Generation 4 ATS build

[rygh]

Good to hear.

The size change is mostly to make it fit in the sump. But from pictures, my growth is not as long,
so pretty clearly over-sized.

I do hope to eliminate the diffusion grid. I am pretty sure I am losing a fair bit of light in that.

I did not mention flow, but largely because it will be adjustable.
The max flow is the entire tank drain, which is from dual Pan world 50PX-X, with about 4 feet of
head = roughly 1400 GPH.
At a 16 inch width, that is 90 GPH/inch.
But I will have a bypass valve, plus I can limit it with slot width.

[Cole_lol]

As for LEDs I have found that using one 3W LED @ 700mA on each side for every 2" x 2" section is about the maximum and seems to work well. If you're running then at a lower mA then keeping it the same would probably be about right and you may not need diffusers then. I have a few people removing the diffusers after the screen is well cured and their growth doubles. So keep that in mind.

EDIT I just read all of your post and 3x the recommended size, I would go for that. If it works, it works. Why change it that much.

So you suggest at a max one 3 watt led at 700 ma per 2in x 2in square. Is that with out without the led being difused?
What light cycle do you recomend at this wattage?

Also you suggest that oversizeing the screen? So what every the recomended amount is multiply it by 1.5?

[kerry]

This led stuff is all over the road. I have about a 36" (6x6 roughly) screen and run 5 3 watt leds per side (one of the 5 is blue 445nm) driven at 680mA though diffusers. I get huge growth like this too, like to the tune of it hangs off like a mop after a couple weeks if I feed heavy. Other times it just grows 1-2" thick.

[rygh]

As for LEDs I have found that using one 3W LED @ 700mA on each side for every 2" x 2" section is about the maximum and seems to work well. If you're running then at a lower mA then keeping it the same would probably be about right and you may not need diffusers then. I have a few people removing the diffusers after the screen is well cured and their growth doubles. So keep that in mind.

Wow, that is a very different number from what I have. But you did say max.
So 6W total for 4 sq in. = 420W for 280 sq in.
I have 1/9 that, with diffusion grid.

I realized I calculated the wattage wrong above on my "new guidelines" as well.
Confused on the usual single/dual side thing.
Should have been 144 CFL watts, not 72 CFL watts.

Comparing my scrubber to the recommended one:
My screens are really big, but my lighting is really weak.

Funny.

[rygh]

Wow, that is a very different number from what I have. But you did say max.
So 6W total for 4 sq in. = 420W for 280 sq in.
I have 1/9 that, with diffusion grid.

I realized I calculated the wattage wrong above on my "new guidelines" as well.
Confused on the usual single/dual side thing.
Should have been 144 CFL watts, not 72 CFL watts.

Comparing my scrubber to the recommended one:
My screens are really big, but my lighting is really weak.

Funny.

Oops : Actually no, my lighting based on feed rate is about right.
My lighting based on screen size is off.
Basically - screen is too large.
But of course it works.
I get 1/3 inch or so per week, where others get 1 inch, because my screen is 3X too large.
Ehhh...

[Ace25]

How about one of these to cool them? Don't ask where to find a real one, but I thought it was an interesting idea for a cooling fan for LEDs.



As for lighting, I think once you get the correct spectrum(s) the amount you use can vary widely, and as I am finding out with my .06w LED PAR38 bulbs (11w total), you really don't need much to get great growth. Personally, I don't buy into the line of thinking that you want to try and match your display intensity to your ATS as I have read, but that is just my opinion.

[rleahaines]

What I am running into is the overpowering of the UAS by the display lighting. Getting more Algae in the Display Tank than in the UAS. Mostly hair algae.

I also am getting lots of Algae growth in my siphon/overflow box - almost as if it is a algae scrubber itself.

I am reducing DT hours slowly and raising UAS lighting hours - although I current have the UAS lights running 18 on 6 off

I also am cutting back on feeding my fishes.

Of course harvesting algae from anywhere in the system exports P and Nitrates. Just not getting a pretty algae free tank.

My Xenia corals are growing like crazy.

Coralline Algae is starting to grow in a number of places as well.

[rygh]

Digi-Key has the Nuventix cooling thingamajigs. About $20.
Intriguing.

[rygh]

So here is the latest plan.
A few tweaks. One less white.
I really want to try passive cooling.
Each side is 20 Watts, but probably less than 10 of that is thermal.
The idea is to mount everything on an aluminum plate.
The LED side is mostly sealed.
But there will be large heat sinks on top, exposed to air.

If that does not work, I can add a fan that pipes air in.

[rygh]

Sweet, another rygh build

Check out Steve's LEDs for the fan blowers MA mentions. Old ones out of Sony TVs that were discontinued.

I just figured out what you meant by Steve's LEDs. I had assumed it was a thread on these forums.
Glad I have not ordered the electronics yet.