Algae Scrubber Basics

[outy]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

Ok, lights have been cut back to 12hrs.

Unfortunately all I have its 4" between the lights and screen since it's all internal in the bucket.

I made sure I went over board when I scuffed it up. It was pretty hairy when I finished.

I figured a bucket would be a simple all in one solution. Add a uniseal or two and bam, theres your drain. Then just set the lid on to help contain the light and sound.

If you don't get color in 4 days with the new lighting hours.

It cut two square windows in the sides and put the lights on the outside about 4" out.

[bheron]

Dumb question but I'll ask: what size (width) PVC pipe is generally used for the main waterfall piece that the canvas fits into? 1"? 3/4"? Maybe it's in there somewhere but I couldn't find it :-)

[FullBoreReefer]

Originally Posted by bheron

Dumb question but I'll ask: what size (width) PVC pipe is generally used for the main waterfall piece that the canvas fits into? 1"? 3/4"? Maybe it's in there somewhere but I couldn't find it :-)

I used 3/4".

[AZRippster]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

I used 3/4".

+1 - I feed it with a 1/2" line though. Plenty of flow. Also, if you can get the thin wall PVC for at least that part of the ATS, it makes cutting the groove a little easier. If you have a router table and a 1/8" bit, I can pass on a nice trick to cut the groove easily and straight as an arrow.

[FullBoreReefer]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

I used 3/4".

Originally Posted by AZRippster

+1 - I feed it with a 1/2" line though. Plenty of flow.

That's actually exactly how mine is set up lol

[biecacka]

I used 1inch since I had it laying around the house.

Corey

[outy]

Originally Posted by biecacka

I used 1inch since I had it laying around the house.

Corey

Same here.

And even with that, I have overflow due to the high volume of water.



I would say it al depends on how much water flow one has planned.


Me having a basement sump 3/4" would not work as well

[biecacka]

I have my flow cut back to a very steady stream running over the screen. It's getting darker by day.

Corey

[outy]

I just got my 30w red/blue growlight. Ill wire it up tomorrow and have it hanging and lit.

[karimwassef]

I have thousands of feather dusters in mine

My setup allows for temporary pulsed submersion so I think that's creating a lot more life that the normal waterfall or updraft. It alternates between submerged and fully out of the water and mimics the surf at the breakers or beach rocks.

Without predation, I have to clean it every three weeks...

Everyone else just tosses their export? Anyone considered reusing or creating a grow out tank that could double as a quarantine tank?

Thinking out loud.

[jrp1588]

Is there any "go to" LED unit to buy for these things? I tried putting together an ATS years ago with spiral compacts when they first started getting popular, but never had much success. Anyway, new tank, so I figured I'd give it another shot.

Most of what I'm seeing is PAR38 bulbs, but it seems like that would spotlight too much. I'm setting up a 125gal tank, so I'll need something like a 10x12 screen. I want lights that'll light the whole thing pretty evenly.

[outy]

Originally Posted by jrp1588

so I'll need something like a 10x12 screen. .

You feeding 3 - 4 cubes a day?

[outy]

You can build your own


or buy 2 of these 30W which use about 20W each. I believe 20W is recommended for 9 X 9 per the thread boss here. I'm getting good growth over all 12


http://www.ebay.com/itm/321875550065...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT



Corey and a few others are running 10W on a smaller screen


I'm using 1 30W on a 12 X 12 as of this morning. was getting good growth out a 30W 6500k just like it

[jrp1588]

Originally Posted by outy

You feeding 3 - 4 cubes a day?

I doubt I'll be feeding that much, especially at first. The tank is an upgrade from a 29gal. I'm just going by the recommendations from page 1 of the thread. I haven't followed ATS practices for a few years, so I'm not up on what's currently done.

[jrp1588]

Originally Posted by outy

You can build your own


or buy 2 of these 30W which use about 20W each. I believe 20W is recommended for 9 X 9 per the thread boss here.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/321875550065...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT



Corey and a few others are running 10W on a smaller screen


I'm using 1 30W on a 12 X 12 as of this morning. was getting good growth out a 30W 6500k just like it



OR you could go homebuilt and spend a few hundred.

Not really interested in LED DIY. The ebay listing says 220v. Does it not take a standard plug?

[outy]

Originally Posted by jrp1588

Not really interested in LED DIY. The ebay listing says 220v. Does it not take a standard plug?

Yep.

I bought and am running one from that site.


All the drivers are 85v -220v they just don't list the 85v but they are.

[outy]

Originally Posted by jrp1588

I doubt I'll be feeding that much, especially at first. The tank is an upgrade from a 29gal. I'm just going by the recommendations from page 1 of the thread. I haven't followed ATS practices for a few years, so I'm not up on what's currently done.

Well screen size per Floyd is done by how many cubes a day you feed.


Even if you did 9 X 9 lit both sides by 2 30w leds would be plenty for 2-3 cubes easy.


I do one cube and my 12 X 12 lit only on one side is overkill, and I may cut it down some to 10X 10

[jrp1588]

Originally Posted by outy

Well screen size per Floyd is done by how many cubes a day you feed.


Even if you did 9 X 9 lit both sides by 2 30w leds would be plenty for 2-3 cubes easy.


I do one cube and my 12 X 12 lit only on one side is overkill, and I may cut it down some to 10X 10

I'll use that as a target then. I don't generally feed frozen regularly, but I might start since having a proper sump will allow me a lot better options for nutrient export. Now I've just got to figure out the details of construction. My last build was pretty janky.

[outy]

Originally Posted by jrp1588

My last build was pretty janky.

I threw one together in a few hours and its fugly as they come, but she is growing algae like a champ

[FullBoreReefer]

Well I changed two things when we all spoke last.

I increased the flow to my ATS, and also cut my lights back from 18/6, to 12/12.

It seems like my ATS is starting to really take off. Thanks for all the suggestions guys, much appreciated!


Updated pics...







Thanks again.

[jerseypete]

well been reading this thread for a while and threw this together. It's has lighting on both side now. It's been running three days now. Will see how it goes. It's in my sump so not really taking up too much space. Hope it works out.

[SantaMonica]

Love the bucket! Reminds me of the first waterfall in 2008 (see link in sig).

Speaking of 2008, it's time to apply some more improvements to the waterfall scrubber I designed way back then. Some people just want the original waterfall design, and that's great. It was the first after all.

[outy]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

It seems like my ATS is starting to really take off.




Thanks again.

Looks great!

Good growth as well.

[biecacka]

Yeah I am using 2 of the 10wt bulbs, but will be adding 2 more so I'll have 2 per side for my screen size. right now my screen looks like fullbore's. I think I have enough flow going down it for now. I am getting an even brown coat on the screen.

Corey

[MrineLfRlz]

Ive been really thinking about purchasing the L4 ATS and just have a few questions.
I have a total system volume of 250g and would like to be able to feed 2 cubes every 2 days and i also have a automatic feeder for dry food x2 a day so would this be more then big enough?
I run right now carbon and gfo reactors and would like to stop using the gfo after the purchase if it works well enough ive been doing some reading where some people dont use reactors after the ATS starts working well is this true?
When i dont run gfo my phos. usually stays around 0.06 and im getting tired of having to rinse out the media every time and then purging out the dirty water after turning on the reactors each time i would like something that runs constantly and is natural for the system.
I also dose lanthanum chloride when levels reach above the 0.06 mark which is NOT natural and would love to get away from all of this so can this happen with the ATS?
I also forgot to add i dose vinegar automatically will this help me add less or totally stop the use of that as well for nitrate control?