Have algae scrubber really helped?

[OhMatic]

MaccaPopEye;

What is the water flow rate through your ATS?

 

[MaccaPopEye]

MaccaPopEye;

What is the water flow rate through your ATS?

The recommended flow is 35G/h per inch of screen width. My screen is 6" wide so I have roughly 800L/h (210gal/h). I just measured it with a timer and a measuring jug so it's a very rough estimate. Now that the screen is starting to get better growth I might increase flow a tiny bit as I think my initial estimate was a bit under.

 

[OhMatic]

I have played with flow rates and honestly see more of a growth difference when I I crease or decrease the amount I feed.

 

[iliriano6]

I think I'll be turning my ats off. I noticed my gargonia, some off my leather not looking like they where before the ats. Although the sps are growing at a much faster pace.

 

[Joe Kelley]

I ran the IA ATS250 for a few years on a 100 gallon lagoon mixed tank quite a while ago. I like what you guys are getting with these units. Are most of these DIY? IA and Walter Adey really pushed the angle that they had the science worked out and how complex it was doing that but when I see how healthy your screens look its encouraging. Of course this is highly subjective to input and environment. Its good for me to remember the greatest influent of any experiment is the observer. BTW, Great to see the old timers here.

 

[wildman926]

I think I'll be turning my ats off. I noticed my gargonia, some off my leather not looking like they where before the ats. Although the sps are growing at a much faster pace.

It just means you need to feed more. Softies/LPS need dirtier water than SPS's.

You can also adjust your lighting time to less hours also.

 

[gmcpickup66]

Which ats does everyone use?

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[jd371]

I don't have that much space in the stand, how about some pics of small ATS's to give me ideas.

 

[ThRoewer]

I run a Chaetomorpha fuge with 24/7 algae grow light. I'm fairly sure it removes nitrates and phosphates, though by now its main purpose is as a refugium for copepods and Mysis. Most of my tanks are pretty much free of green algae.

I would have two principle concerns to get a more aggressive algae scrubber:

1. depletion of iron and other trace elements corals need.
You would need to monitor and dose iron and other elements algae will consume.

2. the algae waging chemical warfare against the corals
Many algae are know to secrete chemicals that affect corals negatively or kill them outright.

So how are corals doing in systems with algae scrubbers long term?
ATS are for sure a good option for fish tanks, but to put one on a coral system I would need more convincing that they do not affect corals negatively.

 

[wildman926]

I run a Chaetomorpha fuge with 24/7 algae grow light. I'm fairly sure it removes nitrates and phosphates, though by now its main purpose is as a refugium for copepods and Mysis. Most of my tanks are pretty much free of green algae.

I would have two principle concerns to get a more aggressive algae scrubber:

1. depletion of iron and other trace elements corals need.
You would need to monitor and dose iron and other elements algae will consume.

2. the algae waging chemical warfare against the corals
Many algae are know to secrete chemicals that affect corals negatively or kill them outright.

So how are corals doing in systems with algae scrubbers long term?
ATS are for sure a good option for fish tanks, but to put one on a coral system I would need more convincing that they do not affect corals negatively.

To answer your questions -

1. Water changes will take care of that
2. Most Algae scrubbers grow hair algae.

I have used an ATS for the last two years, and my corals are doing great. I have used a chaeto reactor to augment my ats, so I can feed more, as the screen on the ats is not that large. ATS's have been around a long time.

If you need further convincing, you need to do more research than rely on RC members.

 

[OhMatic]

jd³71
How much space do you actually have? Did you see my picture? My ATS is suspended above my sump from the bottom of my tank.

 

[iliriano6]

I run a Chaetomorpha fuge with 24/7 algae grow light. I'm fairly sure it removes nitrates and phosphates, though by now its main purpose is as a refugium for copepods and Mysis. Most of my tanks are pretty much free of green algae.

I would have two principle concerns to get a more aggressive algae scrubber:

1. depletion of iron and other trace elements corals need.
You would need to monitor and dose iron and other elements algae will consume.

2. the algae waging chemical warfare against the corals
Many algae are know to secrete chemicals that affect corals negatively or kill them outright.


So how are corals doing in systems with algae scrubbers long term?
ATS are for sure a good option for fish tanks, but to put one on a coral system I would need more convincing that they do not affect corals negatively.

I don't think is a chemical warfare but more of the drop of desolve organics. The ats will drop those a bit to fast. I'm my opinion. But I'm no expert. To my knowledge lps coral thrive in tanks with higher desolve organics. After the implementation of the ats my front glass need cleaning every 2 to 3 days, now I could go a week if not more

I had posted that some of my lps where suffering a bit but I have also found out that they went on a reverse light schedule. I mean full open at night when my light are off but that when my ats light are on. Make no sense to my but what ever. Maybe the ats is producing something that they like.(gargonia and two of my leathe)

 

[yellojello]

What was your guys ATS light schedule?

 

[iliriano6]

I run mine at a reverse schedule to my display. 14on 10off.


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