PDA

View Full Version : ATS first week screen cleaning questions? And Slime questions

hpi_jeep
02/27/2011, 11:41 AM
First six days of my ATS i didnt see any changes (good or bad) the screen slowly developed a brown tint to it. Morning of day 7 my DT/sump/and screen have a clear/white slime. i have gotten in cleaned out of my DT pretty good. i just skimmed the top (most of the slime was floating) with a net and put a sock over the outlet of my sump.

Like i said my screen is slowly turning brown. should i still clean 50% of the screen? or should i give it some time to develop a black or green color?
srusso
02/27/2011, 05:36 PM
First six days of my ATS i didnt see any changes (good or bad) the screen slowly developed a brown tint to it. Morning of day 7 my DT/sump/and screen have a clear/white slime. i have gotten in cleaned out of my DT pretty good. i just skimmed the top (most of the slime was floating) with a net and put a sock over the outlet of my sump.

Like i said my screen is slowly turning brown. should i still clean 50% of the screen? or should i give it some time to develop a black or green color?

Screen should be cleaned every 7 days no matter what. Blown algae growing on your screen the first few weeks is very normal. Clean everything off the best you can. Please let me know what your peramitters are, and how you built your scrubber. Type of lights, distance from screen, size of screen, flow etc.

The slime on the other hand is very weird. Its not from the algae scrubber unless maybe you used matterials not recommended for building an ATS. Please post some pictures if you can.

I subscribed to your thread, I will help you any way I can.
spamreefnew
02/27/2011, 08:36 PM
remember not to use a brush or scraper your first several cleanings,,,hands and running water only! That slime is not related to the ATS IMO
hpi_jeep
02/27/2011, 08:54 PM
remember not to use a brush or scraper your first several cleanings,,,hands and running water only! That slime is not related to the ATS IMO

i brush cleaned half of my scrubber and just ran the other half under tap water.

srusso i'll post some pics. i plan on a detailed build thread eventually
hpi_jeep
02/27/2011, 08:59 PM
10gal tank from petco. only using one side of 8"x10" screen 1 23watt CFL about 4" away from screen.
I have new pictures that i havent uploaded yet but i had to improve the 90* overflow out of the sump tank. it was terribly noisy the way i have it pictured here. I have no doubt my lighting has much to be desired. i am thinking about 2 23watt bulbs not in the sealed housing.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2333.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2340.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2338.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2336.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2341.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2343.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd432/hpi123456789/2358.jpg
hpi_jeep
02/27/2011, 09:01 PM
pictures are terrible because my digital camera was broke. these were all taken with iphone. and My screen was very roughed up after the pictures were taken. i roughed both sides even though i am only expecting growth on one side (lighted side)
srusso
02/28/2011, 07:23 PM
Your scrubber design isn't bad and I will contribute it to my Algae Scrubber Basics Sticky.

However it is only rated for a forty gallon. What size tank do you have?
hpi_jeep
02/28/2011, 10:06 PM
30gal
hpi_jeep
02/28/2011, 10:16 PM
30gal
srusso
02/28/2011, 10:20 PM
30gal

Great work! Wonderful build!! :lol2:
Nova101
03/01/2011, 11:55 AM
What are those black brackets you are using to mount the PVC?

Nice build!
hpi_jeep
03/01/2011, 04:39 PM
What are those black brackets you are using to mount the PVC?

Nice build!

http://www.blueridgecompany.com/radiant/hydronic/153/sioux-chief-tube-talons-touchdowns
i have the bridge part on the light pvc but not on the actuall pipe that holds the screen. (easy removal this way)