Building a Large ATS

[Ashish Patel]

Hi All

So I got this custom cryptic box build that I used on my old system now want to convert it into a turf scrubber.

I have 600 gallon system volume so purchasing one would be above $1000.


I am going to cut out another rectangle in the other side a glue clear acrylic.


How would this work?
Does anyone know if ATS serves as a good mechanical filter? I ask bc I seen to get alot of detritus hiding in turf algae in the tank. Hoping it will be the same but not sure since it algae won't be submerged in water.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I want to get 2 of these grow lights from amazon for the ATS. I am not sure if I need a lower light intensity to grow this algae but if anyone can chime in let me know.
Since I do have a good amount of area to cover I wanted to get a largest light I could fit

 

[yury88]

For Algae you need linght with 660nm leds
Blue, red 630nm, white leds are not efficient for ATS

 

[Troylee]

Hi All

So I got this custom cryptic box build that I used on my old system now want to convert it into a turf scrubber.

I have 600 gallon system volume so purchasing one would be above $1000.


I am going to cut out another rectangle in the other side a glue clear acrylic.


How would this work?
Does anyone know if ATS serves as a good mechanical filter? I ask bc I seen to get alot of detritus hiding in turf algae in the tank. Hoping it will be the same but not sure since it algae won't be submerged in water.

I’m confused… the water needs to trickle down the mesh to grow algae.. it looks like your set up you wanna feed it horizontally and that won’t work..

 

[Troylee]

In this picture the red would have to be your slotted pvc and the mesh is the white obviously… you need to patch the bulkhead at the top and put one in the bottom as a drain to work efficiently…

 

[Ashish Patel]

I’m confused… the water needs to trickle down the mesh to grow algae.. it looks like your set up you wanna feed it horizontally and that won’t work..

The mesh is from a previous install but it will trickle from the top. I ordered acrylic cement and have one of those old hang on the back refugiums with clear acrylic, which I will use to cover the holes on the side. One of the holes up top will have to be patched somehow but I may just run the clear acrylic up further to cover the hole. This box is 20"x12"x6" and has a clear side, which just makes viewing inside the Algae grow easy. I got it custom build for a cryptic zone but it just makes so much sense to covert it into a scrubber.


Hope this makes sense but i doubt it will until i finish.

 

[Ashish Patel]

In this picture the red would have to be your slotted pvc and the mesh is the white obviously… you need to patch the bulkhead at the top and put one in the bottom as a drain to work efficiently…

nice illustration, this is what I want to do, will the lights from amazon work? I found ones that a little more expensive but are dimmable from 0-100%, unlike the cheaper ones I had shown earlier, I think dimmable is probably the way to go since they have a back cooling fan., I think the dimensions are 8"X12" for the one I am leaning towards. I will have to build a shelf out of acrylic that can hold the lights securely.

 

[Troylee]

nice illustration, this is what I want to do, will the lights from amazon work? I found ones that a little more expensive but are dimmable from 0-100%, unlike the cheaper ones I had shown earlier, I think dimmable is probably the way to go since they have a back cooling fan., I think the dimensions are 8"X12" for the one I am leaning towards. I will have to build a shelf out of acrylic that can hold the lights securely.

I’ve built a few and used this light.. it works great and is really cheap.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I’ve built a few and used this light.. it works great and is really cheap.

I actually purchased the same light last year but thought I would need to buy 3 more to make it work. Looks like your pic only has one on each side on a large ATS? Do you get good spread of light on the mesh with one and how large is the mesh? I am trying to avoid having 4 outlets and figured the price on some of these 12"x8" may produce better results.

 

[Troylee]

I actually purchased the same light last year but thought I would need to buy 3 more to make it work. Looks like your pic only has one on each side on a large ATS? Do you get good spread of light on the mesh with one and how large is the mesh? I am trying to avoid having 4 outlets and figured the price on some of these 12"x8" may produce better results.

Correct 1 per side.. it’s plenty of light.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Think these maybe too small since my box is 20" tall. Maybe enough and can always add more later

 

[Troylee]

Think these maybe too small since my box is 20" tall. Maybe enough and can always add more later

I don’t think you’ll have a problem honestly… what I do with the ones I make they’re all clear acrylic and I just use a black out vinyl which is white inside and black outside.. it makes all the interior walls white so the entire Inside of the box lights up better..

 

[Ashish Patel]

This is the old Refugium I've had for 20 years that I am planning on harvesting the clear acrylic.

Do you think someone would purchase this? One of the tank support is broken so I figured it's better to use for scraps since the acrylic is 1/4"

 

[Ashish Patel]

I don’t think you’ll have a problem honestly… what I do with the ones I make they’re all clear acrylic and I just use a black out vinyl which is white inside and black outside.. it makes all the interior walls white so the entire Inside of the box lights up better..

That's a good point. I was worried if I get those larger grow lights it may just be overheat, bake the algae and waste of electricity