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calvin415
04-07-2011, 11:16 AM
After years of reading about scrubbers, I decided that my next setup would include one... After having my tank up for about 1 month, I'm already thrilled with my decision! Here are a few shots of the build and more detailed shots of the scrubber.

ADA 60-P which is approx 18 gallons:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6019.jpg

Light added:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6068.jpg

And Sump:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6154.jpg

And closer:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6152.jpg

Plumbed and water:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6168.jpg

Sand and Live Rock were added on 3/3/2011
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6203.jpg

Added 2 Chromies on 3/7/2011
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6215.jpg

Added the Scrubber on 3/10/2011

Entire scrubber is built with just two of these, they are held in place with magnets:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6226.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6225.jpg

Screen lit from the side:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6221.jpg

And the guts: I tee'd off the return line with an inline valve to control flow, connected to an elbow and capped piece of pipe which has a slit in the side to hold the screen:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6232.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6233.jpg

Seeded the scrubber on 3/15/2011 with turf algae from Murfman and on 4/2/2011 I did my first scrapping:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6301.jpg

Current FTS, first 2 corals are added:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6280.jpg

Along with 3 of these guys...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6274.jpg

It has only been 5 days since my first scrapping, and I already have more on the screen than last time! Adding the scrubber during the initial cycle saved me tons of headache, as the tank was not that dirty from the inital bloom which I attribute to the scrubber! In-fact I didn't get my clean up crew until 4/1 and they mowed down what was there in 48 hours.

I'll post more pics as the tank progresses...

SantaMonica
04-07-2011, 12:10 PM
Very nice first build!

If that's a long-tentacle plate coral, it will only last a month or two, so don't think that your scrubber is causing problems :)

mrbncal
04-07-2011, 11:09 PM
Looks like a great start, waiting for more pictures!

Wavecookies
04-08-2011, 12:06 PM
Very nice setup! I also love the counter-top tiles :)

calvin415
04-10-2011, 04:53 PM
Very nice first build!

If that's a long-tentacle plate coral, it will only last a month or two, so don't think that your scrubber is causing problems :)

Thanks, it's a STP, but not concerned...


Looks like a great start, waiting for more pictures!

Thanks, coming right up...


Very nice setup! I also love the counter-top tiles :)

Thanks, took some work, but we are happy with the look.


Here's today's work, 1 week of growth...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6341.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6343.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6345.jpg

Water turned off, and pipe removed

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6347.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6348.jpg

Screen removed from the pipe

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6349.jpg

All back together

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6350.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6353.jpg

And the results, even more than last time:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6354.jpg

SantaMonica
04-10-2011, 08:42 PM
Great growth for a first week.

spideybry
04-13-2011, 10:41 AM
Awesome little tank. I am ordering 2 of the AI pendants, cant wait to get them. Love the simple set up :)

maglofster
04-23-2011, 02:17 AM
VERY nice setup! You should post this in the ATS thread on Reefcentral!

Bridgeport
04-24-2011, 06:35 PM
Great setup! Its amazing how green the algae is.

itzrulez
04-25-2011, 05:28 AM
Can u say whats your setup?
of lightning, distance of screen etc...
you had a great result, and i'm not having one....
as far as i can see, its really simple....
but i want to know specifically!
tnx so far!

calvin415
04-29-2011, 08:39 PM
Can u say whats your setup?
of lightning, distance of screen etc...
you had a great result, and i'm not having one....
as far as i can see, its really simple....
but i want to know specifically!
tnx so far!

Light is just a PC flood lamp from Home Depot and is actually 18 months old... It is about 2 inches from the screen which is approximately 7x7 lit from one side which good for a 24.5 gallon tank so it's more than my 18 gallon tank needs. :)

I think the results are outstanding, by far the cleanest tank I've ever had with the least amount of maintenance. I clean the scrubber once a week skimmer once every two weeks and clean the film off the glass once a week... I don't hold back on feed, I feed frozen, pellets, arctic pods and phytofeast all the time!

Took some pics of my new corals from the last swap, and tank the other day... Want to get a few more LPS corals, and maybe some primo zoanthids and let everything grow in. :)

Red Planet:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6422.jpg

Sexy Shrimp:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6423.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6449.jpg

Scoly:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6425.jpg

Blue Hawkins Enchinada:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6430.jpg

And with the pipefish:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6442.jpg

Pumpkin Millepora:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6443.jpg

Top down of my plate:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6445.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6446.jpg

Pink Lemonade:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6450.jpg

Bangaii's are getting bigger (only 2 of the inital 5 have made it :( )
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6448.jpg

More Top Downs:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6431.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6433.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6436.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6438.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6439.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6440.jpg

FTS:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6451.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6452.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6453.jpg

Ace25
04-29-2011, 08:59 PM
That has got to be one of the cleanest looking tanks overall that I have ever seen. Very well done! Very cool pipefish.. don't see those to often in tanks with corals due to flow issues between the 2.

itzrulez
04-29-2011, 09:31 PM
uhm really tnx! :D
whats the wattage of the lamp?
did u add the fishes, before the screen get good green?
could u post more pictures of your sump, ats etc?
thats it!tnx by now! :D
later i'll ask some pictures of the tank, and specifications...
but first i want to set my sump-tank.....
i post some pictures for you in a while! :D

Rumpy Pumpy
05-01-2011, 04:13 AM
Where are inlet and outlets?

I can see one bulkhead fitting in the first pictures but I don't see how the water level is being maintained, nor where the return goes to?

Rumpy Pumpy
05-01-2011, 04:17 AM
Where are inlet and outlets?

I can see one bulkhead fitting in the first pictures but I don't see how the water level is being maintained, nor where the return goes to?


Oh hang on, I see now you have an overflow box on the back, still can't see the pipe from it though, nicely done.

I take it that the bulkhead in the bottom of the tank is the return, how do you stop the tank from emptying out in the event of a power failure or a pump failure? Some sort of non-return valve?

calvin415
05-01-2011, 12:09 PM
This video should explain everything...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKotbWAZWFY

Here is a link to my full build, I wanted to focus on just the ATS here...

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... pic=260112 (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=260112)

Rumpy Pumpy
05-02-2011, 07:30 AM
Nicely done

rygh
05-03-2011, 05:43 PM
I think the results are outstanding, by far the cleanest tank I've ever had with the least amount of maintenance. I clean the scrubber once a week skimmer once every two weeks and clean the film off the glass once a week... I don't hold back on feed, I feed frozen, pellets, arctic pods and phytofeast all the time!


Agree. The combination of skimmer + ATS + lots of food is proving to be really great for me as well.
I even have a similar Octopus skimmer.
Sure, might be possible to go skimmer-less. And for some, might be better. But I like the results of the combo.

I admire how it is so "open". The rockscape, the rimless tank, the way it is placed on the counter, the way the LEDs are well above the tank.
It all works together well.

But hey, big long counter like that, I bet you could upgrade and put a nice 12' tank there.
:-)

calvin415
05-03-2011, 10:28 PM
Thanks Rumpy

Rygh this was actually a down grade from a 12 footer... Here is that build thread. ;)

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... pic=154877 (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=154877)

Wavecookies
05-18-2011, 08:03 PM
super nice setup. Love it.

Floyd R Turbo
05-19-2011, 06:50 AM
On man! did you tear down that tank? I saw that build on RC it looked awesome!

calvin415
05-19-2011, 08:20 PM
Thanks for the feedback guys, yes I took down the 12'er and put this in it's place... I just added another video that shows the simplicity of the ATS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ztEyzHESsE

calvin415
10-21-2011, 01:58 PM
Finally have my SOL dialed in and colors are starting to pop, figured I'd post some updates to show how the ATS is doing. Cleaned the glass for the first time in months the other day and removed more coraline algae than anything else!

For some reason the side shots sucks so I'm sticking to just top downs.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6604.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6628.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6626.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6619.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/calvin415/ADA%20Build/DSCN6617.jpg

SantaMonica
10-22-2011, 11:55 AM
Top down shots are so cool

RkyRickstr
10-23-2011, 06:31 AM
Huge fan of your set ups calvin.. the 12 foot is one of my all time favorites.. oh and btw.. it was thru ur build thread in rc that i first found out about scrubbers... Lol.. so thanks for saving me so much money!.. haha