Some advise about my ATS

[Chad Nieman]

Hopefully you can help. Ive had mine going since 4/1/12 My system is 300 gal. My screen size is 42x7 , I'm over driving 4 48" 3000K bulbs with an ice cap ballast. And pushing 2400 gph down the screen. Its light on both sides. My screen barely has any algae on it. A couple small splochy areas and towards the top of the bar. I have very nice even flow all the way down the screen. My tank right now has red slime in it and the screen just seems to produce red/brown slime that I can just spray right off. I just started cleaning it twice a week last week trying to keep that slime off of it. I run my ATS light cycle 12 on 12 off right now but was running it 16 on 8 off. Any thoughts?

Thank you

Chad

[SantaMonica]

42 X 7 = 294 square inches = 24.5 cubes of food a day.

How much are you feeding?

[Chad Nieman]

Not that much. did I make the screen to big for a 300 gallon?

[Chad Nieman]

8 cubes

[Floyd R Turbo]

Yeah, way too big. Sizing is based on feeding now, not tank size. 8 cubes/day would be 8x12=96 sq in. Over sizing wil spread the growth out too much

[SantaMonica]

Switch to 24" bulbs, and cut the screen vertically in half.

[Floyd R Turbo]

I would actually cut the screen down to 16-18" wide and use 24" lamps. 24" lamps are actually only about 20" of lamp and the last inch of that, the light level drops off dramatically at the screen level because it's only getting light from one direction, and the last inch of screen grows red turf heartily.

[Chad Nieman]

Since I already spent hundreds on what I have and my design can I just cut the screen down to 42x3 and I'll pulverize a bunch of dry foods into dust and make up the difference in my feeding? I swore I read on here when I was building this that wider screen was better than longer screen. And don't think for a second I don't appreciate your advise as I do very much. I just blew 700 in equip to build this thing and I need to utilize what I have if I can. Not to mention a whole case of light bulbs for another 150. So if I can cut it down to 42x3 can I get away with only running 2 bulbs 1 on each side?

Thanks

[Garf]

If you spent that much, you done it wrong. My ATS cost diddly.

[Chad Nieman]

The ATS cost diddy like 50 in acrylic. But the external pump and the lights weren't cheap:)





If you spent that much, you done it wrong. My ATS cost diddly.

[SantaMonica]

Wider does flow more water, but it's now known that the size of the screen is more important so that it can grow thick and green which gives the most filtering.

Why not cut the last 6" off the ends of the screen off and seal the slot with tape. Then cut the screen to 4" high. This will be 4 X 36 = 144 sq in., which needs 144 total watts, and will handle 12 cubes of food. If you make it shorter than 4", it won't catch all the light. As it is, you'll want the bulb within an inch of the screen. Should be ok for 8 cubes.

[Floyd R Turbo]

adhesive on tape is not reef safe so I would seal the slot with some PVC pipe one size larger, cut in chunks, then drop in boiling water for a minute and form to the pipe, bond with weld-on 16, then wrap it with zip-ties.

wider is better than longer you read that right but that is really only in cases where you would do 12" tall versus 24" tall for instance. 8 vs 6 no difference. You can trim the screen so that it's less height wise and yes you would be equally better, just try to move the lamps closer so that you don't lose any light strength and concentrate the light you have better.