An
algae scrubber is a water
filtering device (not to be confused with a
scrubber pad used to clean glass) which uses light to grow
algae; in this process, undesirable chemicals are removed from the water. Algae scrubbers have allowed
saltwater and
freshwater aquarium and pond
hobbyists the ability to operate their tanks the way that oceans and lakes operate: using natural filtration in the form of
primary production.