up.
I would like to see the velcro thing Corey, I often thought of using a whole sheet of velcro for the algae to grow on. Would like to help Flower with getting one set up. I am going to Chicago in Juy - I will drop it off.
 

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/385694/official-declaration-of-war#post_3383639
I would like to see the velcro thing Corey, I often thought of using a whole sheet of velcro for the algae to grow on. Would like to help Flower with getting one set up. I am going to Chicago in Juy - I will drop it off.
It's on this page Al. He didn't really take a very good shot of them but you can see how he using them just like the zip ties basically. http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1232&start=20
Edit: Here's another shot from that same thread...
 
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