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Does ATS need air bubbles for the underwater stlye ATS?

Discussion in 'Algae Scrubber DIY' started by nanomaster, Feb 15, 2017.

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  1. Feb 15, 2017 #1
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    I wanted to put a algae scrubber in the overflow area of my AIO tank. the Flow should be more than enough but i am confused if it requires air in order to function correctly.
     
  2. Feb 15, 2017 #2
    Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    2,907
    156
    Iowa (United States)
    Generally if the growth substrate is underwater, you should have bubbles. I've seen it done both ways, without bubbles, the growth is markedly less
     
  3. Feb 15, 2017 #3
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    ok thank you.
     
    Turbo likes this.
  4. Feb 15, 2017 #4
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    One more question I already read people say 1 cube feed what is this referring too?

    Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
     
  5. Feb 15, 2017 #5
    Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    2,907
    156
    Iowa (United States)
    It's a feeding-based guideline

    Algae Scrubber Basics - Planning Your Algae Scrubber

     
  6. Feb 16, 2017 #6
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    is there a way you could point me in the right direction regarding led wattage. Just new to topic wouldnt know where to look.
     
  7. Feb 16, 2017 #7
    Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    2,907
    156
    Iowa (United States)
  8. Feb 18, 2017 #8
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    So here is what I have put together. I would like any input if it looks like I am doing it right or wrong please.

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  9. Feb 18, 2017 #9
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    20170217_231810.jpg 20170217_231802.jpg 20170215_133834.jpg

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  10. Feb 18, 2017 #10
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    The scrubber is placed at a 45 degree angle in an all in one tank after the first chamber. So water much flow through here. The return pump is rated at 2000/hr. The light is a 7w fixture placed about 2 inches away. The screen size is about 10x5 inches. Any feedback would be great.

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  11. Feb 18, 2017 #11
    Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    2,907
    156
    Iowa (United States)
    So is that sort of cascading through the screen or is the water flow staying on top? Is there anything under the slanted area of the screen?

    Looks good so far
     
  12. Feb 18, 2017 #12
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    It flow over as to how much not sure.

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  13. Feb 18, 2017 #13
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    I need little clarification. In order for this to work to I need to feed 1 cube to the tank with or without the fish eating the food? I ask Cuz my tank is fairly new and have minimal livestock. I don't mine just need to be sure.

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  14. Feb 18, 2017 #14
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    Sorry for so many questions but this concept is extremely new to me and most of the research I have read was with established tanks.

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  15. Feb 20, 2017 #15
    Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    2,907
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    Iowa (United States)
    You don't need to feed a tank just to grow algae. I would not. Growth will not be substantial until you have livestock that eat the food and convert it / break it down. Food can decompose in the tank via bacteria but this is not quite the same as waste provided by fish and clean-up crews, etc.

    What you do is adjust the light cycle (photoperiod) so that you are only "on" a couple hours per day, or whatever you need to get a little growth going, or to keep what little growth that you do have alive in order for it to be ready to take off when you do stock the tank.

    Over-lighting the screen with a long photoperiod with no feeding of the tank will result in a bare white screen.
     
  16. Apr 10, 2017 #16
    nanomaster

    nanomaster New Member

    11
    1
    Los Angeles (California, United States)
    So I finally got algae to grow on screen but it was more of a brown algae
    [​IMG]

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    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 12, 2017
  17. Apr 12, 2017 #17
    Turbo

    Turbo Does not really look like Johnny Carson Staff Member Site Owner Multiple Units! Customer

    2,907
    156
    Iowa (United States)
    That's actually closer to green, from what I can see. Go easy on the cleaning (harvesting) leave plenty behind, don't scrub the screen clean or anything close to that.
     

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