Freshwater Algae Scrubber - In need of Opinions

[Khemul]

It should do all that. But then any plants will do that also.

It isn't that the concept doesn't work in freshwater. The reason it is used in saltwater is because nitrate/phosphate removal is more difficult and more important. Corals can be very sensitive to water conditions. As SubRosa mentioned, water changes to simply lower them are expensive. Reactors can be expensive. Saltwater "plants" (macro-algaes) are commonly used but they have their own issues. ATS setups become very appealing at that point since they are cheap and don't include the drawbacks of macro setups.

 

[MaxximusPrime]

I may just focus my attention to a refugium instead of an ATS. Thank you for the input everyone!

 

[Mgamer20o0]

a cycled tank should have ammonia at zero. i would think fast growing floaters would do this better with less work vs the algae scrubber. water lettuce water hyacinth frogbit even guppy grass water sprite all fast growers that would suck everything up. most of my planted tanks naturally have close to zero nitrates with out anything added.

 

[MaxximusPrime]

When would you recommend C02 being added into a planted system? From what I read most floating species of plants really don't require C02. I might only be going for about 25-50% planted depending how my rock work background turns out.

 

[jpappy789]

What is your lighting going to be like? If it is going to be on the low side CO2 isn't needed, not that it still wouldn't help...

 

[Glabe]

uh oh. i can't get your sig link to work, Maxx. hopefully it's just me

 

[Mgamer20o0]

When would you recommend C02 being added into a planted system? From what I read most floating species of plants really don't require C02. I might only be going for about 25-50% planted depending how my rock work background turns out.

yea the idea of floaters is it will get the co2 for the air so none will be needed. if you have a sump adding co2 is very hard as it gasses out. i owuld just go iwht out.

 

[jpappy789]

yea the idea of floaters is it will get the co2 for the air so none will be needed. if you have a sump adding co2 is very hard as it gasses out. i owuld just go iwht out.

I think the words "would" and "with" start with the w...:lol:

 

[MaxximusPrime]

sounds good, lighting will be on the lower side, I am contemplating LED as this would help to manage heat around the tank what are everyone's thoughts on LED?