Algae Scrubber Advanced

[MidwesternTexan]

Thanks Bud/Floyd/Turbo.

In my hanging method, it's easy to simply slide the bracket along the rods to increase/decrease distance to the screen.

I'll be monitoring for this, as you say Captain, steady as she goes.....

Yes, Todd Sails, catamarans mostly, Currently have a Nacra F18 Infusion

 

[kenneth wolfe]

my money on the leds. those will work perfect imo..

 

[MidwesternTexan]

OK, 7 day update:

** it seems the 3 x 100W equivalent 2700K CFL bulbs are initially growing slightly more
green algae than the LED's!

I"ll keep monitoring

 

[MidwesternTexan]

** ** OK, re-do 7 day update;

I looked again, closer, with the ATS lights off (mid day)

It IS a little thicker growth, and it's GREEN!
I guess even with the white light while the red LED was on made it look much darker.

 

[jalisco]

I'm designing a sump for my Turbo L2 Rev 3 and just read that lifereef uses filter foam and or polyester pads in lieu of filter socks. Would polyfilter be a good first stage of the sump or would polyfilter starve the scrubber?

Does anyone have plans or a good design for an ATS/ bubble eliminating sump? I'm not planning on having a protein skimmer but would like to leave room for one in case the need arises.

 

[MidwesternTexan]

My DIY ATS hangs over my sump, near the RP intakes (2 of them)

I use a power head to direct some flow in my sump, and keep most all bubles out of the intake.

No answer on the filter pad ? from me, I rarely use a filter sock/bag anymore, don't seem to need it. Water is crystal clear

 

[SantaMonica]

Keeping more food particles in the water, by not using a sock etc, allows your periphyton to grow to natural reef levels; this will keep the water very clear.

 

[jalisco]

Keeping more food particles in the water, by not using a sock etc, allows your periphyton to grow to natural reef levels; this will keep the water very clear.

When you say "not using a sock ect", are you saying not to use filter foam, polyester pads or polyfilter either?

 

[MidwesternTexan]

When you say "not using a sock ect", are you saying not to use filter foam, polyester pads or polyfilter either?

I"ll chime in here again on this one.

History has shown the above you mentioned, quickly turn into nitrate factories.

So yes, don't use those either.

SM is right on this one. He (and Turbo) has done alot of research and have a lot of experience on these subjests.

 

[karimwassef]

Keeping more food particles in the water, by not using a sock etc, allows your periphyton to grow to natural reef levels; this will keep the water very clear.

+++++

I triple the support on this. Any unidirectional obstruction to flow in the form of filter socks or foam blocks, bags, ... is unnatural and eventually destructive. Not only does it create a nitrate factory, it removes a key block in the food chain that is critical to coral health and growth.

Those "filters" may make the water "look" better but it's not. It's clear unhealthy water.

In fact, the ATS concept is superior to chaeto IMO because the water flows over it, not through it. In fact, even with ATS, the biggest boost in life comes with an alternating flow so any ancillary pickup of matter becomes food to the ATS without accumulating in it.

 

[jalisco]

Perfect, thank you.

I hope I book marked where I read that people with an ATS only system were having to dose nitrates and phosphates as they simply could not feed their tank enough to prevent eventually starving their ATS. That is what led me down the road considering filter socks and even considered a wet/dry to keep the ATS supplied with enough nitrates.

I know taking two years to set up a tank is rediculous and eventually I'll have to fill it with water and embrace trial & error coupled with RC experience.

For standalone ATS filtration would any of you vote for a petco 10 gallon glass tank with a few baffles over any of the commercial sumps that seem to be more geared to multiple forms of filtration and reactors?

Thanks again guys, always appreciate your willingness to share the information that's taken countless years and dollars to amass.

 

[BCool]

I ran an ats for years just off my overflow. It really is not rocket science, water flow over the screen and get one of this flood grow led's, now you have an ats!

 

[BCool]

Is there any reason a ATS can not be built into an overflow box? I am surprised I have not seen any one do so.
I have a new to me 300 gallon 96x24x30" tank with the overflow in one end. Flow through the overflow will be about 2200 GPH, but could be reduced to around 1500GPH. This would enable me to have a screen approximately 22wide x 27tall", or possible a little wider, if I were to fold it in the middle. Only drawback is it would be lit from one side only. Is that too much flow?
Another option I am thinking about it removing the overflow from inside the tank and building an external one on the same end. Conceivably this could be taller then the 30" tank and be built to allow lighting on both sides of the ATS.
I was thinking a LED like this might be a good set up due to its thin size and being 12x12. http://www.dhgate.com/product/led-g...1#cppd-1-3|ff8080814a997d6b014a999266a23b5c:2 I am guessing the Red:Blue:Orange 7:1:1Ratio would be the best. Any and all feed back is appreciated.

I did this for a few years and it was my most successful reef to date.

 

[karimwassef]

I've been running an end to end weir ATS for 6 months or so.. been great!

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/0E03A93D-1937-49DA-8B77-A0FDD9A9F8E0_zps1elfostg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/0E03A93D-1937-49DA-8B77-A0FDD9A9F8E0_zps1elfostg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 0E03A93D-1937-49DA-8B77-A0FDD9A9F8E0_zps1elfostg.jpg"/></a>

just runs off my halide "offshoot"

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/9ECCCF5B-8265-48D0-9C0F-406190F50BC6_zps1vpsfuym.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/9ECCCF5B-8265-48D0-9C0F-406190F50BC6_zps1vpsfuym.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9ECCCF5B-8265-48D0-9C0F-406190F50BC6_zps1vpsfuym.jpg"/></a>

 

[SantaMonica]

are you saying not to use filter foam, polyester pads or polyfilter either?

Correct. Once you see the super thick periphyton that can grow on your rocks once there are enough food particles in the water, you'll understand how the periphyton is pulling out the particles faster than socks, because it covers all the rock surfaces and not just a small reactor.

I have no filters, and can pour in 3 days' worth of food and the water will be clear again in one hour.

starving their ATS

There really is no such thing as a starving scrubber. It's just a scrubber which does not have a need to grow much yet.

That is what led me down the road considering filter socks and even considered a wet/dry to keep the ATS supplied with enough nitrates.

No no no. If you want to supply anything, supply more food particles. Just like the reefs and lakes where the particles can get so thick you can't see your hand at night.

a petco 10 gallon glass tank with a few baffles over any of the commercial sumps that seem to be more geared to multiple forms of filtration and reactors?

Chemically is does not matter what you put a scrubber into. All that matters is light, attachment, and air/water turbulent interface.

 

[jalisco]

Thanks so much! I feel like I should share some of the $500 I almost spent on a custom sump with you guys.

 

[wildman926]

I hope I book marked where I read that people with an ATS only system were having to dose nitrates and phosphates as they simply could not feed their tank enough to prevent eventually starving their ATS.

That is a good thing if they can not keep growing hair algae in their ats. The hair algae growth is indicative of the excess nutrients within the system. That means their system has low nutrients, and what is fed is being consumed and processed.

We have tanks to provide a home to our corals and fish, not to grow hair algae in an ats. :thumbsup:

 

[karimwassef]

I don't know about that. My ATS is a life machine. It's a refugium of sorts and generates more food back to the reef.

IMO: If I had an ATS as big as my reef, I think my reef would be even more successful.

 

[jalisco]

I take back what I said about saving money. Stayed up till 3am designing a sump around the L2 Rev 3 that ain't gonna be cheap but I feel it will optimize the limited space below my tank.

 

[jalisco]

Hey Floyd,
On the L2 Rev 3; what would you think if I glued in a threaded nipple to the bottom drain instead of o'ring-ing in the male adapter. I could try teflon first instead of gluing but my goal is to shorten the length from the bottom of the ATS to the bottom of the ball valve.