Overflow ATS

[Byron]

Hi Guys,
This is my first time using a forum. I love your site! I have never tried a ATS before, but I always wondered why they (ATS) didn't work compared to say a Refugium. Well now I know they do. I have devoured your site over the last couple of weeks and I think I have a good grasp of the basic principles. I thought I would post a few shots of my tank and a quick ATS I set up about 2weeks ago. It is set up in my overflow, as soon as I can I will make a proper ATS in my sump. The tank is 8' x 2' x 2' reef tank. Really looking forward to shutting down Rhowaphos, skimmer etc.
Cheers Ben

[kerry]

I scoffed at the idea of a scrubber until I built one but, the crow tastes sssssssssoooooooo good LOL.

[Byron]

Hi Kerry,
This ATS is a lot like the one you have posted on your horizontal thread. Are you getting good results from it? Here's a little more in info on my set up-averaging 4 cubes food a day, it's a bare bottom tank with deep sand in the sump, skimmer, Rhowaphos and a lot of live rock in the DT. I would like to shut down the Rhowaphos now, should I wait until the ATS is more established or go for it?

[kerry]

I would keep what you have and wait for the new technology to come out if you can. If you get the light closer or more wattage the growth would really increase. Also dont be afraid to let it grow for 14 days. Those horizontals are hardest to get going. Also be sure the light is as close to the 2300K as possible. I have found that with the horizontal that even 20+ hours is ok if you have to. If your phosphate is low you can stop it (rhowaphos) now.

[Byron]

Thanks Kerry, the light is a 24watt T5 "Full Spectrum" 6700K. The light is currently on a timer with the main display so it's only lit for 12hrs. I will test for Phosphate today. I'll keep you posted!

[kerry]

I would get it on another timer, those horizontals really need longer hours to grow the real thick stuff you seen in my pics. A bulb in the 2300K range will work a lot better to. I could not get much result when I was using a 5500K. Are you dosing your tank know or are you doing weekly water changes?

[Byron]

I'm doing water changes every 10-14 days around 25% of the DT, I'm using RO water and Red Sea Coral Pro salt. Thanks for the info! will change the light over now

[kerry]

Also, when you get the scrubber going it will not be necessary to do water changes (for the most part). So when you get to this point you will need to dose supplements so you really need to read up on them.

[kerry]

I forgot to put a link to start with: http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?1637-Keeping-up-Ca-Mg-and-str&goto=newpost Its the last page but it has a good link there.

[Byron]

I'm really looking on cutting down the water changes, costing me a small fortune! I'll start reading up on supplements.

[kerry]

I came from about the same position you did. I water changed weekly for decades!! For the most part you can make your own and SAVE a TON of money. You can dose Alk and Calcium with Mrs Wages pickling powder (calcium hydroxide), or just Alk with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), or just Calcium with Calcium chloride from the local pool supply, and Magnesium with Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate). The stuff I buy is Strontium (Kent) and Kent Marine Iron & Manganese.

[SantaMonica]

4 cubes, horizontal, is going to need at least 60 watts.

[kerry]

When I said more wattage I should have stated the amount, my bad, I never looked to get the right amount. Good catch SM!!

[Byron]

Hi SM, thanks for the update. Off to the hardware now, going to build a double sided ATS for my sump. Hey I really appreciate your help Kerry on the supplements etc

[kerry]

No problem, there is alway someone here willing to help. I was just loafing at work anyway. I like the two sided!! be sure to read the new sizing thread.

[Byron]

ok, a quick fix and should do for now. The closet I could get today to 2300k was 3000k, but they are 28watt.

[fauxjargon]

I think you need better reflectors - look for clip on shop lights at a hardware store. Other than that I think you did a nice job with the available space. However, SantaMonica is going to be publishing (I think?) the new scrubber design he is working on in April, which I'm sure is better than the existing methods that we use. So you might want to just stick with this scrubber, plus all of your old filtration until that comes out and then re-evaluate.

[SantaMonica]

More pics would help, but I don't think those lights/reflectors are going to work.

[Byron]

Hi Guys,
This is only temporary until I get my sump ATS built, going to use this/same screen. It's hard to see because of the size of the photo, but I have enclosed the whole top of the overflow/ATS in aluminum foil. It's getting great light in there. As of this morning I have considerable more algae than yesterday afternoon when I changed the lights over. I havn't mentioned that the screen size is 13.5"x7" which when double sided should be right for my system (of course I will need to get flow and Watts correct too). Feeding on average 4 cube per day.
Tested for Phosphate yesterday which was a zero reading, but this is of course incorrect because I have good algae growth in the tank and on the scrubber (it was just a simple hobby test kit)
Nitrate also tested at zero which I think is correct, I have a large DSB. I will try and re-size and send more photo's through. This is hard for me, but I'm not going to clean any algae in the DT, I'm going to let the ATS do it's job.
Cheers Ben