Mini ATS in a pico? - Possible?

[Tobias]

Hey everyone.

Our hobby is advancing is many directions. Many have started to have socalled picotanks which usually are really unstable. I have a picotank myself with macro algea, chemi-pure and Live Rock as the only filtration (no skimmer). These ATS have really caught my attetion and i were wondering if it is possible to make a mini ATS?

Picture of my tank:
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/TobiasAakjaer/01-08-2010/IMG_0798.jpg

I want the ATS in the HOB refugium that i have, so the light i have in there will both let the Cheato and the ATS grow.
The HOB is an AC70
The maximum screen size may be around 7x10 cm or something.
The light that im using in the AC70 is a Solar Duo Boy 13w 6500 K

I dont know much about ATS's yet, so i hoped that some of you could help me a bit

Thanks in advance

- Tobias Aakjær

Btw, if you want to see more about my pico tank here are some links:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.p ... pic=237259 (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=237259)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuvJ77jzmk8

[SantaMonica]

About the only easy thing to try is to put some screen on the hob overflow where it flows into the tank, and put a 8 watts fluorescent light on about 2 inches from it (the display light is too far away). But if it did work, your xenia and other macros would suffer.

[Tobias]

You are a genious. I had never thought of that idea. My parents will not be pleased with more lamps in my aquarium.. (im 16 so im still living at my parents.)

Do you thinkt it would be possible without the extra light?

[SantaMonica]

If you reposition the light so that it is near the hob (3"), so that half the light hits the screen and the other half hit the tank, it might grow. You also would want to remove any macros from your tank, so the screen could grow faster.

[Tobias]

Okay i'll give it a try when i get back home :D

[Tobias]

I have given it a try. Will get some extra light soon. The screens are together around 9,2 Square inches..

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/TobiasAakjaer/ATS/IMG_0824.jpg
http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/TobiasAakjaer/ATS/IMG_0825.jpg

[Tobias]

How do you know if it rough enough?

I jused corn 30 sandpaper and a holesaw..

[SantaMonica]

From the edge, you can see little pieces:

http://www.radio-media.com/fish/CanvasCompare.jpg

[Tobias]

Mine is close, but probably not rough enough ):

Could you explain better how to do it that rough?

[SantaMonica]

Run yours for a while and see how it works. Now it will be a matter of how much light you can get on it, and if you can do it for up to 18 hours.

[Tobias]

I did my best to make it rough..

Im thinking about how to get some light on it.. My brain is lazy after 10 weeks of holiday..

Found this bulb: http://www.miss-thrifty.co.uk/wp-conten ... t-bulb.bmp (http://www.miss-thrifty.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/energy-saving-light-bulb.bmp)
11W energy saver..

Would it do the job?

[SantaMonica]

Get something like a mini-floodlight. It will already have a reflector to focus it.

[Tobias]

Wish that you said that before I made my own reflector.. x)

Dont know what the danish word for flood-light is x)

[Vannpytt]

"Lyskaster / flomlys"

[Tobias]

"Lyskaster / flomlys"

Thanks mate (:

[Tobias]

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/TobiasAakjaer/ATS/IMG_0828.jpg

Ill try this for some weeks and see if it works (: