12g ATS experiment

[sc0lex]

Tank specs:

12g eclipse 12 acrylic tank
Stock overhead filter converted to ATS (Osram 18w Daylight spiral bulb)
Oddysea 2 x 24w T5 HO
Resun Waver 2000

Full tank shot

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Front view

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ATS at work

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ATS top view

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I've had this tank for around 6 months. I ran a skimmer in the first 3 months during the cycle and do 50% monthly water changes with Natural Sea water. I used the stock 13w PC 50/50 lighting during the first 5 months. And upgraded to the T5's last month (Think I'll have a softie tank). But I've been having a bit of cyano since I upgraded lights so now I'm trying out an ATS.

Livestock:
2 ocellaris
2 astrea snails
1 unidentified cowry (hitchhiker from live rock)
2 red legged hermits (hitchhikers from live rock)

Most of the rock in the tank is base rock (coralline has spread nicely on them ). Hoping to get rid of the cyano. This is day 3 of the ATS experiment.

[RRandygie]

it will work better if yung screen di naka lubog sa water. like waterfall lang.. imo

[sc0lex]

After a week I have slimy brown algae. But I decided to maximize the space in the OH filter so I made another screen. This time the screen is really roughed up so I'm hoping algae grows on it quickly.

Slimy brown algae

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New Screen

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The screen is also now a bit further away from the light source so the light should be spread more evenly across the screen now.

[sc0lex]

[thurrmac]

[sc0lex]

Yup

[natskie]

nice idea ito ah...

ayaw ko kasing i give-up ang OHF ko... tulong din kasi pang filter kahit papaano... hehehe...

disadvantage lng is kokonti surface exposure sa lights at sa fan kung may fan ka...

kumusta parameters mo sir? nakakatulong ba ito pag pa baba ng nitrates?

[sc0lex]

@natskie: nitrates at phosphates have been fine kahit wla pa ung ATS (both are zero). Pero ammonia at nitrites laging 0.25...weird kac yung readings ko after cycle (3 months) was 0.0 for ammonia and nitrites and 10 sa nitrates. Tama ka dun sa lights and fan. Pero best option ko kasi ang ganitong setup sa ngayon (sump and skimmerless). Wla pa nmn akung corals (except for some hitchhiker porites which seem to be doing ok.) so pde pang mag experiment.

I'm getting dark brown algae on my screen now and have cleaned it twice. Also did a 70% WC because the cyano was really starting to spread. I also added some carbon in the OHF...it's in a pouch below the screen. Will post pics after 3 weeks or when I get to green (algae)...

[natskie]

ang bilis naman tumubo ng algea. 24hrs ba yung lights mo?

[sc0lex]

@natskie: 18 hours lang naka-on yung lights.

This filter comes with a biowheel and I'm putting it back in(testing a theory). If this ATS thing is really that good in managing nitrates and phosphates, then I shouldn't have problems right? Anyone experimented with a biowheel before? I've read here that the norm is to not use it because it's a nitrate factory but I read somewhere that the reason it's that way is because it's too good at converting ammonia to nitrates (or they haven't "cleaned"[rinsed it in tank water] the wheel in a while).

[pepperghost]

question...

sir san ka nakakuha ng screen mo? kanina naghanap ako ng screen sa home depot puros green ang color wala ako makitang white plastic screen...

[sc0lex]

@pepperghost: sa Gaisano. (I'm from Mactan, Cebu) I used the bottom of a rectangular plastic sieve/container...kung ito balak gamitin mo, kuha ka ng container na mas malaki kesa dimensions ng screen mo. I had to remove the entire bottom part using a cutter and then used a scissor to cut the screen to the actual dimensions...mas ma-control mo yung cut pag scissors ang gamit mo.

[pepperghost]

ayun!!! tama hehehe thanks sa info... pwede nga yung pang sala ng pancit canton heehe tnx!

[sc0lex]

This is the link to my new thread.


The ATS experiment went ok...but I had some fire-hazard issues. I guess it would have worked better if my lamp had a glass or acrylic cover to keep the water from splashing on the bulb. I ditched the overhead filter because the impeller got damaged. So no ATS for me now. Just a small skimmer. So far things are looking good...

[Sea Turtle]