DIY Algae scrubber

[Tomt37]

Last post honest ... obviously the protein skimmer also removes unbroken down organic matter too so will also reduce root cause of nitrates .. but not as effectively as in salt water and u will need to dose at upper level of freshwater aquarium salt recommended amounts .. all protein skimmers take time to bed in and tune so be prepared to run for a week without much brown skim and to tune it until it's at a good output

 

[Tomt37]

I think ozone also kills single celled, diatoms, etc so helps kill the algae before it beds in and can help disease .. always wondered about the impact on the filter bacteria .. I guess these need to be bedded in and far away

 

[Angelphish]

You could also go down the anaerobic path with a nitrate reductor setup but they require more work ... if you're looking an easy option tetra have released tetra balance bioline balls which you just put into your filter like bioballs .. these work similarly but will increase your carbonate hardness slightly as the end product

I have 6 liters of denitrate, and I plan to fill the rest of the 5 gal filter with pumice. Just a few posts up I shared pics of the nitrate filter I made. No biopellets needed.

 

[Angelphish]

I think ozone also kills single celled, diatoms, etc so helps kill the algae before it beds in and can help disease .. always wondered about the impact on the filter bacteria .. I guess these need to be bedded in and far away

It gasses out rather quickly. I have it in the first chamber in my sump, and it doesn't even make in into the second.

It also kills organic matter before it makes it to ammonia, so similar to a protein skimmer, except it kills protein rather than collecting it.

 

[Tomt37]

I tried tunze granovit before ...works on a similar principle or having anaerobic areas for denitrification .. With a big volume will work well .. they do clog up though so will need some of the media replaced after a while

 

[Tomt37]

My paranoia would mean I'd have ozone in main tank away from sump or external filter inlet .. but sounds good .. I remember something about ph being important with ozone

 

[Angelphish]

Last post honest ... obviously the protein skimmer also removes unbroken down organic matter too so will also reduce root cause of nitrates .. but not as effectively as in salt water and u will need to dose at upper level of freshwater aquarium salt recommended amounts .. all protein skimmers take time to bed in and tune so be prepared to run for a week without much brown skim and to tune it until it's at a good output

Any pics of your protein skimmer?

 

[Tomt37]

It's just a shop bought one ... aqua one .. the only reason I used it really was cause I like gadgets and it came with the tank ..and like experimenting .. running an fx6 too .. this was before it bedded in so skimmate was run liquid and not dark

 

[Angelphish]

It's just a shop bought one ... aqua one .. the only reason I used it really was cause I like gadgets and it came with the tank ..and like experimenting .. running an fx6 too .. this was before it bedded in so skimmate was run liquid and not dark

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Any pics of it now with the skimmate? I just want proof it works before I drop $300-500 on a skimmer.

 

[Tomt37]

Yep will take one tonight when home