Algae reactor or refugium?

[GugsJr]

So I bought a 40gallon breeder to redo my 30 gallon refugium and I'm torn to a build it with a traditional refugium or with the idea of going with a algae reactor.

Anyone with an algae reactor that can comment?

 

[Naturalreef]

I look at a algae(chaeto) reactor like a skimmer. It's sole job is to remove nitrates/phosphates quickly and efficiently with minimal space required. A refugium allows you to harvest algae as well, but also allows you more space for pods/Frags /sand bed etc. The reactor will house pods as well, but it's sole job is to remove nitrates and phosphates.....

 

[GugsJr]

I normally don't keep a sand bed in my refugium, just rubble and cheato. Never put frags in there I only have 6 LEDs for a light, would that be ok for frags?

Seemed like the reactor achieves better growth and limits light to other sections of the sump

 

[Volcano1]

A fuge needs less light, but will host more good bugs . A reactor or turf scrubber
Needs more light and pulls out extra nutrients quicker. The more light usually you can decrease the footprint,because stuff grows quicker. The less light stuff grows slower, but you can keep increasing size to achieve similar results. I've ran a fuge cheato reactor and now a ATS. Those seem to be what I've found. I had a large fuge with a lot of algae I harvested and got similar, but slightly slower nutrient removal. I run both ow , as I need more good bugs plus need extra nutrient removal.
Nitrate usually comes down quicker than phosphate. If you get your nitrate to 0 it will limit your phosphate removal .
I didn't have good luck growing cheato in a cheato reactor but better luck growing turf algae in a scrubber. Some people have fifty results based on thier system.
HTH's
Todd

 

[GugsJr]

I may run a small fuge with the reactor since I do have two types of alage in my current fuge.

That's a good idea.