SPS growth with an ATS question

[moatdaddy]

I have been digging around the forums to see if I can find a definitive answer if ats helps or hinders sps growth. Making my designs now and I travel occasionally. Makes a zeovit system out of question for a neighbor or friend. I was thinking an ats but hear they remove too much phosphates. Anyone with a 'here is my tank 1 year ago with sps and ats and here it is today' would be nice. Using ati fixture also is winner winner in my book. I plan on using matrix, dry rock rubble, skimmer, and filter sock. 50G Rubbermaid feeding into a 300g Rubbermaid sump. If I do the ats it will be in line from frag tank to sump.

All input welcome. Cheers

 

[33yrplus]

I have used ATS on my SPS system for several years. The corals don't really change but the tank does. I installed the ATS due to a very bad infestation of Dino's. They were gone in 3 weeks. I find ATS are good at keeping undesirable algae out of the display. You do need proper type of red turf algae, good flow and good light or it won't be successful. ATS are like filter socks in that they require regular maintenance.

 

[moatdaddy]

I have run them and love what they do, just never had a dominate sps tank with one. After some research I will feed my sps at night and morning. During that time sump pump will be off to allow coral to eat. Half hour later it will come back on and the ATS will keep doing its thing. Figure this way they get food and nutrients and then ATS strips water of phosphates.

 

[33yrplus]

You don't want to let the ATS screen go dry. I run mine opposite the main lights. I have an SPS dominated system. Here's a pic of some of the colonies in a small portion of the tank. These colonies were completely grown in the tank.

It takes time for food to be broken down to phosphate. If that's your only reason for turning off the return pump then I would leave it running as less wear and tear on the pump is a good thing. If you run a fuge some food into the fuge might be a good thing.

 

[Denadai]

Algae consume more no3 than po4, I don´t remember the ratio but is something like 7x1

Best Regards

 

[moatdaddy]

this 7/1 ratio, you mention it because? trying to connect your logic on informing us about it. the ultimate goal is to clean the water with the ATS, skimmer, and bateria on LR/matrix. Is there something i am missing?

33yearplus... thanks boss, great information, i have time to assess and decide. I find your insight helpful and really need to learn more about feeding sps. if you have the time, i have laid out my 290g build thread in this sps forum, give it a read and tell me in your opinion what will work and not work toward growing sps successfully like you do.

 

[Reef Frog]

I have used ATS on my SPS system for several years. The corals don't really change but the tank does. I installed the ATS due to a very bad infestation of Dino's. They were gone in 3 weeks. I find ATS are good at keeping undesirable algae out of the display. You do need proper type of red turf algae, good flow and good light or it won't be successful. ATS are like filter socks in that they require regular maintenance.

Red Turf Algae? This is news to me. I've been following the major ATS threads for a while and all I recall see being used is your garden variety GHS green hair algae.

It's my understand that the use of the word "turf"'in the name goes back to the fist algae used by the inventor of the ATS but it no longer applies to marine tanks.

Can anybody confirm GHA is what used in almost all reef tank ATSs?

 

[moatdaddy]

so, when i ran mine on a non sps system i had cyano, GHA mix. Then it was all GHA, and silly amounts. so not sure about that statement, there is a break in phase that the screen goes through. that might be what he is referring to. Mainly i was just worried about an ATS making water too clean. Because they do wonders on water chemistry.

 

[prickles]

I've only been running ATS for a couple of months, but I like them. The hair algae seems to be contained in the scrubbers now, and since it's still growing I assume it would be growing in the display if I didn't have them. My setup is new so only small colonies and frags, but the colors look good and the growth is according to my LFS, "amazingly quick."

 

[33yrplus]

Red Turf Algae? This is news to me. I've been following the major ATS threads for a while and all I recall see being used is your garden variety GHS green hair algae.

I specifically implemented the Turf Scrubber to get rid of Dino's. I purchased a 10" x 12" screen with Red Turf Algae and had it FedEx'd to me. The Red Turf Algae did the trick. You do need a specific surge type setup to keep it going though. I'm using a waterfall style ATS and the red turf died out or got eaten by pods/euplica sp snails and was replaced by GHA.

ATS with Red Turf and Surge are the most effective and that was why they were named that by Adey I think?. My friend uses them to filter his systems and he also makes a HOB type ATS based on surge and red turf. I used the waterfall style ats as I could implement it quickly. It does have problems so I will redesign it for surge and reorder some Red Turf Algae once I redo the system.

Moatdaddy... I'll take a look at your build thread.

 

[MikeyAl]

I have used ATS on my SPS system for several years. The corals don't really change but the tank does. I installed the ATS due to a very bad infestation of Dino's. They were gone in 3 weeks. I find ATS are good at keeping undesirable algae out of the display. You do need proper type of red turf algae, good flow and good light or it won't be successful. ATS are like filter socks in that they require regular maintenance.

Agree completely