NPS tank with only ATS filtration?

Discussion in 'NPS Corals' started by zoazack911, Nov 30, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
  2. Click Here!

  3. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2011
    Messages:
    3,471
    I have never seen a successful NPS tank with just an ATS. I think they just aren't that efficient given how much food needs to go into these systems. I remember a while back, there was some discussion about this on azoox.org and the general consensus was it wasn't feasible. The successful ones seem to feed a lot, often and skim it all out, with a big skimmer, between feedings.
     
  4. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

    Joined:
    May 15, 2011
    Messages:
    3,026
    Location:
    North Biloxi, MS

    Feasible is a great word choice. Because there is no reason you can't do it. It's just not going to be worth it. It would take a lot of screens all getting cleaned on a different day. I would imagine it would take about 6-8 of the scrubbers I have to keep the nitrate and phosphate low enough. This is completely possible, but not really feasible from a maintenance stand point. And let something weird happen that kills the macro growth (no idea what could happen, but things happen) Then the tank is dead by the time the screens are producing decent algae again.
     
  5. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

    Joined:
    May 15, 2011
    Messages:
    3,026
    Location:
    North Biloxi, MS
  6. zoazack911

    zoazack911 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2011
    Messages:
    78
    Location:
    Fairbanks, AK
    Well after reading Vinny's thread I believe I am going to try a DIY 4 way ATS scrubber. This way I have redundant (4) verticle screens to grow algae on. The horizontal method just seems impractical as far as space goes. And that way I can scrape one and leave the other three growing etc. I think since the feedings just produce huge amounts of ammonia this method should work. I have to work on the design though. And since I cant even stock this tank til next summer it will give me time to run the tank and feed it as I would with livestock and just take readings for the next few months. If I can maintain parameters I can then stock it.
     
  7. herring_fish

    herring_fish Plankton

    Joined:
    May 16, 2014
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    Winston-Salem
    I am restarting my NPS tank. I have been an ATS user for many years. I like that I can feed as much as I want to and still keep my N and P very low. Is anyone still talking about this here?
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !