Algae Scrubber experiment

[Thalassa]

Algae scrubber experiment:

Hi Guys.

Just got my algae scrubber in the mail today, thought I would document the delta after it starts working. it is a hog2.


This is my baseline 2 weeks no water change calling it a little under 40ppm sea-chem nitrate (pretty consistent with previous results)
no ammonia
no nitrite

setup:

• 30g
• 2 aqua clear 70 with seachem matix
• temp 75
• ph ~7

HEAVY bio load:

• convict pair
• 12 Colombian tetra
• 16 zebra danio (convicts pick this off on rare occasion)
• 2 bristle nose pleco

food
about 1 tsp a day flake/pellet

plants:

• val
• guppy grass
• amazon sword

during this test i will try to avoid changing any variables.

I will test again after I have significant growth on the algae scrubber and submit results here

 

[SuperNinja]

Subbed can’t wait to see results

 

[Ruturaj]

Interesting, wasn't aware that such product exists. I have seen flowerhorn "groomers" have algae in tank.

I have pothos in breeder box. Does pretty good job too.

 

[SuperNinja]

Any updates?

 

[Thalassa]

Any updates?

Just starting to get good agae growth so I think it will be a couple more weeks. I will post details asap!

 

[Thalassa]

still waiting for this to stabilize results keep getting better as algae grows in , but things look so good I am making a diy version for my wifes guppy tank here

DIY Algae scrubber under $50 test

Hi, I am running a test on a retail scrubber here not ready to post results yet but thing look good enough that i wanted to make my own scrubber https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/algae-scrubber-experiment.742034/#post-8366636 So based on some onine videos I just built one I...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

I hope to post results for this thread soon.

 

[Thalassa]

So this has worked pretty great, I have shifted from a 6 gallon (20%) change every 2 weeks to 1 galon every week to keep nitrates under 20ppm. the one gallon is mostly to maintain alkalinity nitrate keeps dropping. I will post again when things stabilize. Based on the data from santa monica filtration nitrates should get down to close to zero we shall see. this unit was pretty expensive $300 was able to make one for under $50 put it in my wifes guppy tank where nitrate is crazy high it is growing a lot of algae fast

here is everything you need to build your own.

DIY Algae scrubber under $50 test

Hi, I am running a test on a retail scrubber here not ready to post results yet but thing look good enough that i wanted to make my own scrubber https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/algae-scrubber-experiment.742034/#post-8366636 So based on some onine videos I just built one I...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[Thalassa]

so this thing works fantastic and the diy works even better but i think that might be the higher PH and and starting chemistry of the guppy tank, but both see a real substantial drop in nitrates pretty cool stuff. the guppy tank I see a week to week reduction in nitrates by 40ppm and with the cichlid tank by 20ppm as stated above I atribute that to it being a much better maintained and over filtered tank.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

Just curious why Matrix was used in an experiment? It is way too much of a variable IMO

 

[Thalassa]

Yes I have had matrix in the tank for over a year and I think it did help a little but the introduction of the scrubber created a huge delta. I would do 20% changes once a week to keep nitrates at 40ppm for around a year. After the introduction of the scrubber I change 1-3% a week and nitrates stay around 20%. So had a long consistent baseline with matrix prior to the introduction of the scrubber.