New Tank / Building a Scrubber

Im going to test the efficiency of using the two in tandem. I have my own theory that the two together will produce a more efficient system. I have read some of the articles regarding crashes over time. And the anti scrubber folks make some good arguments. However, from my previous experience I find multiple systems of filtration might be beneficial.

 

The basic theory is that the ATS does not remove anything it just collects nutrients, but will release spores that decompose over time. Those spores apparently decompose and over time can create a crash. When I had my old reef tank, over 20 years ago, I used a wet dry. It was okay but there were many algae issues. Lighting was too expensive and collecting corals w/o metal halides was expensive so it was very difficult to keep corals.

 

Those on the con side reference the Aquarium at the Smithsonian that is only using ATS. It has had multiple crashes. However I am not convinced that is the only reason for the crashes, I am looking at a combined approach.

 

That's why I said I was cautious in swallowing their argument all together. I have wondered about the protein skimmer and ATS competing w/ each other for nutrients. I may have a naive theory on this, but the way look at it is both systems can work efficiently together if calibrated properly. One will give me a sign the other isn't working. Sort of like when you go to the beach and you see all that sea foam on the shore or if there is copious amounts of seaweed. It's a sign something is changing in the system. If one fails the other will back it up. It might be overkill but my previous experience has been multiple systems working in tandem work better than one system alone. I also want to stay away from dosing chemicals, except for calcium.

 

This is one of the threads I read. I like to read both sides of an argument. What I found intersting was the person who was so adement about the "dangers" of algae scrubbers admitted they could be beneficial when used w/ other filtration as part of a system and not the sole source.

Macro Algae vs Skimmers - The Reef Tank

 

Please stay in touch. I really like this forum because everyone seems to be open to learning and helping each other. It took a long time for me to get back to the hobby because the pain of seeing my fish die was too much after a while and it just seemed like a futile effort w/ the technology available at the time. Now I am more confident seeing so much success.

 

20160221_105614[/url] by Greg Cooper, on Flickr[/IMG] 20160221_105631[/url] by Greg Cooper, on Flickr[/IMG] 20160221_105701 (1)[/url] by Greg Cooper, on Flickr[/IMG] 20160221_105722[/url] by Greg Cooper, on Flickr[/IMG] 20160221_105737[/url] by Greg Cooper, on Flickr[/IMG] 20160221_105752[/url] by Greg Cooper, on Flickr[/IMG] The light portion of the Scrubber is completed. I was pleased w/ the result. Just need to find a way to hang on the outside of the glass. Magnets will hold the internal portion, but I will need to create a system to hold the external. I have cut some different screen configurations. 6x6 and 4x6 versions w/ small and large spacing. Not sure which will work best.

 

20160221_105614

 

Apparently I am unable to figure out how to post pictures. When I get this figured out I will try again.

 

Thanks

 

I Only have a few minor things to do for the scrubber. Connect the air stone to the pump; Attach the magnets to hold the inner portion; and make a hanging bracket to hold the weight of the outer portion.





This is an alternate screen configuration. It is a 4x6 size and a smaller mesh