Algae Scrubber Basics
- Thread starter srusso
- Start date
Its a 55 gallon with a 10 gallon sump running the ATS I have pictured above, I also have a Coralife Protein Skimmer still running. I only have a porcupine puffer and picasso trigger. they are both still small, the puffer is about 3 maybe 4 inches and is the bigger of the two. i also have a couple crabs roaming around the sand. i feed about a cube of frozen food a day, sometimes more but they do really good at eating a cube up. I've been doing a water change about once a week since I've started it up a few months ago. No live rock yet. Thats about it.
SPotter
Active member
Week 3 tests
Week 3 tests
Nitrate
Day 1 5ppm
Week 1 0ppm
Week 2 0ppm
WEEK 3 0 PPM
P04
Day 1 .035
Week 1 .015
Week 2 .0092 :bounce1:
WEEK 3 .015
I also skipped a water change so I went two weeks between changes. I am feeding pellets in the morning and a mixture of selcon, phytofeast, garlic and brine or mysis at night. I have gone from cleaning the glass every other day to doing it every 3-4 days.
Week 3 tests
Nitrate
Day 1 5ppm
Week 1 0ppm
Week 2 0ppm
WEEK 3 0 PPM
P04
Day 1 .035
Week 1 .015
Week 2 .0092 :bounce1:
WEEK 3 .015
I also skipped a water change so I went two weeks between changes. I am feeding pellets in the morning and a mixture of selcon, phytofeast, garlic and brine or mysis at night. I have gone from cleaning the glass every other day to doing it every 3-4 days.
big_trucks_1985
New member
my freind runs one and hasnt did a water change in a year with 0 nitraies and from research they say once u get it running if you are not treating for diesease then u dont change water any input???
IMO water changes do 2 things. One, they can reduce nitrates, phosphates, etc.. Second, they replenish the calcium, magnesium and other minerals required for coral growth. If you don't do water changes, you still need to top up the calcium, magnesium etc., often using the Balling method
JohnnyB in SD
New member
To me an ATS is a primary tool to maintain high water quality by removing unwanted nutrients, but it doesn't really replenish anything. As inky says, there are many elements that eventually need to be replaced.
I don't think Calcium Reactors and/or additives are complete solutions. Fortunately I live where virtually unlimited, free, filtered natural seawater is available so I do automatic 5% - 10% changes / day on a 100gl system via wet skimming method. If I had to pay for synthetic salt and the RODI to mix it I would still be doing water changes but more like 5%/week.
I don't think Calcium Reactors and/or additives are complete solutions. Fortunately I live where virtually unlimited, free, filtered natural seawater is available so I do automatic 5% - 10% changes / day on a 100gl system via wet skimming method. If I had to pay for synthetic salt and the RODI to mix it I would still be doing water changes but more like 5%/week.
JohnnyB in SD
New member
Hey Steve, how you measuring your Phosphates? Didn't you mention once that you have some kind of electronic meter?
SPotter
Active member
Hey Johnny...I am using the Hanna Phosphorous ULR meter. Its been working great for me!
As far as wc's go...I agree they are the best way to replenish the lost nutrients in your system. I am usually very good about weekly changes for that reason.
tyler91913
New member
Calling all ATS nerds! I'm currently revamping my sump to incorporate the magic of algal turf scrubbing, with the goal of eventually taking my skimmer off-line. I'm looking for a little wisdom about how to move in that direction and how long it will take. My hunch is that I'll I have to make room for both the skimmer and the ATS at first, and then take out the skimmer when skimmate production drops and algae takes hold on my screen. Of course, it'd be more convenient if there were a way I could move over more directly.
A few words about my current setup may be in order: 90 gallon mixed reef, LPS and zoa dominated. AquaEuro USA skimmer, pulls out maybe a 1/2 cup of wet skimmate a week. My system is stocked with two tangs, two clownfish, and a six line, fed lightly. I don't have any algae problems in the DT, my main interest in ATS is actually that I want a quieter sump and one less pump running down there. Looking foward to yor help! Thanks, Tyler
A few words about my current setup may be in order: 90 gallon mixed reef, LPS and zoa dominated. AquaEuro USA skimmer, pulls out maybe a 1/2 cup of wet skimmate a week. My system is stocked with two tangs, two clownfish, and a six line, fed lightly. I don't have any algae problems in the DT, my main interest in ATS is actually that I want a quieter sump and one less pump running down there. Looking foward to yor help! Thanks, Tyler
JohnnyB in SD
New member
I'm sure some of the more seasons experts will eventually chime in on this, but you might want to post your water parameters at this time.
I personally am phasing the ATS in and the skimmer out. After 2-4 weeks of using an ATS it has really gotten up to speed. Total removal of the skimmer is not one of my ultimate goals, but I have cut it down to running less than an hour / day set to produce a large quantity of very wet skimmate.
tyler91913
New member
Sure, they are
pH 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates 0-5
Mg 1420
Ca 440
KH 8.4
no way of measuring phosphates right now. but I hear good things about the Hannah checker. is this something I need to be measuring in order to do ATS right?
But my main question, as I said already, is about getting switched over to an ATS from a skimmer as a primary mode of filtration. I should also have mentioned that I have my 30 gallon sump out right now on the opperation table in case there is some ideal way to set it up with both ATS and skimmer. I was thinking something like this:
Water comes in via Herbie plumbing system to a bar with mesh screen hanging vertically; baffle, water flows over top of baffle to skimming compartment (I don't want my skimmer pump to get jammed up with fallen algae clumps--will I need to put "teeth" on the top of my baffle?), water goes over and under baffles spaced one inch apart, with a bubble-killing sponge, and into the return pump chamber.
By the way, what do you mean by "virtually unlimited, free, filtered natural seawater"?
pH 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates 0-5
Mg 1420
Ca 440
KH 8.4
no way of measuring phosphates right now. but I hear good things about the Hannah checker. is this something I need to be measuring in order to do ATS right?
But my main question, as I said already, is about getting switched over to an ATS from a skimmer as a primary mode of filtration. I should also have mentioned that I have my 30 gallon sump out right now on the opperation table in case there is some ideal way to set it up with both ATS and skimmer. I was thinking something like this:
Water comes in via Herbie plumbing system to a bar with mesh screen hanging vertically; baffle, water flows over top of baffle to skimming compartment (I don't want my skimmer pump to get jammed up with fallen algae clumps--will I need to put "teeth" on the top of my baffle?), water goes over and under baffles spaced one inch apart, with a bubble-killing sponge, and into the return pump chamber.
By the way, what do you mean by "virtually unlimited, free, filtered natural seawater"?
Robert Patterso
New member
Sounds pretty good to me except for 2 things. First thing is I would not use a sponge for bubbles. If your bubble trap is done correctly you won't need it and it is a trap for detritis and nutrients. Second would be that you shouldn't need to worry about "clumps" of algae. As long as you clean your screen at least once a week it won't be a problem. You can clean it more often if needed. I am still running my skimmer for now also and probably will for the forseeable future. At least till I redue my scrubber that is. Goin to go a little bigger and going to T5's I think. Only due to better light coverage.
I think your good to go otherwise. You won't regret it. Best thing I have ever done for my tank. Just to easy......
Last edited:
SPotter
Active member
I don't think comparing their wc habits on a 40,000 gallon system to the wc habits of the size tanks we see on here is fair. Plus I would think that they are adding new water on a regular basis just from when they are sending out livestock shipments.
Steve
TheFishMan65
New member
I agree with SPotter, they are doing lots of little water changes every time they ship something out. It would be interesting to know how many gallons are added daily. 1% would be 400 gallon if you figure a quart per order(maybe a little high) that would only be 1600 orders.
TheFishMan65
New member
I don't think we can say. They could perform no maintenance or filtration and ship 50% of the water out each day. Without know how much (and I suppose it could be none, but I doubt it) they replace each day we are guessing.
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