Attempt #1

[codemonkey812]

This is actually my third attempt at an ATS, but the first one that a actually got to work. It is not what I had designed in my head, but like most things I do it kinda just came together this way. I would have liked to have the lights lower, but I would have had to rearrange my sump. I will give it a few weeks and see what grows. My lights are 26 watt 27K CFL floods, and screen is 4 X 8. I used a drill mounted corse wire brush to rough-up the screen, and a hole saw kept tearing the soft screening I used. The photo is upside down (I am not sure why every photo I upload from my iphone gets flipped), but the light on the right side is lower (more straight on). So if right side does better, I will rearrange my sump to lower my left light.

I appreciate any input, Thank you.

[SantaMonica]

You might try pointing the lights at the middle of the screen instead of the top.

[codemonkey812]

The light on the far side (right) is pointed at the middle, the left light is limited in it's angle by the sump wall. I will have to move my sump over to allow the light to move down.

[codemonkey812]

Another question is about Skimming. I have read that people are just running a ATS as their filter. When will I know my ATS is ready and I can remove my skimmer?

[SantaMonica]

Well you skimmer is already not removing any nitrate or phosphate, so if you tank is ok now it will be ok if you remove the skimmer.

[codemonkey812]

I am getting mostly brown growth, but some green at the bottom.

[SantaMonica]

14 days would be good.

[codemonkey812]

So after three months here is what my ATS looks like. I am cleaning the screen weekly, the pictures are with one week of growth. I am still not seeing lower nitrates in my tank, and still have to clean algae off my tank glass daily. So what an I doing wrong?

[SantaMonica]

Burning the middle. Which is letting go.