ATS vs SKIMMER?!?

Gablami · Nov 13, 2017

Theo15 said:
Carbon dose won't affect the ATS?

Is your goal to have water parameters where you want them, or to maximize algae growth?

If you want to maximize algae growth, then you are correct -- running a skimmer, gfo, carbon dosing, will take nutrients away from that. Sometimes an ATS can keep nutrients low all by itself, but this may not be consistent. It can take several weeks to months to really start working, and when you scrape off the algae the filtering capability is reduced temporarily.

Most use ATS in conjunction with other modern techniques. In my opinion that is the best way to think about and utilize an ATS. Your goal is to keep water parameters where you want it.

Theo15 · Nov 13, 2017

Gablami said:
Is your goal to have water parameters where you want them, or to maximize algae growth?

If you want to maximize algae growth, then you are correct -- running a skimmer, gfo, carbon dosing, will take nutrients away from that. Sometimes an ATS can keep nutrients low all by itself, but this may not be consistent. It can take several weeks to months to really start working, and when you scrape off the algae the filtering capability is reduced temporarily.

Most use ATS in conjunction with other modern techniques. In my opinion that is the best way to think about and utilize an ATS. Your goal is to keep water parameters where you want it.

I carbon dose ,should I stop and just let the ats take over ? Will that have any negative effects?

EriksOasis · Nov 13, 2017

I stopped dosing nopox as soon as I put chaeto in my system and my nitrates still have stayed below 10 for over three weeks now.

Clr · Nov 13, 2017

Scottshopinc said:
Ats in back chamber of my fusion 20 is all i use. and no issues.

What ATS do you use in the back of your fusion 20 ? I’ve been looking at one for a fusion 40.

EriksOasis · Nov 13, 2017

The Santa Monica brand makes a variety of sizes to fit all your needs.

Scubabum · Nov 13, 2017

Love my Santa Monica Rain 2 ATS. I run a skimmer along side the ATS and my nutrients are holding steady at 2ppm NO3 and .03 PO4 Just added a Santa Monica HOG 1.3 onto my other tank and Its performing well. Here a a few pics.

Theo15 · Nov 13, 2017

Scubabum said:
Love my Santa Monica Rain 2 ATS. I run a skimmer along side the ATS and my nutrients are holding steady at 2ppm NO3 and .03 PO4 Just added a Santa Monica HOG 1.3 onto my other tank and Its performing well. Here a a few pics.

That's great!, do you run it 24/7?

Scubabum · Nov 13, 2017

Theo15 said:
That's great!, do you run it 24/7?

No I run it for 14 hours and only running 2 of the 4 lights. Have to clean the screen weekly.

atoll · Nov 13, 2017

Theo15 said:
The reason I ask is because I bought one from Santa Monica and I was wondering if they are good?

Some love them some hate them. I have had 2, a HOG2 and a Surf2.Would I buy em again Hmmm probably not for a number of reasons not least of which IMO they are lot of money for what they are and there are better alternatives out there. Even the Rain 2 is way overpriced IMO but then I am in the UK so shipping and tax ads a fair bit even though I bought those secondhand. I have an Atlantis 2 now and it knocks spots off the 3 SMs I had in performance and value. I run my 100 gallon with my ATS and a Nyos 160 skimmer with great results.

atoll · Nov 13, 2017

Theo15 said:
What about water changes , has the ATS had any effect on that?

I really do water changes and when I do I do little more than 15% but then I don't really know why I do them anyway as my tank isn't telling me it needs a water change.

leepink23 · Nov 13, 2017

I run both, since running both I cut back on how frequently I change water, Po4 0.01, Nitrates 2-3. I also started feeding 2x day and have not seen a change in parameters.

Bruce Burnett · Nov 14, 2017

I run an oversized skimmer and a 302aquatics waterfall ATS. Setup an autofeeder so I am more consistent in feeding tank. I don't do water changes either. 300 gallon system and it has been a couple weeks since I checked but Nitrate was zero and Phosphates were .015. Other than Rox carbon I don't do anything else to export except skimmer and ATS.

Theo15 · Nov 14, 2017

It's sounding like ATS is the way to go, you guys are very helpful thanks!

Bruce Burnett · Nov 14, 2017

Theo15 said:
It's sounding like ATS is the way to go, you guys are very helpful thanks!

I think many will say use both but you will not get much growth on a new tank. Now that I feed heavier I get more from my skimmer and my fish are fatter. With the auto feeder they seem to know when it is time for it to go off as they are waiting by it before it actuates. I still manually feed nori and reef frenzy just not as often. There are people that use multiple forms of nutrient control depending on the fish load and coral types and load.

Theo15 · Nov 14, 2017

Bruce Burnett said:
I think many will say use both but you will not get much growth on a new tank. Now that I feed heavier I get more from my skimmer and my fish are fatter. With the auto feeder they seem to know when it is time for it to go off as they are waiting by it before it actuates. I still manually feed nori and reef frenzy just not as often. There are people that use multiple forms of nutrient control depending on the fish load and coral types and load.

I have a skimmer ,I'll add an ATS to my system as well ,I'm tired of doing water changes lol

srad750c · Nov 15, 2017

I have both, but to me skimmer is more important. I shut it off for about 2 days after water changes cause I add amino acids, trace elements and vitamins. I also add Hydrokoll to lessen the sting of newly mixed water.It removes dissolved organics that refugium can't remove. I have a large halimeda forest at back of my tank. No readable NO3 or PO4 using RedSea Pro test kits. I don't use any GFO or carbon. I only change 5-10 gals of H2O monthly. I feed brine shrimp and plankton daily, 2-3 times a week I use phyto feast and oyster feast when blue ridge coral polyps extend.

SamW · Nov 15, 2017

I recently added an ATS to both my display and QT/ frag system at the same time (its been nice testing side by side results). I've always relied on skimmers only in the past. However, I've recently been inspired by my LFS store that runs a huge system on just an ATS only. I'm getting a pretty good pull on the ATS (cleaning about every 10 days). The real trick is to dial in the lighting for the ATS -3000K seems ideal but I'm also growing at 6000K as well on my display tank (eshoppes refugium light). Bottom line- for me, its all about exporting nutrients any way that you can. I like having both.

EriksOasis · Nov 15, 2017

SamW said:
I recently added an ATS to both my display and QT/ frag system at the same time (its been nice testing side by side results). I've always relied on skimmers only in the past. However, I've recently been inspired by my LFS store that runs a huge system on just an ATS only. I'm getting a pretty good pull on the ATS (cleaning about every 10 days). The real trick is to dial in the lighting for the ATS -3000K seems ideal but I'm also growing at 6000K as well on my display tank (eshoppes refugium light). Bottom line- for me, its all about exporting nutrients any way that you can. I like having both.

Well said any means of exporting nutrients that works for you is good.