Starting NEW tank with ATS only advice PLZ

[Devaji108]

Hey Guys,
I have been out of the reefing game for about 2 years now. but I have a place where I can have another tank. so I decided on a 40/40 instead of setting my 75 back up. this way when I move again I for sure can fit in no matter where I move. ( in theory anyway)

I have been wanting to do ATS only tank for a while I really like the idea and it makes since to me. hopefully it will have the results I am looking for.

so the tank is going to focus on gorgonians , softies LPS and maybe a few Macros (not sure they will grow with a ATS tank. ) also will do a few select SPS like birds nest & monti.

So from what I have researched there is not much if any info on stating tanks OFF with ATS. I will be using rally nice aquacultered FL. LR with tons of live on it. dry sand. special grade reef floor. have it in my 75 love it. just have it a good rinse yesterday.

I made an UPflow ATS a while back then could not set up the tank. its a I believe 2 cubes a day (as I was thinking of doing seahorses ) about 6 x 4 single sided. with 2 cree red 660 LEDs driving at 350ma. I have room for more LEDs on my heat sink if need be. I believe my driver can push up to 4.

so what is the best lighting schedule to start off with? 12hr? 17hr? 1hr on 1hr off?

Oh and what about running carbon? how often or if at al? I don't want yellow water...but don"t need supper SPS clean water either.

so any thoughts feedback about setting up a new tank off of ATS would be great.

[SantaMonica]

Starting with a scrubber is better than adding one later, because you won't get an overload black growth. Growth in a new tank will be very little, until you feed more.

Add more LEDs to your light. If they are 1 watt LEDs, try to change to 3 watt, driven at least 500 ma. 18 hours.

Carbon is up to you.

[Devaji108]

Hey Sm,
yeah the cree LEDs are the 3watts each. so you think i should still add a 3rd?
I believe the highest my driver can push is 350 ma if I remember right. yeah I just check it, it's the moon light driver from rapid LED. so I can push 1-4 but only @ 350 ma

so until i get some growth should I stick with 2 or just get a 3rd from the get go?

[Devaji108]

So if I run carbon what have you guys found is the best way?
filter reactor
HOB filter
or just a bag of carbon in a DIY reactor of sorts fed from a T off overflow?

[SantaMonica]

350 is way low for 3 watt leds. Might as well get a driver that can do 500 or 600, for 4 leds.

I'm a fan of just hanging bags in and letting them sway around. Takes longer, but is easier.

[Devaji108]

Oh man that sucks I thought i got the right driver..booo started an upflow ATS build about a year ago. was nice and small to.
so what driver do you guys recommend?

[SantaMonica]

Any 500 or 600 ma LED driver; there are many on ebay, and we have ours here:
http://www.santa-monica.cc/LED-driver_p_58.html

[Devaji108]

OK thanks SM I might have one around need to look through my fish goodies boxes to see.

[Devaji108]

well shit I cracked my tank trying to drill it. :( boooo
so until I decided about a replacement. I am gonna get my DIY upflow ATS working.
what do you think about setting it up in the sump for a while and feed it. could help with the process right. get that 1st week or so of growth, then when I add the DT it will be faster.

[SantaMonica]

Yea drilling is tough.

You can start in the sump, if you put a fish in there to make some ammonia. Otherwise it won't grow much at all.

[Devaji108]

OK looked through my fish box of goodies and I do have the mean well LPC 35-700 from when I was gonna make a H2o fall scrubber for my 75.
it will push 3 to 15 leds @ 700 ma.

so the question is to I use 3 or 4 LEDs or more?

[Devaji108]

Oh and I do have a bottle of ammonia + some BRS dry rock form what i hear it leaks No4

and if anyone is reading this use a drill with a cord or a good cordless the one I use i think was just not cutting it. ( ha pun intended) tried a 2nd time cracked
but on the 3 and 4th time with a corded drill I make some nice hole in the tank.
still not 100% sure if i am gonna drill the new tank or just get a overflow box. if I crack a 2nd tank I would be pretty upset.

[SantaMonica]

Use 4 LEDs

A real fish is better, so that the proper algae can grow based on the urea + ammonia/ammonium available.

[Devaji108]

so here is my LED side of my Up flow ATS the heat sink is a pice of electoral box plate with to washers to give some air flow behind it. I do have room for a 3rd or 4th LED.
can't seam to attach the image from photobucket but here is a link.

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20150612_151146.jpg

I also was playing a around with the idea of coating the screen with some fresh crushed coral heads here is a link.
http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20150612_151316.jpg
http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/devaji108/20150612_151259.jpg

[SantaMonica]

Glue the plate to the case, and it will help radiate heat out.

The coral looks good; even more ground up is ok.

[Devaji108]

sweet I can do that. should I take the ruffed up screen out and just glue crushed coral to case?

[SantaMonica]

Yes the coral will be a much better attachment.

[Devaji108]

OK got side tracked trying to hunt down another 40br....drilling sucks man.
so your saying just glue the metal plate to the case and heat will escape better that way? I thought it was a good idea to have some air in there...

what type of glue should I use for the crush coral and the plate?

[SantaMonica]

Yes enough heat should go through the thin plastic cover, into the air.

Use Devcon 30 minute epoxy.

[Devaji108]

ok I'll see if I can find it. if not I am sure amazon has it.
I still need to silicone the magnets on the wet side correct?

[SantaMonica]

You can coat them in epoxy, twice, instead if you like.

[Devaji108]

Hey Sm I have a tube of JB water weld I was thinking I would press a thin layer on the plastic case then add the crushed coral.
next question is there a difference running a upflow vertical or horizontal the bubbles would still be going up the CC

[SantaMonica]

The JB should be fine. And the angle should not matter much.

[Devaji108]

yeah I tested a small amount of Jb weld then added the CC I think it gonna work great!!
Ok now on to the bubbles. if i remember right the best way to do it is cut along the air tubing ( in the middle ) then every so often maybe an .5" make a slit across the tubbing.
sound about right?

[SantaMonica]

Yes, or you can make crosscuts too, to allow you to open the segments and clean inside.

[Devaji108]

I think I know what you mean but got a photo?
I was thinking of using a TOMs aqua lifter for the bubbles is there a better quitter one out there?

thanks SM for all the help :D

[SantaMonica]

http://algaescrubber.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5373&d=1399603666

Aqualifter is way to little. I always recommend the Fusion 700 or the Tetra Whisper AP300

[Devaji108]

yeah thanks what i was thinking after realizing it quit small GPH...

[Devaji108]

Has anyone used the Danner Aqua Supreme AP-8 Aquarium Air Pump, 7-watt?
was thinking it might be a good idea as it controllable and has 4 outlets.
I want to try my hand at a pod growing station for a mandarin =1 outlet
the ATS =1 outlet
possable 2nd ATS
not sure id I should get one with more outlets? new to air pumps... but if i use all 4 will it decrease the air flow per outlet?
anyone know?

[SantaMonica]

You can combine the outlets and they should add up to the total of the separate ones. Put 2 outlets on the scrubber.

[Devaji108]

so you think I would need 2 outlets for the scrubber? plumbed together in to 1 air line tube going to the ATS or two airline tubes going in the ATS?
alos was wondering about just coating the magnets with supper glue? or should i just stick with the silicone. can't get an ID on if my epoxy is reef safe and i have both of these around and i know there safe.

[SantaMonica]

Two combined to one would be best.

Super glue won't seal it. Needs to be epoxy or silicone. So just use silicone.

[Devaji108]

thats a lot of bubble power! HA
yeah i'll just use silicone then...