Try again: Is anybody running an algae scrubber as primary filter.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11296822#post11296822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark
Hey Doug! It's been a while. Good to see you are still around. :)

The thing that made ATS so cool at the time, was how much nitrogenous waste it could remove. Back in the day, our options for keeping nitrates down were skimmers, DSB/Plenums, liverock, and macroalgae. They all worked, but IMO, bioload had to be kept within reason. The ATS units allowed a significant amount of bioload back then. These days, skimmers have really come a long way, and are in some cases almost too efficient at times. Add to that a trend to increase flow(keeping detritus in suspension) paired with a great skimmer, and you are removing nitrogenous waste before it breaks down. That's the trend I've adopted.

I'm actually surprised the freshwater community hasn't jumped on the ATS bandwagon. Most freshwater hobbyists still manage nitrates via water changes. Some planted tank enthusiasts are able to forgo water changes by keeping bioload down. But the ATS units would be great for, say, African cichlid tanks. African cichlid enthusiasts frequently overstock to reduce territoriality.
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THAT is a great observation mark!!!

greatly enhanced skimmer performance and gentle high flow has done wonders in reefing!!!

i remember my first reef had a modified skilter 250. red sea berlin skimmers were the 'it' skimmer to have and albert thiel walked on water! 6500k metal halide was the holy grail of lighting and keeping lps hammers were considered the king of all kings (in my reef club anyway).

i intentionally grew caulerpa racemosa in my main display because at that time, i didnt know any better and the concept of 'fuges' were still years away. what i did know about macro was that i wanted to grow it to 'soak' up whatever nutrients were in the water...only growing racemosa in the display was not the way to do it...well, i know that...now! ;)

i stopped reefing (due to school) just when ats' were making ripples. it was criticized even back then for the yellow tint the water had. this was also the same time that dsb's were the rage as well. lots happening as it is today.

i am surprised the fw community hasnt jumped on plant growth for nutrient control. i remember suggesting it but was commented on being excessive, too much work (much easier to do water changes) and expensive (lighting, another timer etc). i will hand it to the fw guys though, the trend it seems for them is to make things as 'simple' as possible. aquascaping included...didnt say it wasnt nice...it does look natural but, to me, it seems like the trend in fw plants is that 'less is more', which i can appreciate as i have a fw planted tank as well.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11294049#post11294049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenAmy&Maddy
sounds like perhaps calerpa - becoming a 'pest' in the system - did it migrate into your display or was it added to ?

w/ so many other ways of nutrient export
is this one any better then others and in comparison worth the risk involved (re migration to other parts system)...
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There is no similarity between calerpa and turf algae. They could never be confused with each other. What may be happening is that a more aggressive, less desireable form of algae has taken over his TS, possibly from harvesting too much and then the more aggressive species has taken over. In any case, I would order some new screens from Inland Aquatics and replace the turf in my TS.

Risk? I see no risk. I have had no issues with turf algae spreading to my system. As a matter of fact, one way I feed my fish is to shake to my TS to break loose particles of the turf and to dislodge the critters growing in my turf. The fish go crazy. I have had no turf algae make it past 30 seconds with my tangs and blue throat trigger.

My turf is blue, green, and red. Some of it grows like slime and some of it grows more like grass. I like the idea of having the diversity in my system, the natural nutrient exportation, and one more place to allow critters to grow. I still skim, use carbon, and use phosban (although, likely not necessary), but I consider my TS to be an important component of my over all system. I wouldn't want to reef without it.
 
Ben, some of the threads in the ATS search have pics of the eco wheel, that another is using. Just cant remember the exact thread, yet.

RBC, I have yet to see a used one for sale, except the one I purchased and it was not advertised. As a matter of fact, I only know of myself, Mark and one other on RC that owned one, although I<m sure there are many, as Morgan was a regular on RC back then.

Mark, I have to agree somewhat. Thats how I run my sps tank, just keep it clean. However on a larger system I think the turf scrubber would assist with the fish load and nitrates. Not to mention most of us now use a phosphate remover and with the scrubber it was not needed.
 
Putaway wet had a good thread with an eco-wheel. He has since begun planning another tank without the eco-wheel though.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=257028

I'm not so sure I need another culture from IA. The turf I have now looks pretty similar to what came originally. One issue I haven't mastered is how often do you need to change the 6700K bulbs lighting a ATS? I just changed mine this week for the first time in 27 months. It will be interesting to see if the turf types shift with refreshed lighting.
 
I just ordered the ATS off of Ebay. Anyone here willing to share some Algae once I receive it or do I have to get it from Inland?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11297398#post11297398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by matt & pam
Putaway wet had a good thread with an eco-wheel. He has since begun planning another tank without the eco-wheel though.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=257028

I'm not so sure I need another culture from IA. The turf I have now looks pretty similar to what came originally. One issue I haven't mastered is how often do you need to change the 6700K bulbs lighting a ATS? I just changed mine this week for the first time in 27 months. It will be interesting to see if the turf types shift with refreshed lighting.
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Thats the one I was thinking of. Thanks
 
RBC,

I'd suggest you get a screen sample for IA. I can send you some of my algae, but it won't be attached to screen like IA sends it. You can zip tie the screen down and it will help seed the entire ATS surface. Let me know if you want some sent your way.

Matt
 
Sounds good, if you say I need it. I just didn't want to spend an extra $60.00 on algae if I could start my own. Thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11297452#post11297452 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rbc1225
I just ordered the ATS off of Ebay. Anyone here willing to share some Algae once I receive it or do I have to get it from Inland?
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do you have the maker of that ats again? can you email it to me?

thanks!
 
I would suggest getting the seed screen also. I never, even though he said he could ship it here. It took me a long time to develop a good turf algae and even then who knows if it was the correct turf algae for filtration.
 
Even with the seed screen it will take you a good 2 months at least before the entire surface has decent growth of turf algae. When you start harvesting you'll want to avoid pulling off all the algae where it attaches to the device. Think of a mowing a grass lawn, you want a low setting but not all the way down to the dirt.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Should I go ahead and purchase more than one screen since it is going to take 2 months to cover anyway or just deal with the two months. I don't mind spending the money if it helps. My comments about the $60.00 earlier was before I understood the value of the screens.
 
Just get one screen. If you are just starting the tank it could take longer if you do not have much nutrient in the tank. One clear advantage of the ATS is it will compensate for overfeeding.
 
The tank is right at a year old. Nice Coraline growth. I think I do overfeed though. My nitrates are around 25 would like to see those go to zero or there abouts. My skimmer is probably a little small for the amount of water I have flowing now. I will probably upgrade next month. Ok I will just purchase one screen and go from there. Thanks
 
Well I received my ATS but it arrived broken. The side was cracked as well as the bottom seam was busted where glued. We will see what happens.
 
rbc,

That sucks. Hope the seller takes care of problem.

Have you visited a petshop called Mission Pet Mart? They run eco-wheels like I have. I think the guy who owns the rights to the eco-wheels actually helps with maintainance through their store. You might be able to get some turf algae from them? FWIW.
 
Yes I know exactly who you are speaking of. I have seen that wheel running and it is awesome. They are in the middle of moving the store, so now might not be a good time.

As far as the seller taking care of this, he has put in a claim to UPS and expects me to send it back on Tuesday without having the refund in hand first. Or so that is what it seems now. I don't believe I will send it back without the refund first, since once it is gone from here, I am basically out $330.00 as well as no ATS. I tried getting him to just refund part of my money and I would try and fix it but he didn't want to do that. I basically said if he would refund $200 of the $330.00 we could call it good. I figured that was more than he had in materials as I know there is not more than $100.00 in materials and I thought he would jump at it but I guess I was wrong. My neighbor actually works for UPS so I asked him about it and he said he would be lucky to have the money back by the middle of January due to the Christmas rush. So we will see.
 
Sheez, thats to bad. Exactly how mine arrived also. I gave up the claims fight after awile. Thats was with the carriers though and not the vendor. I had to make a new box and throw the old one away, it was so broken.
 
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