scrubit's UAS test

[scrubit]

Thought I'd give the new design a try. I've been running an ATS for over a year now with lots of success, but have been wanting to try the new version since first reading about it.
I'm using a 1/2" slotted pvc with the airstone slid in to the pipe, and the screen is loosely ziptied to the pipe. Its lit with 40w cfls from the front, and I used a screen-sized mirror set at a 45degree angle pointing directly up, just behind the screen to reflect light to the backside. I then just hung cfls directly over the mirror, and so far it seems to work quite well. Although it can't be seen in the pics, I made a simple U-shaped base out of 1"pvc and cut two 45* slots in each end of the U -base and am able to slide the mirror into the angled slots to hold it in place. I also found that placing a powerhead directly behind the mirror funnels all the flow down to the bottom and up the screen increasing the speed of the bubble flow and preventing a lot of the lazy bubbles problem.
I still haven't been able to find airstones that distribute evenly along the length...the ones I've tried so far have heavy areas and light areas.

Any suggestions/critiques greatly appreciated. (other than the picture quality...I'm aware I take pretty bad pictures!)

[Floyd R Turbo]

is your mirror under water? reef safe?

[scrubit]

I wasn't sure on the glass mirror being reef safe, so I cut a piece of acrylic a bit larger than the mirror and siliconed the acrylic to the back of the mirror and ran a bead of silicone around the edges to seal the mirror backing from the water. The acrylic also makes the cheap $5 mirror less likely to get broken.

[scrubit]

Coming up on the second cleaning, this is after 11 days...
The first cleaning was all long brown algae, but I'm starting to get the bright green in the middle. What I find interesting is that the flow of the bubbles up the right and left sides of the screen flow into each other in the middle and create a downward flow of very fine bubbles, and this is where the green is first appearing. The first pic is with the pump running and the front lighting turned off with only the back lighting on. The last two are with bubbles off and the screen tilted back a bit to catch some light. You can see that the brown algae is very long and billowing, probably 4-5" long in places. With the screen in place the longer algae kind of mashes up against the wall of the sump and the bubbles flow through at a quick pace. I was worried the longer stuff would start pulling off the screen, but it seems to be attatched well. Hopefully the green will continue to spread.
I will post pics of cleaning soon.

[scrubit]

Second cleaning after about 3 weeks running. I noticed some small areas of white stuff underneath the heavy brown patches while cleaning the screen...probably should have cleaned it a bit earlier.
The heavy brown stuff grew mostly where the bubbles were very turbulent and roiling, and the green was growing where the flow was a bit more calm, so I'm trying some 'Won' brand rubber air diffusers this week which seem to put out a more balanced, calm flow.

[kerry]

I am not for certain but it look like you are using the screen with finer (smaller holes). I have used both and the finer screen mesh did not work as well for me. See the pic, the one I use has 7 holes per inch.

[scrubit]

No, its #7 canvas...its just a pretty big screen, about 14"wide by 12"tall.

[kerry]

I guess the pic is deceiving. Just wanted to let you know just in case.

[scrubit]

Third cleaning, 12 days...

[SantaMonica]

We're scrubbin' now :)

[Garf]

Scrubit - just a quick one on your lighting. If I understand correctly you've got 2 x 40watt cfl at the front ( a few inches from the screen ) and 2 x 40watt cfl at the top ( shining on your mirror ). Is there any noticeable difference in growth on the front compared to the back of the screen.

[scrubit]

I actually have four 40w cfls maybe 2" from the front of the screen and two 40w about 10" above the back mirror, and there is quite a bit of difference in the growth. The back is almost all long and dark with a few small patches of very dark forest green. I have the lights on a 12on 12off schedule now, and if the front side continues to fill in green I will probably even it out with three on each side next cleaning and adjust the lighting time if needed.

[Garf]

Very impressive growth in such a short time. I'm assuming that the screens were pre-cured in an ATS system, to be able to produce so well in a short period. What have you got this bad boy connected up to, as it's rated for about 10 cubes a day.

[scrubit]

You are correct, the screen was part of my waterfall scrubber for about 8 months so it was pretty established to begin with. Though I was never able to get the green algae to take over the way it seems to be doing with the upflow design.
It is a bit oversized too...its connected to a 125gal DT and I feed 5-6 cubes a day.

[Garf]

So when you've got things where you want them, you can just light the front and turn it into a 5 cube single side, nice plan.