Week old ATS (updates)

[SHOKOY]

I'm new to the site though not a newbie in the hobby. I keep surfing the net looking for a best natural method to eliminate Po4 with less electricity consumption and i always landing in Algae Turf Scrubber design. Suddenly i opened this site of SANTA MONICA and to my surprise i saw a lot of Filipino reefer that is active to this site. Honestly i am not a fan of this filtration though i tried using it in my early years in the hobby. When i upgraded to much bigger tank i decided to go with bigger skimmer and a DSB. After reading some successful ATS thread got interested to try it again. I re-pipe my overflow piping to incorporate a gravity fed ATS. (i've no idea how much flow i have in my screen). After a week of testing/wet-run i see presence of red slime algae in the screen (does this mean the ATS is working?).
NEED TO IMPROVE LIGHTING
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3277/ats1v.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/999/ats2.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/8005/ats3.jpg
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/5070/ats4.jpg
USE MY OLD SILVER CAR WINDSHIELD SHADE ATTACHED IN THE CABINET WALL


Hoping to get inputs on you guys to make it effective.

TIA

REEFPHILIPPINES.COM

[SantaMonica]

Hello Shakoy,

Yes you need to fix the lighting. Also, the reflector material is not helping. It is only going to cause algae to grow in your sump.

Remove both bulbs and replace with a spiral CFL bulb in a big reflector, like this... Use 40 watts bulbs if you can:


http://www.radio-media.com/fish/BestCFL2.jpg

http://www.radio-media.com/fish/BestCFL4.jpg

[SHOKOY]

Actually lighting are both spiral CFL. One is a regular spiral 20w CFL daylight and the other one is a PAR38 spiral CFL 6500K. maybe just need for a replacement because both bulbs are almost 2 yrs old now. I just put the silver shade because the cabinet varnish is a bit darker. but you're the expert so i must obey.. :D

Thank You SM

[Floyd R Turbo]

Those lights that you show in the first pic are CFL floodlights, which have a spiral CFL inside but it's not very effective. Those are not considered to be equivalent to a standard spiral with a dome reflector. So have you changed them since you took that pic?

[SHOKOY]

First thank you to SM & Floyd.
Actually i'm planning to replace the bulbs this week as soon as i get a chance dropping by in a depot.

QUESTION: Should i need to let the lights On 24/7?
Why it accumulates red slime algae instead of green hairy algae?

TIS

[SantaMonica]

No.

Because the light is weak.

[SHOKOY]

Gotta chance to find this lighting reflector.. :D

http://upimagehosting.com/image-7B3B_4E67FABD.jpg

the Spiral CFL GE 20w
http://upimagehosting.com/image-F06E_4E67FB86.jpg

Facing the screen
http://upimagehosting.com/image-5467_4E67FBD2.jpg
http://upimagehosting.com/image-E367_4E67FBF7.jpg

Any comment/help to make this scrubber effective will be highly appreciated..
TIA

[SantaMonica]

20 watts seems very small for that big screen. Nice reflector though.

[SHOKOY]

I am planning to make it 2-20w double side or should i make it 40w single sided? what is good?

[SantaMonica]

Multiple is always better.

[SHOKOY]

The reflector and the bulb really makes a difference. On the 3rd day since i replaced the lighting, i saw the build up of green stuff more than the previous red slimy algae though its not a hairy thing atleast i know the ATS is working.. :D
i will try to post pic the soonest..

[Floyd R Turbo]

Gotta chance to find this lighting reflector.. :D

http://upimagehosting.com/image-7B3B_4E67FABD.jpg

Where did you find that? It's much shinier (and looks thicker) than the cheapo home depot ones