Algae turf scrubber and algae

Daddyrawg · 08/25/2019, 10:18 PM

Anyone have an ATS and still get algae ?

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mcgyvr · 08/26/2019, 04:29 AM

They work well but do not guarantee an algae free tank..

With enough time and patience an ATS can become the sole area in which algae grows and out competes the rest of the algae in the tank..

hkgar · 08/27/2019, 01:40 PM

I have an ATS and no algae.

Reincarnate · 08/28/2019, 04:12 PM

What's an ATS? Isn't the whole point to avoid "excessive" algae to begin with?

mcgyvr · 08/28/2019, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reincarnate

What's an ATS? Isn't the whole point to avoid "excessive" algae to begin with?

Algae turf scrubber...
If you encourage algae growth on a screen you can easily dispose/harvest it and control where it grows

Reincarnate · 08/29/2019, 05:12 PM

Why would you "encourage" algae growth? Can't you just nip it in the bud to begin with? Like chess, why make 10 moves when it can be done in 5? Hmm...

hkgar · 08/30/2019, 07:41 AM

The purpose of the ATS is not to grow algae but to remove undesirable nutrients from the water (NO3 and PO4). It just so happens that it is done by growing algae.

ClownReef® · 08/30/2019, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reincarnate

Why would you "encourage" algae growth? Can't you just nip it in the bud to begin with? Like chess, why make 10 moves when it can be done in 5? Hmm...

lol..

Forget 7 minute abs.. Im staring 6 minute abs!

I have an ATS and I also have zero algae in my display. I clean my glass panels every 4 days or so. I grow algae like crazy. I clean the screen once every 4 days. Massive clumps of algae but I also feed my tank really heavy.

Daddyrawg · 08/30/2019, 08:30 PM

I dont get why I have algae with my ats running

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Mike Ordner · 08/30/2019, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddyrawg

I dont get why I have algae with my ats running

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There could be several reasons. Built up PO4 in your rocks. High NO3 and PO4 in your water. Overfeeding. Not enough predators (snails and or crabs) to eat it. Not enough algae eating fish in your tank. Tank not mature.

How long has tank been running? How long have you had algae problem? How long has your ATS been online?

Daddyrawg · 08/30/2019, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Ordner

There could be several reasons. Built up PO4 in your rocks. High NO3 and PO4 in your water. Overfeeding. Not enough predators (snails and or crabs) to eat it. Not enough algae eating fish in your tank. Tank not mature.

How long has tank been running? How long have you had algae problem? How long has your ATS been online?

Still built up phosphates in rocks after 1.5 yrs? Ats been running for 5 months now and is harvesting algae..the algae in tank at least is weak.. but still grows in dt..

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Mike Ordner · 08/31/2019, 06:48 AM

Impossible for me to answer. Depending in your nutrient export, you could have higher PO4 in rocks then when you started. You said the algae is looking weaker in DT, then you are headed in the right direction. Give it more time. 5 months is really not a lot of time for your system to adjust to the ATS. Good luck.

Daddyrawg · 08/31/2019, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Ordner

Impossible for me to answer. Depending in your nutrient export, you could have higher PO4 in rocks then when you started. You said the algae is looking weaker in DT, then you are headed in the right direction. Give it more time. 5 months is really not a lot of time for your system to adjust to the ATS. Good luck.

Here's what it looks like on the screen

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Uncle99 · 08/31/2019, 07:51 PM

Is that not a bit small of a growing area for your sized tank?

In the pic, it looks like the size of my hand.

I don't use the ATS anymore, I simply keep nitrate at 2-5ppm, phosphste below .1 and months later all algae gone and never returned.

Daddyrawg · 09/01/2019, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Is that not a bit small of a growing area for your sized tank?

In the pic, it looks like the size of my hand.

I don't use the ATS anymore, I simply keep nitrate at 2-5ppm, phosphste below .1 and months later all algae gone and never returned.

That's the size recommended by Turboaquatics

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hkgar · 09/01/2019, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddyrawg

That's the size recommended by Turboaquatics

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Have you seen this for calculating screen and lights?

Uncle99 · 09/01/2019, 02:58 PM

I found ATS an fuges must be sizeable to have any real
Effect, need lots green growing to clearly out pace the DT

laverda · 09/01/2019, 04:54 PM

How many hours a day you light your ATS makes a big difference. It sounds, like it I’d doing what you want, just not fast enough. Increase you light schedule an hour or 2 a day. I know with mine I can very quickly drive my nitrate and phosphates to zero by running my ATS lights 24/7. My corals were not happy then.

Mike Ordner · 09/02/2019, 07:30 PM

Something is off on your scrubber. You might ask Bud at Turboaquatics, but it looks like the middle part of your screen is getting too much light. Once the screen is mature, you should have thick green algae covering the entire screen. I suggest you either back off your light schedule or move the lights further from the screen until you see thick green covering all the screen. Once you get to that point, you can move the lights closer again.
Then the screen may well do what you are asking. Right now you are at about 50% efficiency of the scrubber. Again, Bud would be the one to get the correct answer from.

Daddyrawg · 09/12/2019, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laverda

How many hours a day you light your ATS makes a big difference. It sounds, like it I’d doing what you want, just not fast enough. Increase you light schedule an hour or 2 a day. I know with mine I can very quickly drive my nitrate and phosphates to zero by running my ATS lights 24/7. My corals were not happy then.

I like where you are headed with this.i run lights 24/7.. my sps look like crap.. I dosed fluk and have had ats offline for a week now.. I am trying to get nitrates to 5 or 10.
Maybe when i start ats again i will put it on a achedule..also maybe not run both ats and skimmer..I am also upping my blues from 30% to 80% but slowly..

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ali1 · 09/12/2019, 05:56 PM

I had algae in my DT until I introduced ATS. It took 3-6months for ATS to mature and be the primary place for algae growth. Overtime algae became less and less in DT

08/25/2019, 10:18 PM	#1
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	Algae turf scrubber and algae Anyone have an ATS and still get algae ? Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

08/26/2019, 04:29 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	They work well but do not guarantee an algae free tank.. With enough time and patience an ATS can become the sole area in which algae grows and out competes the rest of the algae in the tank.. __________________ Who me?

08/27/2019, 01:40 PM	#3
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I have an ATS and no algae. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/30/2019, 07:41 AM	#7
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	The purpose of the ATS is not to grow algae but to remove undesirable nutrients from the water (NO3 and PO4). It just so happens that it is done by growing algae. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/31/2019, 07:51 PM	#14
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Is that not a bit small of a growing area for your sized tank? In the pic, it looks like the size of my hand. I don't use the ATS anymore, I simply keep nitrate at 2-5ppm, phosphste below .1 and months later all algae gone and never returned. Last edited by Uncle99; 08/31/2019 at 07:56 PM.

08/28/2019, 04:12 PM	#4
Reincarnate Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 122	What's an ATS? Isn't the whole point to avoid "excessive" algae to begin with?

08/29/2019, 05:12 PM	#6
Reincarnate Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 122	Why would you "encourage" algae growth? Can't you just nip it in the bud to begin with? Like chess, why make 10 moves when it can be done in 5? Hmm...

08/30/2019, 08:30 PM	#9
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	I dont get why I have algae with my ats running Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

08/31/2019, 06:48 AM	#12
Mike Ordner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	Impossible for me to answer. Depending in your nutrient export, you could have higher PO4 in rocks then when you started. You said the algae is looking weaker in DT, then you are headed in the right direction. Give it more time. 5 months is really not a lot of time for your system to adjust to the ATS. Good luck.

09/01/2019, 02:58 PM	#17
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I found ATS an fuges must be sizeable to have any real Effect, need lots green growing to clearly out pace the DT

09/01/2019, 04:54 PM	#18
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	How many hours a day you light your ATS makes a big difference. It sounds, like it I’d doing what you want, just not fast enough. Increase you light schedule an hour or 2 a day. I know with mine I can very quickly drive my nitrate and phosphates to zero by running my ATS lights 24/7. My corals were not happy then. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

09/02/2019, 07:30 PM	#19
Mike Ordner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	Something is off on your scrubber. You might ask Bud at Turboaquatics, but it looks like the middle part of your screen is getting too much light. Once the screen is mature, you should have thick green algae covering the entire screen. I suggest you either back off your light schedule or move the lights further from the screen until you see thick green covering all the screen. Once you get to that point, you can move the lights closer again. Then the screen may well do what you are asking. Right now you are at about 50% efficiency of the scrubber. Again, Bud would be the one to get the correct answer from.

09/12/2019, 05:56 PM	#21
ali1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 997	I had algae in my DT until I introduced ATS. It took 3-6months for ATS to mature and be the primary place for algae growth. Overtime algae became less and less in DT __________________ Originally Posted by Gogandantess "I'm totally frustrated by this disease. My display has been fallow for 2 months now. If ich happened to mysteriously appear again, I'm giving up and going back to African Cichilds."