ATS vs GHA in the Display?

[VR28man]

So, every once in a while, Someone asks "help my Nitrates and Phosphates are undetectable. But I have GHA everywhere".

The answer is usually "you are feeding too much and you actually have high nitrates and phosphates, but it's being eaten by the GHA faster than you can measure it. You still have a problem".

What’s the difference between Someone's situation, and from having an ATS or macroalgae refugium?

The way I understand things, constantly removing out of control GHA in the display is basically running an ATS, except that Someone is unintentionally running it in a display (very ugly) vice intentionally running it in a separate box.

Looking at this on the flipside, it seems feeding heavily and running an ATS is basically the same as the overfeeding and algae that many beginners seem to face. Except that growing the ATS prevents algae in the DT.

 

[lapin]

You are on the money with your thinking. I have hair in my tank but I have critters that keep it in check. I like the green color on my rocks. Its nice to see a tuff blowing here and there. My overflow has a screen which is now my algae scrubber. I have 2 types of export with little effort or money.

 

[Fishlee]

You’ve already said it. Gha ugly and unwanted

 

[ca1ore]

Most wild reefs would be overrun with algae were it not for the armies of herbivores. I forget the exact numbers, but it's something like 25% of the reef fish species are herbivores but they account for 70% of the individuals.

I think it is true that a well designed ATS optimizes turf algae growth beyond conditions in the display, and that other forms of competition will ****** GHA growth in the display. But I agree, the nutrient argument never made much sense to me (in fact I made a similar argument to yours a few years back on RC). Also keep in mind that corals need some nitrates and phosphate to grow.

 

[DIvid]

So, every once in a while, Someone asks "help my Nitrates and Phosphates are undetectable. But I have GHA everywhere".

The answer is usually "you are feeding too much and you actually have high nitrates and phosphates, but it's being eaten by the GHA faster than you can measure it. You still have a problem".

What’s the difference between Someone's situation, and from having an ATS or macroalgae refugium?

The way I understand things, constantly removing out of control GHA in the display is basically running an ATS, except that Someone is unintentionally running it in a display (very ugly) vice intentionally running it in a separate box.

Looking at this on the flipside, it seems feeding heavily and running an ATS is basically the same as the overfeeding and algae that many beginners seem to face. Except that growing the ATS prevents algae in the DT.

I think alot of people who run into this issue may fall into the category of a false identification. Problem algae such as cotton candy and bryopsis dont really need elevated levels to thrive, so while certainly not always I think alot of cases may fall into that area. The second issue may just be lighting difference, if your not properly lighting a fuge the tank lights should have 0 issue out competing the fuge lights.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

An ATS provides an ideal environment for algae to grow in (if set up correctly) & it is able to outcompete the algae trying to grow in the display.

 

[Cory]

As scrubber steve said. Its ideal because your providing intense red light which it needs to grow. Its also ideal from water velocity and gas exchange at the ats screen.