algae scrubber vs wet/dry

[JasonSquared]

My system which is a basic Berlin system Berlin Method - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is as follows:

Refugium with LR Chaeto and TONS of Kenya Tree, protein skimmer, thats it... All the bacteria needed are in the sand bed (about 3" deep), and the liverock. Oh and I do filter the effluent through a filter sock. Never needed more, except when I was using some LR ordered through the net, THAT I suspect was a bottomless source of nitrates IME... Most people around here don't use wet dry filters. I would like to add a GFO reactor sometime, but my current situation won't allow it (I'm broke).

[Matt Rogers]

With regards to algae turf scrubbers, it should be mentioned that the algae is periodically harvested in stages - removing the nutrients from the system.

[JasonSquared]

Originally Posted by Matt Rogers

With regards to algae turf scrubbers, it should be mentioned that the algae is periodically harvested in stages - removing the nutrients from the system.

Thats a VERY important point Matt. The Nitrates get locked up in the algae mat, and will grow so thick that the bottom layers will die off releasing back the NO3. I have to harvest mine every other day, although I have been holding off to get some to some people... I'm going to have to start chucking it again!

[Matt Rogers]

Thanks. Do you have a pic of your somewhere we can see Jason?

[JasonSquared]

I have one from a few months after it started... My father in law has my camera since Christmas when I left it at his house!! :-(

I can't seem to figure out how to attach it unless it's really small -like 1/10 the size that it is...

[Matt Rogers]

Originally Posted by JasonSquared

I can't seem to figure out how to attach it unless it's really small -like 1/10 the size that it is...

Use this new 3reef feature:
3reef.com - Forums for coral reef aquariums, salt water fish, corals, inverts, protein skimmers, aquarium lighting and more! - 3reef Image Tools

[JasonSquared]

Lets see if this works.

[JasonSquared]

Its still tiny... But that is the first month for that tank. I'm sure you're looking to see if my tank suck or not to see if I know what i am doing. And as soon as I can pout a more recent pin up I will. This has been running for around 9 months now, and my growth has been great so far. Had a few setbacks (like overdosing Kalk) but overall I have been able to cut frags fairly often to keep this going and start my new setup which will hopefully be up next month!

The Pocillopara colony was from a previous tank, and all the other frags were new, except the mushrooms, and I kept a paly too.

[Matt Rogers]

Nice pic!
I was talking about the scrubber though... gotta pic of that?

[JasonSquared]

No, I don't use a scrubber, just a refugium. But the principal is the same, scrubbers supposedly work even better though. At least thats what I have heard.