1 month growth in my macro algae reactor.

[oseymour]

Quick backstory - I started a 10 gallon nano tank for my son about 2 months ago. I didn't want to run a skimmer for a couple of reasons, my son is sensitive to noise when he is sleeping and the tank is sitting on his dresser and I didn't want to run the risk of a skimmer overflowing.

A buddy sent me a link to this MarineDepot video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHB1xbOqCRo - I went ahead and ordered the parts from them.

The pictures are of exactly one months growth. The reactor was so packed I needed to use something to lift it out. Tank has 2 clownfish, 0 zero nitrates and phosphates. (Interestingly is going through alk and calc faster than I would imagine in a 10 gallon. I'm using kalkwasser in the top of water)

I didn't even think to check it for the last month. I left a small amount it and will document growth going forward.

I might consider making one with a larger reactor for my 75 gallon tank.

The parts are an AquaMaxx reactor. Some cheapo leds from MarineDepot - the leds were not high quality at all. I had to do a lot of taping, wrapping ect to get the power plug to stay in. A 100gph pump that came with a Fluval EVO 5 gallon tank I had.

I've seen ARRID reactors for hundreds of dollars - this is a great DIY version that is cheap and works.

[deputydog95]

That is really cool!

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[Joel_155]

Okay wow!

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[Jonviviano]

Very cool! I have been interested in trying this out after seeing all the posts lately. Could you provide a little more information on the reactor setup? What spectrum strip lighting did you use? Thank!

[ali1]

Id b interested in a dyi thread

[ReefCowboy]

Cool!

[scuzy]

Was wondering if we could black duct tape around the reactor.


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[oseymour]

Here is the equipment list.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaMaxx_...FRISPR-vi.html - I got this when it was on sale for about $60 black friday.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Accel_Aqu...LTFILD-vi.html

I used some gorilla glue to attach the lights to the reactor. It still looks like it would fall off so I used clear plastic wrap to keep it secure. I also used plastic wrap to waterproof some areas of the lights. To be honest the lights aren't well made.

[wildman926]

I have made this chaeto reactor out of an Aquamaxx biopellet reactor some time ago, and have posted it in several threads. I have one for both my of tanks. They compliment my ATS. Growth is determined by the amount of excess nutrients. The initial growth is great, but once it catches up with the rate of excess nutrients, it will slow.

[/QUOTE]

[oseymour]

Originally Posted by wildman926

I have made this chaeto reactor out of an Aquamaxx biopellet reactor some time ago, and have posted it in several threads. I have one for both my of tanks. They compliment my ATS. Growth is determined by the amount of excess nutrients. The initial growth is great, but once it catches up with the rate of excess nutrients, it will slow.

[/QUOTE]

What size aquamaxx reactor is that? I was seriously considering adding one to my 75 gallon.

[scuzy]

So I found a large 6" X 24" PVC tube that t I will slide the aquamaxx into to trying to isolate there light from escaping. Will see Howe this diy turns out once all parts arrive.


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[wildman926]

Originally Posted by oseymour

What size aquamaxx reactor is that? I was seriously considering adding one to my 75 gallon.

There are two sizes, and it is the smaller of the two. It is roughly the same size as the reactor you are using. They are about the same, the difference is that the water comes out in an angle at the bottom on mine, creating a swirling affect that you can actually see. During the rage of biopellets, I had found after 8 months that biopellets did not work for me, hence the change to an ats and a chaeto reactor (due to space constraints and ats is small for my systems). It is something I already had. If I had to do it from scratch, I would use the large version of what you are using, as it costs the same as the small biopellet reactor I am using.

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by scuzy

So I found a large 6" X 24" PVC tube that t I will slide the aquamaxx into to trying to isolate there light from escaping. Will see Howe this diy turns out once all parts arrive.

Preventing light from escaping is mainly for aesthetic reasons. It may help, if you are using very weak lighting. I have found when I do a clean out of the reactor, the chaeto that is near the leds are "burnt". Here is a pic of that -

[oseymour]

The light escaping actually serves as a night light for the kids so it wasn't a problem for me. I also noticed the "burned" areas on the cheato.

Originally Posted by wildman926

Preventing light from escaping is mainly for aesthetic reasons. It may help, if you are using very weak lighting. I have found when I do a clean out of the reactor, the chaeto that is near the leds are "burnt". Here is a pic of that -

[roberthu526]

I don't know what it is but I want to take a bite on the chaeto. It just looks so delicious...


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[fishsuse29]

How does this compare growth wise to using a traditional fuge setup were you have a ball of cheato and lighting above it?

[gus6464]

This is my DIY unit in my system. I think I love it more for it's ability to grow pods like no other than for nutrient reduction haha.

[kaz1961]

Do you run the lights and pump 24/7 or do you run it only opposite the tank lights like a refugium?

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by kaz1961

Do you run the lights and pump 24/7 or do you run it only opposite the tank lights like a refugium?

I run my lights at the same time as the main lights are on, just for convenience sake. By doing so, growth is limited, but still compliments my ATS. It seems to work, so I will leave it.

[oseymour]

Originally Posted by gus6464

This is my DIY unit in my system. I think I love it more for it's ability to grow pods like no other than for nutrient reduction haha.

Do you grow a lot of pods in yours? One of the reasons I haven't done it on my large tank is because I have a small Refugium that grows pods.

Also what light are you using? I don't like the accel aquatics light that MarineDepot is selling.


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[gus6464]

Originally Posted by oseymour

Do you grow a lot of pods in yours? One of the reasons I haven't done it on my large tank is because I have a small Refugium that grows pods.

Also what light are you using? I don't like the accel aquatics light that MarineDepot is selling.


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Yeah I can see tons of pods inside the reactor when the lights come on. I just did a pod order from algaebarn and dumped 2 bags of 5280 pods into the reactor and some of their live phytoplankton as well to feed them. Now I just throw some phytoplankton every other day in the sump by the feed pump of the reactor and my tank is now crawling with pods everywhere.

As for the lights it's these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You get a roll, power supply and dimmer. The lights are waterproof so they are coated in this sticky stuff that just sticks to the walls of the reactor and I have zip ties on the top and bottom.

I am also dosing iron every other day.

I have the lights set to full power but thats because the reactor is quite big. If you put them on a smaller unit you would for sure have to dim them.

[CrayolaViolence]

I'd like to see how one of these is position in a tank. Where the pump for the reactor is located, how it's attached, and does the chaeto spin? I'm not sure how this could be more quiet than lets say a eshopp skimmer that's no more than eight inches-10 inches tall and 2 wide with a tiny 2x2 inch pump. This is what I use on my ten gallon tank. However, I'd love to use one of these instead so the brine I hatch won't get sucked into a collection cup.

[gus6464]

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

I'd like to see how one of these is position in a tank. Where the pump for the reactor is located, how it's attached, and does the chaeto spin? I'm not sure how this could be more quiet than lets say a eshopp skimmer that's no more than eight inches-10 inches tall and 2 wide with a tiny 2x2 inch pump. This is what I use on my ten gallon tank. However, I'd love to use one of these instead so the brine I hatch won't get sucked into a collection cup.

Chaeto doesn't need to be spun if it gets light from every direction. I've personally never found the so called "nano" skimmers to be that great so if these units on a small tank can replace them while growing macro and tons of pods that's ok by me.

[oseymour]

I have a small 3 gallon refugium on my Red Sea Reefer 350. I'm going to add the lights there first.

https://goo.gl/photos/iypLKxm336mxjpup8

Originally Posted by gus6464

Yeah I can see tons of pods inside the reactor when the lights come on. I just did a pod order from algaebarn and dumped 2 bags of 5280 pods into the reactor and some of their live phytoplankton as well to feed them. Now I just throw some phytoplankton every other day in the sump by the feed pump of the reactor and my tank is now crawling with pods everywhere.

As for the lights it's these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You get a roll, power supply and dimmer. The lights are waterproof so they are coated in this sticky stuff that just sticks to the walls of the reactor and I have zip ties on the top and bottom.

I am also dosing iron every other day.

I have the lights set to full power but thats because the reactor is quite big. If you put them on a smaller unit you would for sure have to dim them.

[scuzy]

Ok I'll give it a try. Day one




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