Ace's ATS v2.0 - LEDs

[Ace25]

I agree, there is no way you can compare identical scrubbers on 2 different tanks due to the reasons you described. It would be near impossible to have identical results on 2 different display tanks.

As for the slot, yes, it is algae coming from my display getting stuck inside the pipe. I have this fern looking algae growing in my display that I pull out handfuls each week. I pull out as much out of the display as I clean off the screen each week. I try and remove as much as I can but a few pieces get pulled into the overflow, in turn getting stuck in the pipe and causing flow issues. Thinking about it more, I don't see how making the slot a little bigger would help because these are large chunks of algae getting in the pipe and I would have to widen the slot way to much in order for this type of algae to pass through, so I will probably just have to wait it out until the algae in my display is gone, then I will not have any more flow issues. When I clean the screen and pipe each week the flow is perfect over the entire screen right after I clean it.

[Floyd R Turbo]

Take a paper clip and straighten it out, then bend it so that you can then insert one end into the slot between the screen and the edge of the slot on one side, and drag it back and forth. Then go to the other side. That should loosen any clogs, or at least push them to the end of the slot tube.

[vicbay]

Another week, another harvest. Harvest weight (wet but squeezed as much water out as I could): Red/White side=50grams, Red/White/Blue side=46grams. PAR is higher at the screen than a SM100 scrubber, so I am doubting that lighting is an issue, but I still think I can refine it more (possibly use optics/switch out the whites for more reds/blues to maximize LED potential). I also added a Maxijet 1200 going up through my emergency output side so I have about 500GPH coming in from the overflow side and 300GPH coming from othe opposite side. It seemed to help out. Now I am thinking my slot it just a tad too tight... when all clean it is loose, but any little bit of algae gets stuck in the pipe and it causes flow problems in narrow spots on the screen, as can be seen by the yellowing areas on each side which corresponded with less flow over those spots.

What is the par on your screen? Is it uniform? If not what does it range from?
Did you ever have a chance to measure par on a fixture like that used on an sm100?

I tested my leds a lil more and get 1250 par at an inch and one eighth away. However to keep it that uniformly across the screen I'd have to put an led star ever 1.1 inches. That's too expensive.

I did check my t5 48" fixture over my display. With a 3000k bulb I get about 1050par sticking sensor to the bulb. With an ATI blue plus bulb. I get about 1300 par. Sticking sensor to bulb. So that suggest that 1250 is too high for my led scrubber. Or at least not needed. So I started looking for smaller leds. Seen ml-b cree leds. They're 1/4 watt. But would spread light better. Just lots more work. Anyone had any experience with these?

And does anyone have any par measurements from the xp-g warm whites or xm-l warm white crees?

[Floyd R Turbo]

When you say 'sticking sensor to bulb' does that mean you're putting it right against the lamp?

[Ace25]

The fixture on the SM100 scrubber is around 440 PAR on average at the screen on each side, assuming it is right about 2" from the screen (don't have one in person to get an exact measurement).

Right now, the PAR on the side with Red/Whites is 500-600 PAR at the screen without optics running @ 700mA. The side with the royal blues is 800-900 PAR over the entire screen, it is pretty uniform in coverage on my setup. I do have a star every 1" now, 5 in a row, 2 rows so 10 leds per side.

I just tested my XR-E warm whites on my main display light, not exactly what you need to know though. Without optics, 2" from LED, it is about 500 PAR directly under, but it tapers off quickly as you move to the side. With 60 degree optics, it is 2000 PAR 2" from the LED, those were running at 1000mA though.

This was how I measured the light for the SM100 fixture.

[vicbay]

When you say 'sticking sensor to bulb' does that mean you're putting it right against the lamp?

Lol. Yup. The sensor is touching the lamp. I know it's unorthodox but its easy to compare lamps that way.
But if anyone is aware of a problem with that kind of measurement please let me know. Thanks.

[vicbay]

The fixture on the SM100 scrubber is around 440 PAR on average at the screen on each side, assuming it is right about 2" from the screen (don't have one in person to get an exact measurement).

Right now, the PAR on the side with Red/Whites is 500-600 PAR at the screen without optics running @ 700mA. The side with the royal blues is 800-900 PAR over the entire screen, it is pretty uniform in coverage on my setup. I do have a star every 1" now, 5 in a row, 2 rows so 10 leds per side.

I just tested my XR-E warm whites on my main display light, not exactly what you need to know though. Without optics, 2" from LED, it is about 500 PAR directly under, but it tapers off quickly as you move to the side. With 60 degree optics, it is 2000 PAR 2" from the LED, those were running at 1000mA though.

Ahh. Ok. Thanks for the information. Now that I have some numbers I guess its time to try a build finally. Lol.

Keep the updates coming ace. I'll sure keep my eyes out for them.

[Floyd R Turbo]

I would think you would not get a reliable measurement by doing it this way. You should measure PAR at the distance where the screen will be. I have never heard of PAR measurement being taken at the lamp surface.

[Ace25]

Didn't want to make a new thread just for this since I doubt I will be updating info on this tank... just thought I would share.

I got a free tank, stand, and 20G sump from fellow reefer. Tank was old and dirty, so first thing, clean it up and let run with a gallon of vinegar for several days.



After cleaning, painting, and cleaning up the stand.


This tank I plan on going solely with an ATS for all filtration. So I built this ATS which uses a full size screen of 10.5" x 13.5". The screen will be 10.5" in the slot and have a 600gph pump with a valve to adjust it down if needed. I will be using 42w 2700k CFL bulbs.


And this is what it looks like in the sump.


Still a bunch of work to do before the tank it up and running in a couple days.. one thing is build a light/splash shield to cover the top part of the screen and make sure nothing sprays out of the sump.

[itzrulez]

dont forget to update about this tank!
i want to see a tank goes with ATS from zero!