My Algae Scrubber Experience

[pterfloth]

For the past two years I have been battling hair algae and excess nutrients in my 200 gal SPS dominated display tank. After fighting off acro-eating flatworms and then montipora eating nudibranches, I was never able to regain control of hair algae and my nutrient level. Even though nitrate (<5 ppm) and phosphate testing (<0.1 ppm) showed low levels of nutrients, rampant hair algae and poor SPS growth indicated that I had excess nutrients. I feed 1/2 sheet of nori and 2 cubes of mysis per day. I do 10-15% water changes every one-two weeks.

I tried zeoreactors with carbon dosing and bacterial supplements for a year and then tried 2 liters of bio-pellets plus bacterial supplements for a year, but conditions didn't improve. I had to try something else, so I set up an algae scrubber using the guidance of algaescrubber.net.

I am very, very happy with the results. I have been at it for 3 months now and results continue to improve. Hair algae growth is significantly reduced and gradually receding. More importantly, my SPS growth has returned to former levels, colors are better and polyp extension is better. Colonies that had shown no growth for many months are now sprouting new tips everywhere and visible growth of SPS colonies is quite apparent. Areas damaged by hair algae or cyano encroachment are repairing. All cyano has disappeared. Maintenance is very simple, clean the mesh once every two weeks, and I don't have to dose anything. I took the bio-pellets out two weeks after starting the scrubber.

My scrubber is 24" long and uses 2 10x10" mesh pads. Since my overflow return is too low to supply the scrubber, I pump 600 gpm water out of the sump into the scrubber supply tube which flows down the mesh and exits the bottom of the scrubber back to the sump. I have 4 x 2-17w 24" fluorescent fixtures with warm white bulbs that are clamped onto the outside of a clear acrylic box that the mesh pads hang in. The lights are on 18 hrs per day.


This is the growth I get at the end of two weeks, on both sides of each mesh pad. In total, I scrape off about 4-6 cups of thick wet algae every two weeks.


All the information you need can be found at algaescrubber.net or on Reef Central.

[lastlight]

Some lush growth for sure. Did you seed the screens with a specific algae?

[Acipenser]

Interesting read, I hope I never need to do this.

[lastlight]

Forgot to ask but light hits 2 sides of mesh. How is it growing like that on 4 sides?

[reefwars]

haha looks great im building one myself now.what are you using for lights??

[reefme]

I use a 5 gallon bucket type for my 120 gallon.

[jagermaier]

I guess its a refugium for hair algea then.

[pterfloth]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Some lush growth for sure. Did you seed the screens with a specific algae?

No, I did not seed the mesh but it is important to rough-up the surface. The first two weeks I got a mix of brown slime and algae but after that, good solid algae took over. I followed the guide at algae scrubber.net pretty closely and my results appear to be consistent with what they say I should expect.

I have two 10x10" mesh pads strung linearly. Each side of each pad looks like that after two weeks. Growth on two sides, not four.

Industrial Plastics built the acrylic box for me. Total cost with lights (I had a spare pump) was about $200.

[pterfloth]

Originally Posted by reefwars

haha looks great im building one myself now.what are you using for lights??

I'm just using standard T8 warm white bulbs.

[mr_alberta]

Looks great. I've always wanted to try the algae scrubber method but just can't seem to cram any more in the space I have. Is the light on 24/7 or reverse photoperiod?