Making a DIY Algae Reactor (25% more effective!)

Follow along as I turn an old biopellet reactor into a new-fangled chaetomorpha algae reactor for cheap! I recommend running your algae reactors on a schedule so that they're on when your main tank lights are off, and then trimming the growth every week or two depending on how fast things grow.
Here's the LED Grow Light Strip that I used
amzn.to/2H8zWOa
Get a PAR Meter: amzn.to/2BS54lB
Get a reactor body: amzn.to/2H8BFTw

[@SantaMonicaFiltration]

Good job with the reflective covering.

[@ReefMan]

Thanks, I was really surprised at how well it worked!!

[@charleskulvet4911]

Thanks for making this video. But Is there other types of Algae that I can use for freshwater? Chaeto works only in saltwater

[@ReefMan]

I'm sure that there are freshwater algaes that would work. I did a quick Google search though and nothing came up. I'd be very interested in what you can discover! I did find algae reactors being sold for freshwater though, so it IS possible.

[@jchasmyback]

Any update on how it has been going

[@ReefMan]

It worked really well - but then I also dosed Vibrant and, it turns out, Vibrant is REALLY good at killing Algae - including chaeto. It grew well before that though. I also picked up a commercial algae reactor because I had issues with these LEDs overheating and they burnt out (the company replaced them, so it might have been a bad set of LEDs). It DOES work, but you might pick a different brand of LED tape, or perhaps figure out a different way to cool them. Maybe a metal sheet around the outside, instead of aluminium foil would be better, or a type of LED tape with a metal backing instead of a plastic one like these have.

[@ericbowers71]

Alagea?

[@yoooofufuuu]

👍

[@ReefMan]

Thanks, hope it was interesting!

[@oztapia3814]

Did you order 20ft or 6ft

[@ReefMan]

Oz Tapia I'd recommend the 20 foot.

[@oztapia3814]

ReefMan how come?

[@ReefMan]

You need enough length to go around your reactor several times. Tape some paper around your reactor once and measure it, then figure out how long you need. I bet a six foot led tape will only go around maybe 3 or 4 times.