can algae replace a skimmer?

[Gary Majchrzak]

i hear public aquariums that use algae scrubbers actually have to dose nitrates l.

have you ever seen one of these aquariums?
Can you post a picture? Every public display relying on an algae scrubber that I've seen so far has been a disaster in the long run.

Of course, beauty is subjective.

 

[CLINTOS]

I personaly don't see much of a difference when it comes to a ATS over a skimmer when it comes to watt usage unless a person uses their over flow instead of a lift pump for the water fall on the screen

but the fact it leaves food in is what make a ATS superior to a skimmer

Light is the most important 100 watts plus a 750 gph pump should do for a 120G total

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Hopefully someone will pop on with more experience, I ran a ATS system years ago. It was not lower maintenance than a skimmer but it was a lot cheaper. Unlike a skimmer it does take a bit to get functioning well and has the disadvantage of being subject to biological and mechanical failure. There wasn't much adjusting but at least as much as my octo requires. Algae itself doesn't stink like skimmate but some say it adds an odor to the room. I had mine in a basement bedroom in college so if it stank nobody noticed. harvestin algae was a bit more of a pain than dumping a skimmer cup but not by much. It was mounted above the tank and was a static horizontal design. Some of the horizontal "waterfall" ATS may be easier to wrk with.

I personaly don't see much of a difference when it comes to a ATS over a skimmer when it comes to watt usage unless a person uses their over flow instead of a lift pump for the water fall on the screen. Light is the most important 100 watts plus a 750 gph pump should do for a 120G total

you fellas are making me want to keep my skimmer!

Yes. www.inlandaquatics.com 35,000+ gallons of saltwater, lots of corals, clams, fish, and critters, and not one skimmer. Can you do it at home? Maybe, but, given limited space, you will likely find that a skimmer is the best way to go. If you have lots of space for a large enough ATS, and you feel inclined, give it a try. Speak with the folks at Inland Aquatics and they will help you with all you need.

great advice and I agree 100%

 

[atlantisaquari]

you asked about the public aquarium thing i said. it is just something i read somewhere , didnt actually see it.

 

[forddna]

I found this thread while searching for scrubber info. Can someone tell me what "ATS" stands for?

 

[jenglish]

I found this thread while searching for scrubber info. Can someone tell me what "ATS" stands for?

Algal Turf Scrubber. IIRC it is actually a trademrked name for the DUmp bucket style Walter Adey had patents on. I think those patents are up and maybe the TM on the name is too. It's been a while since I was in that scene. I grew up in Terre Haute and one of my HS/COllege buddies worked at Inland, so all this info is what a fuzzily remember from several years ago

 

[spamreefnew]

A T S algae turf scrubber

 

[Zire]

I'd say this tank is evidence of that fact that yes- algae can absolutely replace a skimmer. Whether it is the best option for one to take, I don't know, but it's certainly a viable avenue.

http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/featuredsystems/Aug2009/

 

[mxett]

Algae Turf Scrubber

 

[jglackin]

I have a small ATS that I have mostly just for kicks. It's far too small for the size of my tank, so I also run a skimmer. My personal experience is, in order to do it right, the ATS requires regular and consistent maintenance. It's not a lot of work, but you cannot ignore it for very long without running into issues with unwanted algae taking over the turf algae and reducing the efficiency of the scrubber. My scrubber is a pod farm, which is what I like most about it. My skimmer kills critters and my ATS grows critters. For that reason alone, I would much prefer to run a large ATS over a skimmer, but, due to space and time limitations, I run the skimmer.

Here is a video of my sump, fuge, and ATS set up. I took it a while ago. The ATS sits between the sump and the fuge. Water flows in the right side and dumps out the left side. There are two strip lights that sit on top of the ATS. I bought this ATS from a guy in CA. It was new in the box. He bought it over 10 years ago and it sat in the box, as he never got around to setting it up. The company that made it no longer makes them.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid175.photobucket.com/albums/w128/jpglackin/Sump.flv">

 

[rswood1]

Skimmer is a must IMO.

 

[CLINTOS]

Skimmer is a must IMO.

Did you miss this link?
http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/featuredsystems/Aug2009/

 

[Big E]

I'm not impressed by the acro colors in that link. I'm not saying he needs a skimmer, but some other type of export system to supplement his scrubber would help the acros pop.

No denying it's a successful system...................it all depends on your goals & what kind of reef system you plan on running.

 

[CLINTOS]

it could hove something to do with him collecting sea water maybe

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I can't see how beautiful tanks with and without skimmers and with and without macroalgae or turf algae says anything about whether one replaces the other. They do fundamentally different things.

Skimmers export organics, export bacteria, reduce yellowing, and increase aeration of both CO2 and O2 (which can each be up or down depending on the other practices in the tank and the nature of the air).

Algae generally exports nutrients, adds organics to the water, may contribute to yellowing, provides a place for inverts to grow, adds O2 during the day and generally decreases CO2 and raises pH.

IMO, using both is substantially better than either alone.

We hashed this out at great length a few weeks ago:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1717210

 

[tmz]

Algal turf scrubber.

 

[stormrider27]

Algae Turf Scrubber. I run an ATS and a skimmer, so far I am pleased with the results plus by running it on an apposite lighting as the DT it helps to keep the PH up at night and is a great breading ground for pods.

 

[Chris27]

interesting thread so far. Talk about vast space- my skimmer takes up a 10" x 10" footprint. I wonder how my skimmer's electrical consumption stacks up against the lighting on an ATS unit that acheives similar results. How much do supplies cost to build this ATS?

Depending on the lights chosen, an ATS will suck up far more electricity then a properly chosen skimmer. A 100W light is just that, 100W. A typical pin or mesh wheel skimmer pump will only draw 30-50W.

For instance, a sicce only draws 30W and a Red Dragon draws around 30 - 40W. That's less then half the power of a 100W light on the ATS.

Be warned though, the power savings of using a skimmer is negated however if one runs an external or spray type skimmer that uses a large feed pump like a mag 9 or Reeflo.

 

[jtrasap]

I can't see how beautiful tanks with and without skimmers and with and without macroalgae or turf algae says anything about whether one replaces the other. They do fundamentally different things.

Skimmers export organics, export bacteria, reduce yellowing, and increase aeration of both CO2 and O2 (which can each be up or down depending on the other practices in the tank and the nature of the air).

Algae generally exports nutrients, adds organics to the water, may contribute to yellowing, provides a place for inverts to grow, adds O2 during the day and generally decreases CO2 and raises pH.

IMO, using both is substantially better than either alone.

We hashed this out at great length a few weeks ago:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1717210

+1

I'm actually getting ready to add an ATS to my system. I plan on running my skimmer, along with the ATS as they both play a separate yet very functional role in filtration.