How many run an external chaeto reactor, Leaks?
- Thread starter KnH
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bshake
Active Member
I just set mine up running inline with a canister filter so it’s external without a sump. In a sump I’m sure it will leave as well but not really sure but it will definitely leak externally. you will need 2 ball valves (or a way to close the water lines) on the supply and return and every time you open the reactor you should have it in some sort of bucket because as soon as you put your hands inside water will come out from the top.
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
I did
After breaking it down and cleaning it the bottom inlet leaked
I used some scant Teflon grease on the O rings. And Teflon taped the threads on inlet going in the bottom. That stopped that
It still has a very trace leak somewhere up top, I get a scant layer of dried salt creep on the lid after a week or so. No water though. Could be drips from my hands in the tank
Also changed out the Tunze pump for a cheap DC Jeboa pump. Tunze could keep the cheato spinning, not strong enough
After breaking it down and cleaning it the bottom inlet leaked
I used some scant Teflon grease on the O rings. And Teflon taped the threads on inlet going in the bottom. That stopped that
It still has a very trace leak somewhere up top, I get a scant layer of dried salt creep on the lid after a week or so. No water though. Could be drips from my hands in the tank
Also changed out the Tunze pump for a cheap DC Jeboa pump. Tunze could keep the cheato spinning, not strong enough
I don’t know why people run cheato reactors when algae turf scrubbers are more efficient and productive :/
Turf algae grows faster and holds 5-8x the phosphate compared to an equal amount of cheato.
Turf algae grows faster and holds 5-8x the phosphate compared to an equal amount of cheato.
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
I made a DIY algae turf scrubber years ago
Only thing it grew was purple cyano, consistently
My tunze was growing turf, last time I cleaned it. Enough to stop my macro from spinning
/shrug
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
I don't know, it was like 10 years ago
It was pretty actually
Only smelled bad when I cleaned it
I figured, "better growing there than the tank"
I harvested it, just like one would hair algae in a turf scrubber. Exporting whatever was in it. So a win
Probably not enough oxygen
I later ODd that tank on H²0². People were just learning how to use that to kill algae back then. And you could buy 24% on Amazon
I've had the tunze Mar for about 6 months. No leaks... Planning to clean it today actually
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
Yup
I think they are working, it looks full and keeps stopping. And I just cleaned out some algae last week, week before can't remember
I'll know when I clean out chaeto tomorrow
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
I would buy a Pax Bellum new, if it did the spinning thing
For some reason, it spinning like it does is like a shiny object
[Spin spin]"Oh, it's working" [spin spin]
I have a used one in my sights, but seller doesn't want to ship. For the big tank
I have half a mind to buy a tube, and make one out of a reactor or an old Vertex Zeovit plunger thingy. That spins
(Checks out videos on how to weld plastics) I can do that
You can buy the Pax Bellum light sleeve online
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Chaeto Reactors compared to Algae Scrubbers
With more people wanting to use natural filtration for their tanks, we are going to look at the two main types of devices that you can put on your system: Chaeto reactors (or "algae reactors") and algae turf scrubbers (ATS). We won’t be looking at refugiums however, since those have mostly a...
algaescrubber.net
Any other sources?
A cheato reactor would need to be huge if you wanted 100% filtration for a reef. Same for a refugium.
My entire 75g reef is filtered by a scrubber that’s about 6x4x3
No water changes, no filter floss or rollers, no skimmer, no carbon dosing. Nothing but a medium scrubber that fits in my sump
My entire 75g reef is filtered by a scrubber that’s about 6x4x3
No water changes, no filter floss or rollers, no skimmer, no carbon dosing. Nothing but a medium scrubber that fits in my sump
Yes I have read studies but don’t have them on me at work but this has been proven over and over again that turf algae is more effective than macro for various reason, mainly nutrient density and growth
Court_Appointed_Hypeman
Valuable Member
I am curious about this too. I have been considering using an algae scrubber. I never considered that I could use an ATS for a fresh tank, we got a few golfish tanks that could certainly use one. But I don't notice where it says which is better in that forum thread. I wouldn't mind at this point switching from chaeto as it grows so fast I have to shake it out every day, if I went ATS only scraping it once a week would be less of a chore. I fear I would need a huge ATS though, my chaeto goes from about .5gal volume to 4 gal volume fast, and I don't see how on earth an ATS can match that without being larger than commercial. I guess by mass they might be more significant. Though I am not finding much on the difference in trace, phos, or nitrate uptake on google at the moment, this will be the largest factor as I have to dose phos several times a day or it hits 0, and if an ATS is any higher than chaeto I won't be able to use it.
Also I Just noticed that site was algaescrubber.net lol
And, I’ve witnessed it first hand. I had a full cheato refugium
I would bag this up and sell it online
Nice little bit of extra pocket change every week or two. I was doing this consistently for over a year. But I still had nitrate and phosphate issues in my reef.
Scrubbers were somewhat new to the commercial market. I took a gamble and bought one. connected a scrubber to the system. In less than 2 months, all the cheato was dead and the scrubber was thriving. And, not only did my cheato die, but my nutrient issue was fixed also. The small scrubber outcompeted and outperformed the cheato and I’ve been running scrubbers successfully ever since. About 10 years now
I would bag this up and sell it online
Nice little bit of extra pocket change every week or two. I was doing this consistently for over a year. But I still had nitrate and phosphate issues in my reef.
Scrubbers were somewhat new to the commercial market. I took a gamble and bought one. connected a scrubber to the system. In less than 2 months, all the cheato was dead and the scrubber was thriving. And, not only did my cheato die, but my nutrient issue was fixed also. The small scrubber outcompeted and outperformed the cheato and I’ve been running scrubbers successfully ever since. About 10 years now
It is but it’s a research forum and there are a lot of cheato reactor users on there. It’s basically info for anyone wanting to use algae in any form as a nutrient control method
It also has the comparison between scrubbers and cheato reactors and was the only article I have easy access to from my current location
Solo McReefer
Valuable Member
That's written by Santa Monica
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