Algae Scrubber Basics

[karimwassef]

Can an ATS be a pressurized vessel instead of open air?

 

[jason2459]

Can an ATS be a pressurized vessel instead of open air?

I just saw some "algae" reactors. Really chaeto would be best in those.

 

[karimwassef]

I just saw some "algae" reactors. Really chaeto would be best in those.

Why?

 

[jason2459]

Here's one someone on here modified a reactor for chaeto

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1295843

Also I've seen one company selling an algae reactor like in that link but with an LED tube down the middle. They also suggested chaeto but they say any algae will work.

 

[jason2459]

Why?

Seems like right now all micro algae devices need something for the algae to attach too. I would imagine it being impractical or very messy or difficult to do so in a long vessel like a reactor. Most macro algae especially chaeto is free floating and does well with enough flow and light.

 

[karimwassef]

I was thinking of a long rectangular clear plastic channel that travels the 8ft length of the tank. Maybe 18" wide and with a single long sheet inside.

 

[jason2459]

I was thinking of a long rectangular clear plastic channel that travels the 8ft length of the tank. Maybe 18" wide and with a single long sheet inside.

I sense another thread coming that I will be following... :spin2:


And that sounds almost like how PaulB has his algae trough setup along the back of his tank from the exit of his skimmer.

BTW, here's another thread I follow that is using one of those algae reactors with the LED down the middle.

A.R.I.D. Pax-Bellum (post 34 shows a picture of it)
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2508769&page=2

 

[karimwassef]

Looks like a classic UV sterilizer with normal light.

 

[karimwassef]

My idea was to harness the lost light from my MH. My return pipe happens to travel down the tank length.

 

[karimwassef]

Here's the space I was thinking of :
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/477EA852-F5D3-4A85-9E48-FFAE7CCDA1D1_zpsyzdrxy9p.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/477EA852-F5D3-4A85-9E48-FFAE7CCDA1D1_zpsyzdrxy9p.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 477EA852-F5D3-4A85-9E48-FFAE7CCDA1D1_zpsyzdrxy9p.jpg"/></a>
This is in the evening, so one of the three MHs is off.

Here's a close up of the 18" of MH space
<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/5CBE9350-FFBF-46AA-82C6-6CF34945257B_zpstl1lhmlq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/5CBE9350-FFBF-46AA-82C6-6CF34945257B_zpstl1lhmlq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 5CBE9350-FFBF-46AA-82C6-6CF34945257B_zpstl1lhmlq.jpg"/></a>

Here you can see the dark band of brown algae against the back rock that I'm trying to get rid off. I'm feeding so there's lots of particulates, but you can see past the corals to the back wall.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/584A30CA-8C4D-4BC4-A3EF-B6E3F8509693_zpsg9ejcihc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/584A30CA-8C4D-4BC4-A3EF-B6E3F8509693_zpsg9ejcihc.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 584A30CA-8C4D-4BC4-A3EF-B6E3F8509693_zpsg9ejcihc.jpg"/></a>

 

[Spar]

any idea if an algae scrubber would impair mangrove growth?

 

[Staisman]

I decide to give ATS go in my system. I had little GHA along with Bryopsis.

This is initial setup, on one of my intake lines to the sump.

This is one week after, you can see some diatoms grow on it

And this is second week

I have been running this for 2 weeks so far and I can see the positive results already in my DT. Along with ATS i am running GFO and Skimmer.

 

[Spar]

just curious, what is the general consensus on if using a drain line or dedicated pump? I will have 6 drain lines on my new setup, so may as well use one of those, but curious if it is more or less reliable in comparison.

 

[hkgar]

I initially set mine up to the drainline from the DT to the sump. Because I only have 1 drain to the sump, I could not control the flow, except by controling the flow from the return pump, Iwaki 100.

I added another t to the manifold from the return line and can now control the flow with a gate valve. I have plenty of excess capacity with the Iwaki.

 

[SantaMonica]

Here you can see the dark band of brown algae against the back rock that I'm trying to get rid off.

You could of course scrape that off, but the scrubber should eventually remove it.

any idea if an algae scrubber would impair mangrove growth?

Theoretically the mangroves should grow less, but I don't know of any tests that have been done.

And this is second week

That's a pretty fast start.

what is the general consensus on if using a drain line or dedicated pump?

Not one really. Since both are DIY, it's more based on your DIY skills.

 

[karimwassef]

No feedback on using the excess MH light with the return flow pipe converted into a channel with a screen?

 

[codyreed29]

I just finished my chinesse led deep red ats first one I ever made from acrylic, 2 one foot heatsinks on both side and 10 leds at 3w with lpc 35 700 meanwell. It's really bright and it gives my growout tan a back drop lighting I kinda like.

Its on a 29 with 20L sump and will be my only filtration besides water changes for all my clownfish to grow in im hoping 14 x 5 inches will be enough to keep nitrates low with a lot of fish probably 40+ clownfish and 2 cubes of food a day.

Just got to get a few pvc pieces and shell be up and running.

 

[codyreed29]

Thanks for all the information and help.

 

[karimwassef]

Here's the stuff I'm trying remove. I think it's brown hair algae - very short tufts but very strong attachment to the rock.

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E74611E5-79E1-42FD-8437-2D1481712B19_zpscq13wwpg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E74611E5-79E1-42FD-8437-2D1481712B19_zpscq13wwpg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E74611E5-79E1-42FD-8437-2D1481712B19_zpscq13wwpg.jpg"/></a>

 

[karimwassef]

Also, how do you keep the plastic clean so that the GHA grows on the screen, not the plastic screen?