OK so what is stopping you installing an Algae Turf Scrubber on your system?

[brandon429]

the reason we don't use ATS in our algae cure threads are variation of outcome, and timing. both of those factors we control better with simple direct action on the target early. Nothing wrong with ATS as algae preventers if they are balanced correctly.

we don't think they'll cure all algae scenarios, in fact we have to do peroxide work in tanks that were already using ATS and still getting all kinds of genera of plant invasions and reporting nutrients not out of line. we don't think nutrients factor a lot into being algae free in the perox threads... I do think ATS are valid systems though, as preventatives strictly.

I know ATS threads number in the thousands of pages but its a bunch of screen shots of algae on mesh, not a bunch of before after DT's I wish they'd balance that part out. we know a screen of green is the going mode...want to see that bubble algae invasion after shot. or the invasive caulerpa after shot...especially that bryopsis display fixed tank shot...not the mesh screen shot

 

[57buick]

I love mine from Turbo Aquatics. This is 2 weeks worth of algae

 

[brandon429]

That one is exceptionally dense tho, so glad to see it it looks like an inverted Christmas tree dang man

 

[TbyZ]

57buick...that is a big screen!

How many square inches is it?

What size tank is it on?

What lights do you have running it?

 

[Hyde2406]

Love mine, I'm never going back, worth every penny. Small compact up flow Santa Monica 1.2 drop. Dropped my nitrates, and phosphate in 2 months. I have rock that's 8 years old needed to pull out the phosphate from them it has been wonderful!

Simple enough question really, so are you not convinced by them, too expensive, don't understand them, can't fit one or some other reason?

 

[pelphrey]

Santa Monica RAIN2 should be on my system in a few weeks once I figure out how I want to run the plumbing.

 

[DereksReef77]

 

[DBR_Reef]

Not needed, to many poor anecdotal results from reefers I trust, and way to much upkeep.

 

[FishGuyBri]

I would love one but not good with DIY. I need someone to have an affordable, small, nice looking one that I'll buy for $150. Lol.

 

[57buick]

Very Little upkeep. takes 5 minutes to clean once a week and there is no downside to running one. sucks up nutrients and scrape it off screen into trash can

 

[57buick]

57buick...that is a big screen!

How many square inches is it?

What size tank is it on?

What lights do you have running it?

I have a 400g system, it is standard grow light LED's I don't the square inches roughly 10x17 screen though

 

[57buick]

Most large aquariums use the same method of nutrient export

 

[alten78]

Not enough room in my system, Foxface and Tomini tang constantly grazing, and most importantly I'm trying to grow coral, not algae

 

[57buick]

Not enough room in my system, Foxface and Tomini tang constantly grazing, and most importantly I'm trying to grow coral, not algae

It doesn't go in your DT how would your tangs get to it? And it keeps algae from growing in your DT and it naturally sucks up nitrates and phospates 10x more than any refugium could ever do and without any chemicals or changing of GFO etc

 

[JLynn]

No space, plus it's fairly imprecise compared to some other methods like vodka dosing or denitrators, where you can dial in exactly how much nutrients you want removed. And frankly, IMO, half the point of having something like a refugium is having a safe place for important microfauna like copepods to reproduce. An algae turf scrubber does not provide that benefit. I mean if you have enough space to have both an ATS and a fuge on a tank, sure, go for it. But if you have to choose between them, personally I would stick with a refugium.

 

[Hyde2406]

Mine was under$200. But I only have a 40gallon tank

 

[Rick.45cal]

I've never bit honestly because of the same reasons as @brandon429, all I see is pictures of people's algae covered screens. I would love if people also posted pictures of their displays but it is always few and far between. (I'm not knocking ATS in anyway.) There are decades of "bad press" regarding ATS. Now that the patent is off and it's game on, I want people to start showing their results.

My other issue and maybe someone can answer this question for me, In an algae based filtration system, how do you limit the algae's ability to scrub the water "too clean". This is the biggest hurdle that no one has been able to answer for me yet. If someone can provide an adequate explaination I might bite on one!

 

[DereksReef77]

No space, plus it's fairly imprecise compared to some other methods like vodka dosing or denitrators, where you can dial in exactly how much nutrients you want removed. And frankly, IMO, half the point of having something like a refugium is having a safe place for important microfauna like copepods to reproduce. An algae turf scrubber does not provide that benefit. I mean if you have enough space to have both an ATS and a fuge on a tank, sure, go for it. But if you have to choose between them, personally I would stick with a refugium.

Haha good luck with your vodka and denitrators. This is all natural, natures way of filtering the ocean. Couldn't be easier and cheap to operate. Only piece of filtration in my 210 dt and 125 sump plus a filter sock for the other overflow drain. You would not need both a refugium and ats. Happy reefing.

 

[DereksReef77]

I've never bit honestly because of the same reasons as @brandon429, all I see is pictures of people's algae covered screens. I would love if people also posted pictures of their displays but it is always few and far between. (I'm not knocking ATS in anyway.) There are decades of "bad press" regarding ATS. Now that the patent is off and it's game on, I want people to start showing their results.

My other issue and maybe someone can answer this question for me, In an algae based filtration system, how do limit the algae's ability to scrub the water "too clean". This is the biggest hurdle that no one has been able to answer for me yet. If someone can provide an adequate explaination I might bite on one!

Lower the amount of hours the light is on for the scrubber if water is too clean. Feed feed feed lol.

 

[DereksReef77]

Theres the tank. Fowlr only cause of the angels. Will be putting 2 more of my angels back in soon and removing some tangs for my newest sps build. Btw I dont do anything with the fowlr. Been up since june 2016.