Blog Comments

Thanks for cleaning it up. I tried to get just the important parts but I couldn't get it to copy.

Nitro, thanks for the information. I cleaned up quite a bit of the quoted code. Feel free in the future to share your thoughts and a link to the content wherever it is hosted. We don't want any site to accuse us of plagiary.

My tank is a fish only with live rock.

Why would you use regular IO salt in a reef?

Reef Crystals is $48.99 for a 200gal box.

Sorry I forgot to say I got it from Foster & Smith just regular io.

Where from? Was it reef crystals or just the regular IO salt?

I'd try the 3D ATS its contained small quiet. But my system is based on TOTMs and I've never seen one with a ATS. I'll hop on the band wagon when or if they take off. I think biopelets skimmer are a way better option

if i do end up setting one up my plan is to run it along with everything else, possibly eventually phasing out the skimmer but for anything in the first 6 months at least if I do it would running along side the skimmer as well as the refugium, basically more or less as a way algae removal more than anything, if it works fantastic! if it doesn't oh well couldn't hurt to try

I had one on my last tank. It was the only thing I tried that finally cured my nuisance algae. I didn't find mine to be at all noisy, definitly quieter than a skimmer. My first one was a pain to remove from the sump for cleaning, but my second one I added a coupling and slip joint and it was a piece of cake. I did keep my skimmer running for extra insurance though. For my tank, the algae scrubber was a minor miracle.

Phil

theyre too much work compared to a refugium...

ATS (algae turf scrubbers) have been around a long time. They are noisy and messy unless you set it up perfectly to keep those under control. The bigger, the better the results.

I've known a number of people to set one up, but they don't stick with it long term for whatever reason.

Thanks Jato for that entry information, I am really starting to feel that I should give this method a try as I have been fighting caulerpa as well as algae and I have maxed out the room under my tank for a bigger better skimmer, I already run chaeto but it really can't compete with the growth rate of hair algae

one of the entries in the most popular category is about that, the title of the entry is "No Skimmer, No Algae - The Natural Solution" It is by slovak.

basically it's the same concept as running chaeto in a fuge but with nuisance hair algae that grows much faster in a different methos tyle, I love the concept and am considering trying it out as a add on to my current set up

interesting concept

I have heard very good things about ESV Seawater System salt mix. It's hard to find, at least where I live, more expensive than other salts, comes in 4 parts that have to be mixed together, but it's supposed to mix clear and ready to use in minutes instead of hours. Jake Adams reports that corals seem to "like it." I would like to give it a try but I still have a few months left in my current bucket.

What I am looking for is a salt mix that is good for corals. I am going to set up seperate tanks for corals and anemones. My main tank will be fish only with some live rock. I think IO will be ok for it.

In my 10 nano, prior to transfering everything to my new tank, I was using the oceanic mix packets for 5 gallons, which dissolved very quickly in the 5 gal plastic containers that I mixed in... used for ~6 years or so, no problems that I can attribute to the salt mix.. Reason used: ez 5 gal mix, inexpensive and available @ the local pet store conglomerate.. Seemed consistent enough to me, I was being rather slack about checking EVERYTHING -- not broken dont fix it i guess..

Currently using Seachem ReefSalt... But, like Midnight, I've noticed it taking a long time to dissolve, especially if it's not been warmed up, 24+ hours for me to go clear too.. not a biggy though since I have it in a Brute in the garage with a Mag3 and heater, add and use it in a couple days.. Haven't been using it for long (Just mixed the last of my second 160g bucket..), but I've got no real complaints yet other than long dissolve time -- which isn't really an issue... Reason used: it was available for a good price at a few of the LFS, and got good references across the board..

I'm thinking about switching to Red Sea Coral Pro in the future, but that's just a thought.. if I have good luck with the ReefSalt I'll probably stick with it.

I am using reef salt as above right now. However, it does not seem to dissolve as fast as others. For me I have to give it a full 24 hours. Reef crystals is what I prefer, been using it forever. Its consistent and mixes well, and is clear from the start. oh and the first one is dusty when you pour it.