Algae Scrubber Basics

[karimwassef]

Here is the overflow scrubber. The section where the snails attacked is in the fully submerged section and has caused the algae to detach from the screen on the far right (and be consumed).

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/73604217-768E-46CD-A882-CDCF5BE8B074_zpsuqwg6rn8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/73604217-768E-46CD-A882-CDCF5BE8B074_zpsuqwg6rn8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 73604217-768E-46CD-A882-CDCF5BE8B074_zpsuqwg6rn8.jpg"/></a>

Here's the healthy floating air-exposed end

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/20717595-D77F-4D72-BB3E-03244C186BD0_zpsvgfkpfxv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/20717595-D77F-4D72-BB3E-03244C186BD0_zpsvgfkpfxv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20717595-D77F-4D72-BB3E-03244C186BD0_zpsvgfkpfxv.jpg"/></a>

Here's where it detached

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E71492B4-EAA0-4FDE-A263-0269ACE507C2_zpsac5zakke.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E71492B4-EAA0-4FDE-A263-0269ACE507C2_zpsac5zakke.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E71492B4-EAA0-4FDE-A263-0269ACE507C2_zpsac5zakke.jpg"/></a>

And then consumed

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/54B9FCEB-729D-4A4A-B307-A8D5F749F12A_zpswwxoz5tl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/54B9FCEB-729D-4A4A-B307-A8D5F749F12A_zpswwxoz5tl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 54B9FCEB-729D-4A4A-B307-A8D5F749F12A_zpswwxoz5tl.jpg"/></a>

And here is the sump floating ATS

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 531DEC6D-4998-446B-ABCE-62FC38C2BE33_zps7dti9kct.jpg"/></a>

You can see the different zone and the detritus buildup in some areas

 

[SantaMonica]

The pics of your rocks look like natural reef rock.

 

[MidwesternTexan]

I took my 40B FT off my main system,
for a stand alone FT- and a true QT off the main system.

I currently have some sps and a group of Zoas too.

But now that it's on it's own sump,
I decided to make a smaller version of my ATS for that
FT sump too.

** I did one make one significant change though-
Instead of cutting the slot,
I drilled a series of holes, and hung my roughed up sheet
just below that-
Wow, what a difference!
Despite a lot of flow- there is virtually NO splashing!
Om my big system- it has the slots- and I have to keep
a cut pice of plastic bag over the top and covering the tope 1-2" of the sheet just to reduce the splashing with the slot.

Here's a pic:

 

[karimwassef]

The pics of your rocks look like natural reef rock.

You mean my diverters?

 

[karimwassef]

I had to go with slots because of the massive flow through it. It's also gravity fed so no pump pressure against the holes.

 

[jrp1588]

This may seem like an obvious question, but how to you clean the screen on an ATS? I've had mine running for couple months or so, and get a good quarter inch mat of the green stuff on either side of the screen every week. I've been scraping the screen nearly bare weekly with an old gift card, but I've read you're not supposed to remove the algae all the way down to the screen.

Also, anyone figured out a good way to clean the slot without removing the screen?

 

[jason2459]

This may seem like an obvious question, but how to you clean the screen on an ATS? I've had mine running for couple months or so, and get a good quarter inch mat of the green stuff on either side of the screen every week. I've been scraping the screen nearly bare weekly with an old gift card, but I've read you're not supposed to remove the algae all the way down to the screen.

Also, anyone figured out a good way to clean the slot without removing the screen?

I use this scrapper like a credit card and run over the screen a few times on both sides. Then a stiff bristled brush along the top that goes into the slot. I always remove the screen and use the brush along the slot.

 

[jrp1588]

Ok, well that sounds basically like what I'm doing. I'd like to keep the slot clean between cleanings. Seems like there would be some sort of brush with an angled head that could get up there. Currently I'm just doing my best with a tooth brush.

 

[jason2459]

I new I had a picture of what I use. Came with the Turbo ATS

 

[jrp1588]

I new I had a picture of what I use. Came with the Turbo ATS

Kind of looks like one of those caulk tools to get an even seam.

 

[jason2459]

Kind of looks like one of those caulk tools to get an even seam.

Yep, a credit card would work too.

 

[jrp1588]

Yep, a credit card would work too.

Ok, well that's what I've been using. I was just a little thrown off reading that I shouldn't scrape the algae all the way off. It's not like I can trim the top inch and leave a bit at the bottom. It's kind of all or nothing.

 

[jason2459]

Here's what Bud's looks like after scraping. I'll look for a picture of mine too.

Here's my harvest from 7/24

And from today

after cleaning & rinsing, ready for the next cycle

 

[jason2459]

A recent one with a warped screen.

Changed out the ATS screen for the Mortar screen Bud sent me. Thank you!

The warped screen has issues

I totally didnt think to get a pic until I was done scraping but here you can see the bare area in the middle again. Great production around the edges.

I did check to make sure all the red led jumpers were set right that cuts down on their intensity while a screen starts up. But they were all set right on both sides.

New screen is now running.

 

[jrp1588]

A recent one with a warped screen.

Mine ends up looking a lot more like this one after a cleaning. There;s still algae hanging on inside the holes, but most of the surface algae comes off.

 

[karimwassef]

Hmmm. So these 3D ATS seem to be working out, huh?

Is it basically an updraft but without bubbles?

 

[jason2459]

Hmmm. So these 3D ATS seem to be working out, huh?

Is it basically an updraft but without bubbles?

I think it just refers to lights on both sides of the screen.

 

[karimwassef]

I have that too but I'm not submerged. I have an air water interface that I thought was a key design element

 

[jason2459]

I have that too but I'm not submerged. I have an air water interface that I thought was a key design element

Last I heard there's oxygen in water. lol

IMO nutrients, water movement, and light is important. Not bubbles(but they can create movement). I've spent plenty of time in the bayside in south florida where algae rules(recreationaly and research wise). I've never seen an airstone on the bottom.

But theres constant currents with the tides, much much much shallower then the ocean side and rest of the gulf (like 5-8' depth) getting LOTS of sunlight, and tons of nutrients from detritus from the mangroves and things living and dieing in that ecosystem to what's channeled in from the ocean side and gulf.

His isn't submerged either but the growth is so thick it's just saturated with water. I have the rev3 version and its great. Looking forward to getting a rev 4 and bigger. [emoji4]

 

[karimwassef]

It's not oxygen, it's the air interface that I believed reduces the ability of bacteria to take hold and gives an unfair advantage to the algae.