oatfish
01-21-2010, 07:44 PM
I implemented my external ATS 4.5 weeks ago, and have yet to see green hair algae growth. In fact, besides what seems to me as some light diatom growth on mesh screen I am not getting anything.
Here are the specs. I had a 24x24x6 inch (that's 6 inches deep or 3 inches between clear face of scrubber and screen) acrylic box made so I could run the ATS external to sump. I had SM make my 22x22 screen for me - so we can rule that out as possible problem. I use a Mag12 to feed waterfall pipe so flow not an issue. I have trialed several different waterfall pipe types, particularly the slot, and have settled on approx 3/16 inch slot with no cross cuts and I have a very even (and fast) flow. I am running this 1 sided for now - mounted to wall (if necessary, I can go to 2 sided, but with the size I should be able to keep it as-is?).
I use an 8 bulb T5 fixture which perfectly covers entire screen as it is a 23x23 inch fixture. I am using 3,000K T5 bulbs (24W each). So my screen is 484 sq inches, my flow is easily 50GPH (I have ball valve and have tried many different flow rates) and my lighting is approx 200W of T5 / 3,000K. The waterfall pipe sits in the middle of the 6 inch deep scrubber box, so basically 3 inches from light source, as I put T5 fixture right against scrubber unit. I gravity drain scrubber unit back to sump via 1.5 inch drain. If I ever get this thing working, I plan to post pix of design / operation.
I have had this up and running since Dec 22, 2009 and at most I get a very light brown algae coverage. Almost as if it is just detritus or even diatoms? It is NOT the dark brown/ black I have read of others growing. It is not oily....
I have had a GHA problem in MDT (280 gallon) for 6+ months now which is why I set this up. I can say the GHA in MDT has seemed to come to a stand still (not diminishing but not growing at rate it use to). I have read the FAQ of how to kick start an ATS and that did not help. The first 2 weeks of operation, I cleaned screen every 7 days even though no growth to speak of, but have not cleaned now for 2 weeks.
If it is not a flow issue (again, I have throttled back flow through probably 30GPH per inch through current rate of 50-60 GPH per inch), not a screen issue (SM created) and presumably not a lighting issue (I have tried keeping light source everywhere from 3-5 inches from screen), and I know I have nutrients in MDT to feed GHA on ATS, then why won't it grow?
Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated!
Here are the specs. I had a 24x24x6 inch (that's 6 inches deep or 3 inches between clear face of scrubber and screen) acrylic box made so I could run the ATS external to sump. I had SM make my 22x22 screen for me - so we can rule that out as possible problem. I use a Mag12 to feed waterfall pipe so flow not an issue. I have trialed several different waterfall pipe types, particularly the slot, and have settled on approx 3/16 inch slot with no cross cuts and I have a very even (and fast) flow. I am running this 1 sided for now - mounted to wall (if necessary, I can go to 2 sided, but with the size I should be able to keep it as-is?).
I use an 8 bulb T5 fixture which perfectly covers entire screen as it is a 23x23 inch fixture. I am using 3,000K T5 bulbs (24W each). So my screen is 484 sq inches, my flow is easily 50GPH (I have ball valve and have tried many different flow rates) and my lighting is approx 200W of T5 / 3,000K. The waterfall pipe sits in the middle of the 6 inch deep scrubber box, so basically 3 inches from light source, as I put T5 fixture right against scrubber unit. I gravity drain scrubber unit back to sump via 1.5 inch drain. If I ever get this thing working, I plan to post pix of design / operation.
I have had this up and running since Dec 22, 2009 and at most I get a very light brown algae coverage. Almost as if it is just detritus or even diatoms? It is NOT the dark brown/ black I have read of others growing. It is not oily....
I have had a GHA problem in MDT (280 gallon) for 6+ months now which is why I set this up. I can say the GHA in MDT has seemed to come to a stand still (not diminishing but not growing at rate it use to). I have read the FAQ of how to kick start an ATS and that did not help. The first 2 weeks of operation, I cleaned screen every 7 days even though no growth to speak of, but have not cleaned now for 2 weeks.
If it is not a flow issue (again, I have throttled back flow through probably 30GPH per inch through current rate of 50-60 GPH per inch), not a screen issue (SM created) and presumably not a lighting issue (I have tried keeping light source everywhere from 3-5 inches from screen), and I know I have nutrients in MDT to feed GHA on ATS, then why won't it grow?
Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated!