How does the ATS absorb excess nutrients?

[vincentwangz]

Hi Reefers,

Here's something I'm scratching my head about. Does the Algae Turf Scrubber absorb nutrient most efficiently when the screen is thick with algae, or when the screen is cleared for growth of algae? The confusion has some implications. Do I clear the screen frequently, or only when it has absolutely overgrown and water cannot flow down and algae stops growing? If I keep clearing my screen, algae continues to reappear on my screen. If I don't clear, I'm curious whether that means the algae present is absorbing all the excess nitrates and phosphates to survive? Please give your comments! Let's not make SRC a place that is only good for Pasar Malam!

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[Killerwhale]

Dissolved nutrients. Sounds like a good thing, right? After all, every organism needs nutrients in one form or another in order to grow and stay in good health. So why are marine aquarium hobbyists—particularly reefkeepers—seemingly so fixated on keeping the level of dissolved nutrients in their systems as low as possible?

To understand this fixation, you have to keep in mind that the waters surrounding coral reefs are naturally nutrient-poor environments. Unless a reef is subject to agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, etc., the levels of dissolved nutrients around it never approximate what can accumulate in the closed system of a marine aquarium.

Elevated dissolved-nutrient levels lead to problems with nuisance algae and declining water quality, which is stressful or even deadly to marine livestock. That’s why hobbyists must implement different measures to export dissolved nutrients from their systems.

Here’s a sampling of basic nutrient-export techniques:

The routine water change

Protein skimming

Macroalgae

Rinsing or replacing mechanical filter media

Live rock and DSBs

 

 

[SubzeroLT]

My understanding is that the nitrate/phosphate is taken up by the algae as it 'grows'. And the elemental nitrogen & phosphorous are 'locked' into the cell structure of the algae.

And algae needs light to grow. 

And if the algae dies, the nitrogen/phosphorous is released back into the water which is detected as nitrate/phosphate.

 

Hence, i believe its good practice to harvest the ATS algae regularly when its 'thick enough' as the algae at the back probably won't be getting much light.

Discarding the algae is 'exporting' the nitrogen/phosphorous permanently out of the tank system 

 

 

[JMW]

It's an interesting thought on absorption efficiency with an ATS with cleared growth or accumulated growth.. IMO efficiency is maximized when the surface area for growth is maximized, that to me seems like the bottom line for ATS operation..

I would be cautious in 'keeping' thick growth because as mentioned by SubzeroLT, light may not penetrate that well to the algae behind the fresh growth & there is a risk that they may start dying off & releasing nutrients back to the system, limiting the effectiveness of the ATS

[vincentwangz]

Thanks all for the reply. I like what has been shared so far. Seems to make sense that we must clear the screen diligently or we'll be reintroducing nutrients back to the system. Fun fact. Did u know ATS also breeds pods??

This was how thick my ATS had grown with algae.


This is how it looks after rinsing!

Happy Reefing!


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[yukok.lim08]

Thanks all for the reply. I like what has been shared so far. Seems to make sense that we must clear the screen diligently or we'll be reintroducing nutrients back to the system. Fun fact. Did u know ATS also breeds pods??

This was how thick my ATS had grown with algae.


This is how it looks after rinsing!

Happy Reefing!


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How long it take to grow that much? One or two weeks?


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[vincentwangz]

Every 10 days or so. Actually by 4 days I already see that the screen is covered with algae. I have never taken it out earlier than 7 days to see if it is that thick or not though.


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[JMW]

Any tips on how to harvest the pods when removing the algae? Don't wanna 'waste' them, ideally I'd hope to reintroduce those pods back to the tank instead of introducing them to the dustbin 

[vincentwangz]

Yes I've read that when u take the screen out to wash, u dip it in the display tank and swish it back and forth a bit. Not too hard that you will dislodge the loose algae though. Haha.


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