Let's Talk ATS

Salty1962 · Aug 8, 2017

If you have an ATS, tell us about it. Type, Pro's, Con's and what changes it's made in your tank? There is so many filter systems that help us with No3 and Po4 and thought this was note worthy.
I have a Turbo's Aquatics L4 on my 70G Artisan II. It took @3mths. to really make a difference in my DT but my algae has significantly subsided and my No3 & Po4 have been stable.
What's your experience?
Thx

pelphrey · Aug 8, 2017

Santa Monica RAIN2 scrubber. Running 2 of the 4 lights, phosphates stay at .05-.08 & zero nitrates. Between the scrubber and my skimmer I need to find the balance on feeding and would like to have some nitrates in my system. No cons at this point, set it and forget it and it is small enough to fit in my reefer 250 sump.

OREGONIC · Aug 14, 2017

Got a DIY ATS made with the ATO that came with the lower sump for my e-170. Been through a few changes since setting up but can finally say it working.

Started with a daylight spectrum led flood light above the ATS. It didnt grow more then a thin layer of brown slime.

Swapped the flood light out for some led grow strip lights purchased on amazon and started seeing more growth bit still alot of brown slime algae.

Widened the slit for the water flow and withen a week started producing the green stuff

. Since then i have roughed up the screen some more and make some better dict tape deflectors along the top edge and it is now starting to really grow some hair algae. No pics of the last 2 or 3 harvests but they put this harvest pic to shame. Nitrates were 30ish and phosphates were .1 prior to the ATS taking off and now nitrates 5-10 ppm and phosphates .02. I feed about 2 times as much now and have stopped running biopellets and gfo for over a month. I will try to get some photos of the next harvest in about 10 days.

Salty1962 · Sep 2, 2017

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TbyZ · Sep 2, 2017

As far as nutrient control is concerned a scrubber is the best thing I ever added to my system.

Gave me complete controll over NH3, NH4, NO2, NO3 & PO4.

I was running a system with heaps of live rock & a protein skimmer 24/7 & discovered my NO3 & PO4 were off the charts, literally.
I tried bio pellets in a reactor, only to experience problems, found it to be a lot of mucking around, & it did nothing for PO4.
Tried a marine pure block only to discover it was a nitrite factory, so to speak.

A scrubber took care of all, with the ease of just a weekly clean.

I know there are other ways of effectively controlling nutrients. But as a natural approach nothing beats growing algae.
& a scrubber is more effective than a refugium, if for no other reason, less room is needed. The filamentous algae starts from nothing as well.

Mine is a diy downflow design, with two screens (one pump) cleaned on alternative days, & I don't have to turn the pump off to clean the screens, let alone undo any plumbing.
Its fed water directly from the tank overflow to the sump & is very low cost to run.

mr9iron · Jun 30, 2019

pelphrey said:
Santa Monica RAIN2 scrubber. Running 2 of the 4 lights, phosphates stay at .05-.08 & zero nitrates. Between the scrubber and my skimmer I need to find the balance on feeding and would like to have some nitrates in my system. No cons at this point, set it and forget it and it is small enough to fit in my reefer 250 sump.

I know this is an older thread but how is your Rain2 performing? I installed mine about 19 days ago with on light. I’m getting growth around the top, edges and is working is way down the screen.

I’m even seeing some algae in the tray as well.

pelphrey · Jun 30, 2019

mr9iron said:
I know this is an older thread but how is your Rain2 performing? I installed mine about 19 days ago with on light. I’m getting growth around the top, edges and is working is way down the screen.

I’m even seeing some algae in the tray as well.

It actually did well, but I sold it long ago!