Beating Nitrates [and Algae] with More than Just Water Changes!
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- For some of us water changes are just not enough to reduce nitrates and bring them down to the desired level. The level stays too high promoting algae growth and compromising water quality. Here's an update on the progress I'm seeing using an Algae Scrubber from Santa Monica Filtration. The results show promise!
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This is a really cool idea! I hadn't seen this before, thanks for sharing!
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Just a couple of tips, if you Don't need a deep layer of Gravel, then you only need a very thin layer, ie just enough to cover the bottom.
A Deep layer will only keep Nitrate level's high.
The other tip is not to forget Phosphate levels. High Phosphate from food is a major problem regarding algae, as has been mentioned many times with runoff from farm land into River's etc.
Many thanks for the video
Hi Simon. I actually use a deep substrate as my most stable BB media. Phosphates can be an issue. Water changes, phosphate pads can help. The algae will also co sure phosphates.
I prefer to use house plants, adds a nice aesthetic as well.
Totally agreed. Many new users think water changes are the great Panacea.
City water across USA have many many components beyond our typical tests.
They don’t slowly acclimate the fresh water of a different pH or temperature.
Many many FB posts involve problems with a statement “I did a water change and ..(fill in the blank)…”.
Thanks for clarification and proposed solutions.
That's awesome! I've never seen one of these!❤
This is very interesting 🤔 Thank you for sharing your experience.
They've been around for Years in the Saltwater Hobby 😂🤙 but ive been using them in Sump Filtered Freshwater Aquariums for about 7yrs
Great points, I've never had an algae scrubber but I've seen several folks that have used them. But they are just out of my budget as like you said they are not cheap
Glad your algae scrubber is working for you. I use pothos on my 210 South American Cichlid Tank and it does the job as well. I haven't changed water in 3 weeks.
I am going to save for one
Love the channel Ben. Always ticking and liking for the YT bots.
Question. Is it possible for you or I. To use a sump,to filter TWO tanks at the same time Obviously pipes and etc are needed
Could you maybe discuss this on a C&C morning.
Much love and respect from us in the UK.
This is how some fish stores filter. One big sump with several pumps going to numerous tanks. The issue would be cross-contamination and the issues associated with pump failure.
👍🏻😎
I had a grow out tank that i had a plang light on and just let get covered jn Blue green algae and it never even needed more than a 50% wc Monthly
Algae is actually our friend. The blue-green, I believe, is not technically “algae” but has a similar impact on water chemistry.
Do you have a link to the bleach cleaning video?
Really like your fake plants, where did you happen to find those or where should I look for real looking ones? Thanks
Unfortunately my source, Elite Cichlids, went out of business.
eBay and Amazon have a nice selection.
What a Algae scrubber 😅
I use a 5 gallon bucket with a white led on top pollyfill in the bottom and rocks on top and one inch of water on top three months later no Amina no nitrates and nitrites and no algae in the tank but lots in the filter
I used my pump out of the hang in the back filter so it cost me almost nothing and it works a lot better than the ones he’s got there for a fortune
I understand how it works but I don't understand how it's keeping algae from growing In other spots. To me it's just another area for algae to grow even better. IMO. Thanks for sharing
The nitrates in the aquarium can only support a certain amount of algae, if it’s all in one place hidden it will not grow elsewhere
Hi Ben. Which model do you have? 🙏 THANKS
HOG3x - www.santa-monica.cc/HOG3x-Hang-On-Glass-UAS-Upflow-Algae-Scrubber-with-Green-Grabber-surface-and-Xtra-LEDs--3-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_65.html
So it’s basically a mini refugium, can we install one without a sump?
Exactly and yes, for several years I had one attached to the side of a 100 gallon in California. When it was time to clean it I would just open it up and the fish, especially the plecos, would have a feast.
Couldn’t you achieve the same by simply allowing algae to grow? Or if you wanted it clean, could one add it to the filtration without a device. Ie allowing it to grow, scrape it, add it to the sump?
Not sure if it would produce such a lush batch of algae
Ben which model do you have?
I sent you a text😀👍🏻
Don’t buy in at nitrates I had fish live in 80 ppm for decades
And my goldfish can withstand more than 160ppm..weirdly no sign of sick or stress
I had a fresh water motor stingray who lived in almost a 100 ppm For years never any Issues. Stingray was healthy beautiful.
It's because nitrates are way overblown... Scientific studies already stated that nitrate levels only affects specific fry on very high levels... Even in the wild there are locations with nitrates levels that are high... Been fish keeping for 25 years, never been bothered by nitrates in a country that doesn't have specific levels of nitrates on tap water ergo most tap have medium to high level of nitrates.... Aquatic life just like humans eveolved in dealing with nitrates...
@@d-godfather yeah,i even add 2 adult goldfish in my overstock and high nitrate..but no bad reaction at all...this thing already keep my mind in peace because i already debunk about nitrate with just simple video i made..the only thing that i cant check is GIH in tank with goldfish
Sure it consumes nitrates and ammonia but not as fast as the fish can pee. I let the algae grow on the back glass. There's more algae on the glass then any algae scrubber can produce.
Having seen and serviced fully loaded algae scrubbers, there’s no way the back panel could get more. I never scrape or clean my back panels. Maybe it’s the water movement or the fish pecking at it, it never shows anything more than a micro thin layer.