Algae scrubber help

[Flaxon-Waxon]

I know there's a boat load of info on ATS's, but need a little advice. I'm saw a really crafty horizontal ATS design at my LFS that was made out of a 20 high tank. I would like to "attempt" to build one out of a 20 long, but also will need this to be a sump with a spot for a skimmer, and a bubble trap/ return section... Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions are great. I would upload a pic of what I'm THINKING of, but have reached pic max lol...

 

[Gregcoyote]

I have used my ATS for several decades now. It isn't a cure all, but if built right is an excellent machine for algae export.

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

Could it be done in the confines of a 20 gallon long sump?

 

[Gregcoyote]

On a small scale, yes.

 

[rafity]

I've seen plans online for little tiny units for nano's.

 

[JJ-MIK]

I myself am getting ready to build a ATS. I'm following along I was thinking of just using a 30g Rubbermaid tote.. What do you guys have yours built in?

 

[Gregcoyote]

Mine is a stand alone as big as most peoples tanks are. There are smaller more integrated designs you would be more interest in.

 

[JJ-MIK]

Well. My scrubber is complete and running. Just bought 23 w cfl bulbs last night. Put them in. And for some reason. One light is brighter than the other.. Come out of the same package.. Haha see the difference between the left and right?

 

[JJ-MIK]

here is my finished product

 

[Gregcoyote]

That looks very usable.

 

[JJ-MIK]

Hope so! I seeded it with hair algae. So we will see how it does

 

[rafity]

Could fit a ship in there

 

[JJ-MIK]

Hopefully that ship will be covered in algae!!

 

[JJ-MIK]

How long does the screen take to get fully covered? In guessing my screen is way to big for the size tank it is in.. It's on a 55g tank with just 3 fish and 5 rbtas.. But I built it for the big display. Just waiting to move to the new house

 

[Sniperhank]

It varies from scrubber to scrubber. That one is very nice, I'm jealous. Put that together like that, some extra PVC, and a pump of it's own and I'd run that super sweet. How much all did you use to put it together?

 

[JJ-MIK]

All together in cost. Minus pump was around 60$ I believe. But I have a few extra feet in PVC. . One thing I think is I should have used a color tote instead of clear. So all the light is contained. But totes are only a few bucks

 

[JJ-MIK]

I'm starting to get confused.. I was told and read before. The more equipment you run. The better. Gfo .ATS. Skimmer bio pellets.. I asked mr saltwater tank guy what he thought. And he said " classic confused tank". It's like driving a car with flat tires.. What does he mean??... I've also read . A guy says algae scrubber only. No skimmer. No nothing... Scrubber is by far the best for your tank.. Now I know to each there own.. But what should I do?? I read absolutely no gfo in sps tank.. Then I see can't run it without it.... Why must this hobby be so confusing?? Haha

 

[Sniperhank]

There are many different ways to remove unwanted elements from your tank. The grey area you have entered is bleed over from all the different methods. One may have success with this and another with that. When you out it all together it can work, but I'd you over filter you can have issues too. Why run 2 different reactors that are doing the same thing? Counter productive, expensive, and it can take out beneficials or screw parameters up.
This is why I like the KIS effect. Keep it simple. Live rock, skimmer, algae in both display and refugium. When parameters weren't where I wanted, dual reactor with phosphate media and purigen.

 

[Gregcoyote]

Because everyone has an opinion and at least 50% of them are wrong. Welcome to the Internet age.

All you can do is follow people with long term expertise and try to stay on track with all the background noise. Mr_X on this forum makes it as simple as it can possibly get and still work. I go for a more complex solution, but we both grow corals like crazy.

Many solutions work well together, but in order of importance, assuming water exchanges are first filtration priority I believe it's;

Sufficient live rock
Protein skimming (tanks over 20 gallons)

Then comes DOC filtration that's missed by the first two, usually only needed if you want SPS quality reef water and the primary filtration is missing that last little bit, or nitrates are building up;

Algae scrubbing
GFO or other P02 binding agents
Carbon for coral toxins if the reef is packed.
Then maybe other stuff like Purigen to soak up selenium and any DOCs the previous equipment missed.

You can use all if it, or a portion of it. Belt and suspenders approach. There is some overlapping, but that's a good thing.

 

[JJ-MIK]

I was planning just algae scrubber. Gfo and large skimmer. I have a 150 sps dominant.. Small so far. But I'm just starting. I want to move sump to basement and add 40g fuge with dsb. And 40g frag tank . Also trying to decide if I want add in my 65g rbta tank. Or keep it separate .. I just bought the 5 gallon pale of gfo and reactors.. Phosphates are my only fight. But I did just upgrade my ro to two di units.. Making it 6 stage