Santa Monica Filtration has just announced the release of their new DROP2.6 Drop-In Scrubber with Green Grabber® surfaces and replaceable GEM5® lights. This is an aquarium filter that offers drop-in installation in small spaces, along with reduction or elimination of water changes and nuisance algae. And it’s small enough to drop into the back compartment of larger all-in-one aquariums. It operates the way the oceans and lakes do, using algae to do all the filtering, and it truly can replace all other filters in your aquarium if sized and operated correctly. The DROP2.6 can be used in freshwater or saltwater, because it does not have strings (strings are best for saltwater).
The DROP2.6 has water inlets at the bottom of the growth compartment, where internal upflowing air bubbles inside the unit (from an air pump which you provide) flow up into the growth compartment and bring aquarium water inside it. As the water enters the growth compartment, it mixes with the air bubbles, and rubs the algae-attachment Green Grabber textures, and gets blasted by the super-red 660nm LED light. This rubbing of bubbles causes algae to start growing on the rock hard (and heavy) Green Grabber textures; freshwater grows long slime algae, and saltwater grows thicker, dense algae. The air then goes out of the top of the unit, and the water goes down and out the bottom water exit hole, without many air bubbles remaining. If you position the top 2 inches (5 cm) of the DROP2.6 above the water, it is very quiet and all bubbles are removed (the top section, which looks like the roof of a house, keeps the popping bubbles inside).
The main advantage of the DROP2.6 or any algae scrubber is that if you size and operate it properly (based on how much you feed), it can be the only filter for your tank, even replacing water changes. It can, however, also be used with other filters. Some other filters such as carbon dosing (Zeo, pellets, etc) may slow down the scrubber, but nothing will really “hurt” the scrubber except possibly large amounts of algaecide or copper medications. The DROP2.6 is also dry-out proof, since it’s always under water. Power outages will not affect it. And very important – it cannot overflow onto your floor like box-style waterfall scrubbers can!
The DROP2.6 retails for $450 USD and ships in one week. To learn more and to order, visit Santa Monica Filtration’s website HERE
