Algae Scrubber vs Chaeto Reactor

cpllongjk · 04/05/2018, 11:14 PM

I have been using an ARID N18 Reactor on my 70g system for about a year now. In that time I have had struggling growth on the chaeto, sometimes it booms sometimes it just sits idle and the tank grows more algae than the reactor.

Currently though, my ARID has populated with GHA and has overgrown the chaeto. My main display and frag tanks lights have not been changed and the algae seems to want to grow more in the reactor than in the display. My tanks are looking better than ever and I don't want to change anything but wonder if the ARID would be better off being replaced by a Algae Scrubber?

My concern is ease of cleaning/harvest. I like my ARID but the service manual suggests replacing parts every year which I feel is a bit ridiculous considering how much they cost. Also the algae scrubber seems so much easier to maintain/harvest weekly compared to the ARID.

Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Jared

scuzy · 04/06/2018, 12:21 AM

Hey Jared how's it going? I have in my tank a diy algae reactor and it's been doing the exact same thing as yours. No idea what the cause of it. Right now I just removed it all together cause I don't see any benefits. I'm picking up a used arid this week will let you know. I have a cw algae scrubber but no head way to install it asked have easy access took the scrubber scene.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

scuzy · 04/06/2018, 11:20 AM

Jared your inbox is full

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

cpllongjk · 04/06/2018, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuzy

Jared your inbox is full

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

just fixed

cellingson · 04/06/2018, 11:58 AM

Couldn't you just keep the ARID up and rolling and grow GHA in it, since it seems to be growing so well in it.

cpllongjk · 04/06/2018, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellingson

Couldn't you just keep the ARID up and rolling and grow GHA in it, since it seems to be growing so well in it.

I could but the ARID is not designed to grow GHA. There is only a 1/2" outlet at the top and it gets clogged easily when you grow GHA opposed to chaeto.

04/05/2018, 11:14 PM	#1
cpllongjk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca Posts: 1,066	Algae Scrubber vs Chaeto Reactor I have been using an ARID N18 Reactor on my 70g system for about a year now. In that time I have had struggling growth on the chaeto, sometimes it booms sometimes it just sits idle and the tank grows more algae than the reactor. Currently though, my ARID has populated with GHA and has overgrown the chaeto. My main display and frag tanks lights have not been changed and the algae seems to want to grow more in the reactor than in the display. My tanks are looking better than ever and I don't want to change anything but wonder if the ARID would be better off being replaced by a Algae Scrubber? My concern is ease of cleaning/harvest. I like my ARID but the service manual suggests replacing parts every year which I feel is a bit ridiculous considering how much they cost. Also the algae scrubber seems so much easier to maintain/harvest weekly compared to the ARID. Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated! Jared

04/06/2018, 12:21 AM	#2
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Algae Scrubber vs Chaeto Reactor Hey Jared how's it going? I have in my tank a diy algae reactor and it's been doing the exact same thing as yours. No idea what the cause of it. Right now I just removed it all together cause I don't see any benefits. I'm picking up a used arid this week will let you know. I have a cw algae scrubber but no head way to install it asked have easy access took the scrubber scene. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

04/06/2018, 11:20 AM	#3
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Jared your inbox is full Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

04/06/2018, 11:58 AM	#5
cellingson Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 58	Couldn't you just keep the ARID up and rolling and grow GHA in it, since it seems to be growing so well in it.