Running ATS, Refugium, skimmer on the same system?

[Psyops]

I am asking this question because sometimes more is not better. I have a 180 gallon setup that's about 3 years old. I have switched the corals in the last year to mostly SPS. I have 3 250W double ended halides 20K running for 8 hrs per day. Also 6 39W blue plus actinics running about 10 hrs per day. Vortech 40Ws and two Koralias hidden for better flow on the bottom part of the tank. The water dumps into a 100 micron sock in my refugium that has chaeto in it. (not really growing much). Then a Mag3 pumps the water into my ATS with a lot of GHA on it thats get cleaned every 1-2 weeks depending on my military duties. The ATS dumps the water into another sump with a skimmer. My skimmer rund wet and fills the cup once a week. Then the water gets pumped back into the tank. My question is, is it even necessary to have a chaeto refugium when I have to others or it doesn't really matter and it's just a bonus. Has anyone had experience dealing with this type of setup? OH yah, my photoperiod on my fuges rund opposite of my halides.

Appreciate the input.

 

[frankpayne32]

I recently had all three running on me system, skimmer, chaeto refugium, and ATS. I recently took down the ATS because it simply wasn't growing anything. I believe that with the other two filtration systems in place there just wasn't enough to get a lot of algae growth on the screen.

 

[Psyops]

thanks for the input. It seems like the chaeto is suffering in my system. The other two are ok. Maybe it's good to use them as a backup. If ATS stops working when you are out of town, then the chaeto can kick in or something. Anyway thanks for the input again.

Alex

 

[Daimyo68]

I believe that they are all competing for the same thing, and even more so between the Chaeto and ATS, hence why your Chaeto is suffering.

Remove the chaeto or ATS, and the one left will thrive with the skimmer to assist.

 

[Psyops]

I find it interesting that the chaeto is before the ATS, but the ATS is doing better. But I do agree I probably should discard the chaeto. Thanks for the input.

 

[anbosu]

I find it interesting that the chaeto is before the ATS, but the ATS is doing better. But I do agree I probably should discard the chaeto. Thanks for the input.

Turf algae supposedly grows a lot faster. I agree that the ATS and chaeto is redundant. I would give it away before it starts dying off in your system.

 

[Psyops]

Off with the chaeto. Thanks guys for the input.

 

[dogstar74]

I'm running an ATS, but let me play devil's advocate for a second. If you're out of town, and your power fails, you're ATS screen could dry out and cause die off. Cheato will sit in a fuge and be just fine until the power comes back on. Could this be a problem with the whole ATS system?

 

[Daimyo68]

I'm running an ATS, but let me play devil's advocate for a second. If you're out of town, and your power fails, you're ATS screen could dry out and cause die off. Cheato will sit in a fuge and be just fine until the power comes back on. Could this be a problem with the whole ATS system?

Good question. I can see it maybe being good for a couple days, but evaporation would eventually dry it out, and the culture would be lost.

One way to keep it wet could be by making sure that the area it is in, is planned to be "flooded" (without running over of course) during a power outage, and thus keeping the algae wet. But then that brings something else to mind with the oxygen level in the flooded area and the bacteria.

No water movement and depleting O2 levels, I'm pretty sure that would have an adverse effect on the type of algae being cultured, and the beneficial bacteria.

 

[Psyops]

that is a good point devil's advocate. The area would dry up. I have been thinking of a battery backup. I guess sooner than later now. Thnks for the feedback.

 

[bfoleyiii]

I've been looking to setting up an ATS for my 90g and what I have read is that it would take a couple of days for the ATS to dry up, in which case you probably have other issues to worry about in your tank without power for 2 days.

 

[Psyops]

Even with a power outtage and GHA going down the tubes, it recovers very quickly. It wasn't like my old ATS system that only had the old brown turf on it and it took a while to grow. I do use a skimmer as a backup if anything happens to the ATS though.

 

[aleonn]

Personally I'd keep the chaeto as it's virtually no to little maintenance compared to the ATS. That's just me though, as I want to minimize husbandry tasks when possible.