ATS and Its Location

Samandar · Oct 23, 2018

Hi, There is a lot of information about ATS and its constructions. I have recently made an ATS (DIY). The question that I have always about different equipments in my tank is; Where is the suitable location of the equipment? For instance ATS. Where is better that I place the ATS? Before sack filter or after that? before skimmer or after that? So as a roll is there any idea? The same question is relevant for Refugium. But ATS location is questionable for me.

Jason mack · Oct 23, 2018

I have mine above my first and second sections off my sump .. I don’t have a lot of room in my sump .. so I have 1 pump that feeds my chiller then goes into a media reactor .. I’ve put my ATS before the reactor ..my skimmer sits in the second section ..

Ok it’s a bit of a mess .. and I am going to redo all my pipe work at some point soon..

Samandar · Oct 24, 2018

Hi, thank you for replay. How would be if I set ATS after skimmer? What do you think about it?

Jason mack · Oct 24, 2018

It shouldn't be a problem, both methods are used to remove nutrients!

ca1ore · Oct 24, 2018

Don’t think it matters. Just put it where it is most easily accessed for maintenance.

Samandar · Oct 25, 2018

Hi, guys
Yes, you are right. In every position ATS will remove nutrients. But if I think about skimmer and its load, I get this that if I place ATS before skimmer, I can use a skimmer with fewer capacity. because in this set up, ATS remove nutrient load before it flow in the skimmer. So What do you think about this? Am I right? Or there is something else that I don't know. But there is a benefit of ATS that says me; if I set ATS after all equipment, it would be better. And it is the pods. in this situation the pods that grow in ATS can easily find their way to DT. So I don't know? Get the decision is always difficult for me.

ca1ore · Oct 25, 2018

Nice try ..... but wrong. Skimmer removes dissolved organics, about a third of them. The rest mostly get converted to nitrates and phosphates that the ATS uses to grow turf algae. Therefore the ATS has no bearing on skimmer sizing.

Samandar · Oct 25, 2018

ca1ore said:
Nice try ..... but wrong. Skimmer removes dissolved organics, about a third of them. The rest mostly get converted to nitrates and phosphates that the ATS uses to grow turf algae. Therefore the ATS has no bearing on skimmer sizing.

Ooook, Thank you for your advise. So, setting the ATS after all equipment would be better in regard to Pods. Yes?