DIY ATS Raceway question

SEEMAC · 05/13/2013, 11:01 PM

Has anyone tried to build a algae turf scrubber race way. I picked up some of the turf algae from Morgan Lidster at Inland Aquatics at a local frag swap. I have seen a few systems he uses for his business however I was looking for anyone else that may have created an ATS raceway.

crn005 · 05/14/2013, 01:02 AM

I'm not entirely sure about what you mean by "raceway" so I googled it and didn't get results. It seems you're talking about a horizontal style scrubber, perhaps. If so, then they are used by some but can have certain limitations; the biggest being size. They require a much larger screen than a vertical scrubber.

iced98lx · 05/14/2013, 01:14 PM

I'm building a horizontal ATS in a section of gutter and since my sump is not below my tank it will travel down the gutter (over the ATS) to the sump.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_13720-322-AW100K_0__

$6 for 10 feet worth, but you do need to support it over decent length runs.

peppie · 05/14/2013, 09:11 PM

I wouldnt go over 3' unsupported with that gutter.

iced98lx · 05/14/2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppie

I wouldnt go over 3' unsupported with that gutter.

agree 100%

SEEMAC · 05/14/2013, 10:54 PM

Morgan Lidster From inland aquatics was using one a couple weeks ago on the back of his frag tank at the frag swap. From what I have learned from Morgan in a few conversations I had with him over the last couple of years is that you need to use the turf algae to do this type of ATS correctly.

So shallow water moderate flow and good lighting seams to be the key.

As far as the term it looks like its used more for out side large ATS systems however Morgan used it when I was reviewing the one he built on a few tanks.

SEEMAC · 05/14/2013, 11:01 PM

I like the gutter idea.. that would work!...

From what I've seen you only need a couple feet when using turf algae on a 75 tank...however since I have never done this type of ATS will see how it goes.

iced98lx · 05/15/2013, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEEMAC

I like the gutter idea.. that would work!...

From what I've seen you only need a couple feet when using turf algae on a 75 tank...however since I have never done this type of ATS will see how it goes.

Yea the waterfall version or even the UAS are good designs, and technically you get more scrubbing by doing it front/back (lighted both sides) but I've got to make a semi-horizontal run as a return line anyway, so this seems ideal for my application, and possibly yours.

I'm going to glue some plastic pins into the gutter to hook the mesh on so it can easily be removed. Then I'm going to cover the gutter with acrylic and put LED's above it. The drain from my tank will flow over the ATS down the rest of the gutter and into the sump. When it's time to clean you slide the acrylic and LED piece down the gutter, pull up the screen scrape it off and put everything back.

Crusinjimbo · 05/16/2013, 05:27 AM

Love this scrubber concept. How about using a single T5 over the length instead of LED? A 24" T5 of appropriate color temp should work well and be less expensive. I may try the T5 route just because of space restrictions under my cube where the floor is full of sump, ATO, etc, and there is space available above the sump to run it horizontally. Pump water up and allow it to gravity back to sump below. Thanks for the idea, I love this forum.

iced98lx · 05/16/2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusinjimbo

Love this scrubber concept. How about using a single T5 over the length instead of LED? A 24" T5 of appropriate color temp should work well and be less expensive. I may try the T5 route just because of space restrictions under my cube where the floor is full of sump, ATO, etc, and there is space available above the sump to run it horizontally. Pump water up and allow it to gravity back to sump below. Thanks for the idea, I love this forum.

T5 would work fine. I'm going LED because I'm already building LED fixtures and it's not that expensive. Going to be doing a lot of RED led's for good growth.

SEEMAC · 05/16/2013, 10:53 PM

iced98lx ....how much do you think it would cost to build LED lighting to light a one foot by say 6" strip of algae. New to LED lighting so not sure if it works that way...

reeftanknewbie · 05/17/2013, 12:01 AM

Paul b uses this method and is on here.

iced98lx · 05/17/2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEEMAC

iced98lx ....how much do you think it would cost to build LED lighting to light a one foot by say 6" strip of algae. New to LED lighting so not sure if it works that way...

Well, you need a driver, probably 3-5 LED's based roughly on what floyd is saying, and likely some way to dim them.

I could put it together for less, but this is nicely packaged, frankly.

SEEMAC · 05/17/2013, 11:03 AM

So are the new LED lights that good that you should be using a dimmer...or is there another reason to use a dimmer on the driver.

iced98lx · 05/17/2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEEMAC

So are the new LED lights that good that you should be using a dimmer...or is there another reason to use a dimmer on the driver.

Not sure if you'd want to dim them or not, I haven't done it. I will have mine be dimmable but I have a controller to dim them with, so..

JustinGr · 05/17/2013, 03:14 PM

The ATS Morgan had at INDMAS are the same scrubbers he has on the shelf in his shop. They use shallow flow and LED light to grow the algae, and yes most of his designs use the turf algae. The one he was displaying is for small / medium tanks that have limited space, then there are sump ATS and then larger top mounted ATS that create a surge in the tank.

I have the large top mounted dump ATS that creates a wave in the tank, however, it, for me, grows the algae you typically see on an average ATS.

If anyone is interested, I can get pics tomorrow and post. I am going to his shop.

iced98lx · 05/17/2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinGr

The ATS Morgan had at INDMAS are the same scrubbers he has on the shelf in his shop. They use shallow flow and LED light to grow the algae, and yes most of his designs use the turf algae. The one he was displaying is for small / medium tanks that have limited space, then there are sump ATS and then larger top mounted ATS that create a surge in the tank.

I have the large top mounted dump ATS that creates a wave in the tank, however, it, for me, grows the algae you typically see on an average ATS.

If anyone is interested, I can get pics tomorrow and post. I am going to his shop.

we talking dump type?

JustinGr · 05/17/2013, 05:00 PM

No, the raceway is not a dump. The dump ATS that he makes come in many styles, sump type, top mount single dump and twin dump. The Raceway is not a dump style.

I'll post pictures tomorrow.

SEEMAC · 05/17/2013, 08:12 PM

JustinGr....pictures would be great... I have seen several of his designs and was thinking of creating some sketches in Photoshop but if you have pictures then that would be great!

SEEMAC · 05/17/2013, 08:23 PM

From my last conversation from Morgan he showed me a new improved small sump ATS the surge type with more area for algae growth. This is not a dump bucket style but the type that pivots the entire system that is weighted on one end. If JustinGr has images it would explain much more than what I can do here.

SEEMAC · 05/17/2013, 08:29 PM

JustinGr,

What has been your experience on the large dump type...do you use anything else on the tank skimmer, carbon etc..

erictorres0311 · 05/18/2013, 02:17 PM

Any pics of what its gonna look like ?

05/13/2013, 11:01 PM	#1
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	DIY ATS Raceway question Has anyone tried to build a algae turf scrubber race way. I picked up some of the turf algae from Morgan Lidster at Inland Aquatics at a local frag swap. I have seen a few systems he uses for his business however I was looking for anyone else that may have created an ATS raceway.

05/16/2013, 05:27 AM	#9
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	Love this scrubber concept. How about using a single T5 over the length instead of LED? A 24" T5 of appropriate color temp should work well and be less expensive. I may try the T5 route just because of space restrictions under my cube where the floor is full of sump, ATO, etc, and there is space available above the sump to run it horizontally. Pump water up and allow it to gravity back to sump below. Thanks for the idea, I love this forum. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

05/17/2013, 12:01 AM	#12
reeftanknewbie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Effort PA Posts: 1,067	Paul b uses this method and is on here. __________________ 80 gallon Blue Line rimless tank, 40 gallon breeder sump, DIY ATS, SWC 160 cone skimmer, ocean revive LED. Current Tank Info: 80 gallon blue line rimless tank

05/17/2013, 03:14 PM	#16
JustinGr Clown Pimp Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 644	The ATS Morgan had at INDMAS are the same scrubbers he has on the shelf in his shop. They use shallow flow and LED light to grow the algae, and yes most of his designs use the turf algae. The one he was displaying is for small / medium tanks that have limited space, then there are sump ATS and then larger top mounted ATS that create a surge in the tank. I have the large top mounted dump ATS that creates a wave in the tank, however, it, for me, grows the algae you typically see on an average ATS. If anyone is interested, I can get pics tomorrow and post. I am going to his shop. __________________ Thank You, Justin Grant Current Tank Info: Reef:75 Gallon, 90# LR, SSB, 2x AI SOL Blues Managed by Neptune's Apex, Inland Aquatics Dump Style ATS, 2 Koralia on wave maker, and MP 10 on custom wave.

05/17/2013, 05:00 PM	#18
JustinGr Clown Pimp Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 644	No, the raceway is not a dump. The dump ATS that he makes come in many styles, sump type, top mount single dump and twin dump. The Raceway is not a dump style. I'll post pictures tomorrow. __________________ Thank You, Justin Grant Current Tank Info: Reef:75 Gallon, 90# LR, SSB, 2x AI SOL Blues Managed by Neptune's Apex, Inland Aquatics Dump Style ATS, 2 Koralia on wave maker, and MP 10 on custom wave.

05/14/2013, 01:02 AM	#2
crn005 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 744	I'm not entirely sure about what you mean by "raceway" so I googled it and didn't get results. It seems you're talking about a horizontal style scrubber, perhaps. If so, then they are used by some but can have certain limitations; the biggest being size. They require a much larger screen than a vertical scrubber.

05/14/2013, 01:14 PM	#3
iced98lx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2,258	I'm building a horizontal ATS in a section of gutter and since my sump is not below my tank it will travel down the gutter (over the ATS) to the sump. http://www.lowes.com/pd_13720-322-AW100K_0__ $6 for 10 feet worth, but you do need to support it over decent length runs.

05/14/2013, 09:11 PM	#4
peppie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,883	I wouldnt go over 3' unsupported with that gutter.

05/14/2013, 10:54 PM	#6
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	Morgan Lidster From inland aquatics was using one a couple weeks ago on the back of his frag tank at the frag swap. From what I have learned from Morgan in a few conversations I had with him over the last couple of years is that you need to use the turf algae to do this type of ATS correctly. So shallow water moderate flow and good lighting seams to be the key. As far as the term it looks like its used more for out side large ATS systems however Morgan used it when I was reviewing the one he built on a few tanks.

05/14/2013, 11:01 PM	#7
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	I like the gutter idea.. that would work!... From what I've seen you only need a couple feet when using turf algae on a 75 tank...however since I have never done this type of ATS will see how it goes.

05/16/2013, 10:53 PM	#11
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	iced98lx ....how much do you think it would cost to build LED lighting to light a one foot by say 6" strip of algae. New to LED lighting so not sure if it works that way...

05/17/2013, 11:03 AM	#14
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	So are the new LED lights that good that you should be using a dimmer...or is there another reason to use a dimmer on the driver.

05/17/2013, 08:12 PM	#19
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	JustinGr....pictures would be great... I have seen several of his designs and was thinking of creating some sketches in Photoshop but if you have pictures then that would be great!

05/17/2013, 08:23 PM	#20
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	From my last conversation from Morgan he showed me a new improved small sump ATS the surge type with more area for algae growth. This is not a dump bucket style but the type that pivots the entire system that is weighted on one end. If JustinGr has images it would explain much more than what I can do here.

05/17/2013, 08:29 PM	#21
SEEMAC Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 60	JustinGr, What has been your experience on the large dump type...do you use anything else on the tank skimmer, carbon etc..

05/18/2013, 02:17 PM	#22
erictorres0311 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 111	Any pics of what its gonna look like ?