dissatisfied with skimmer...let's talk filtration options for a LPS tank.

[exnisstech]

@xnisstech how long did your surf4 take to become established ?

I'm really poor at keeping records but it was starting to grow in a month. I found this image which was taken 28 days after adding it

 

[VintageReefer]

Prob closer to 5-6 weeks for you then

Will vary for everyone depending on nutrient level. Also his is larger size than surf 2

I would say anywhere in 4-6 week range is possible

 

[BryanM]

I went down the skimmer road before reading about scrubbers or seeing this thread.

FWIW, it seems some skimmers are finicky. The redsea dc skimmer 600 definitely needs to be placed at a certain height in the sump to work properly, and to me there's not much wiggle room, but once you get it at the right height it starts doing its job pretty well.

 

[Devaji]

I went down the skimmer road before reading about scrubbers or seeing this thread.

FWIW, it seems some skimmers are finicky. The redsea dc skimmer 600 definitely needs to be placed at a certain height in the sump to work properly, and to me there's not much wiggle room, but once you get it at the right height it starts doing its job pretty well.

so true. I think that is with every skimmer. I was planing around with my large tank gate valve the other day but to much water in the sump the RO 250 did not like that and over flowed. I guess the float valve shut off did not work.

love the RO skimmer tho for me they seem to just work and work great.
hence the back n forth in my mind to go full ATS or get a better properly sized simmer.

 

[Devaji]

I might DIY a floating surf style scrubber. IDK sometime one spends more time and money than just buying things but others you leanr a lot and save some $$ in the process.

 

[VintageReefer]

full ATS or get a better properly sized simmer.

They aren’t really comparable and do different things. A better skimmer won’t do what a scrubber does. And a scrubber won’t do what a skimmer does

 

[Devaji]

here was my tank after cycle when I added the macros.

it looked great. but the melted a dumped a ton of nasties in the tank....be battling it for 8 months now.
1st brown slime algae beat that then the GHA started as will ad some red stuff.

 

[Devaji]

making water for a WC decided to test for Po3 & no4

no4 was basically not detectable w/ salifert
p03 2PPB or .006 ppm per the hanna ulta low tester

so the number look good but the tank does not, we all know what that mean the GHA is sucking it up.

 

[Devaji]

 

[Devaji]

for you ATS experts can you over scrub?
I have a line on a large ATS that's new and bigger than the one I have on my large tank. but that also has a huge skimmer that I love.

I am guessing like most think in the hobby a properly sized scrubber for 2 cubes pr day would work better than on for say 6 cubes per day when feeding only 2 yeah?

 

[keithw283]

for you ATS experts can you over scrub?
I have a line on a large ATS that's new and bigger than the one I have on my large tank. but that also has a huge skimmer that I love.

I am guessing like most think in the hobby a properly sized scrubber for 2 cubes pr day would work better than on for say 6 cubes per day when feeding only 2 yeah?

I am by no means an ATS scrubber (never even owned one) but have been researching them for my new tank and came across something that said you can't over scrub. I think that was on Santa Monica's website. Basically with a scrubber you are growing the algae in a dedicated spot and it is absorbing your Nitrate and Phosphate. You are removing those Nitrates and Phosphates from your system when you clean the scrubber so I suppose you could over scrub and bottom out. I would assume you could just leave a good chunk of the turf in there if you are worried about bottoming out. Again, I am no expert by any means but this is kind of what I am thinking and if I am wrong someone please correct me lol. I am planning on getting an ATS for my 240 but in the meantime I was considering putting it on my 55

 

[VintageReefer]

You can get near zero but no you can’t over scrub “to dangerous” levels.

You can get low. Lower than you may desire. But not true zero. From my understanding and research.

And you compensate by reducing scrubber led hours

 

[VintageReefer]

Mines rated for 2 cubes of food a day. I’ve gone prolonged periods (months) feeding 1/2 cube a day with out issue

 

[Devaji]

I am by no means an ATS scrubber (never even owned one) but have been researching them for my new tank and came across something that said you can't over scrub. I think that was on Santa Monica's website. Basically with a scrubber you are growing the algae in a dedicated spot and it is absorbing your Nitrate and Phosphate. You are removing those Nitrates and Phosphates from your system when you clean the scrubber so I suppose you could over scrub and bottom out. I would assume you could just leave a good chunk of the turf in there if you are worried about bottoming out. Again, I am no expert by any means but this is kind of what I am thinking and if I am wrong someone please correct me lol. I am planning on getting an ATS for my 240 but in the meantime I was considering putting it on my 55

You can get near zero but no you can’t over scrub “to dangerous” levels.

You can get low. Lower than you may desire. But not true zero. From my understanding and research.

And you compensate by reducing scrubber led hours

this was/is my understanding too. but wanted to ask.
was not sure how effective a larger surface area would be if its not getting the N&P it need to fill the screen/area.
but on the other hand it would only grow to whats available...