ATS for BC

reef4girl

New Member
I have a BioCube 14 and I want to build a ATS to put in the 2nd chamber. Can anyone give me some advice on this build? Please

Thank you
 

spanko

Active Member
I was going to do one for a while, but I like the fuge with Chaeto so if it ain't broke thing. But here was my plan.
 

reef4girl

New Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2967751
I was going to do one for a while, but I like the fuge with Chaeto so if it ain't broke thing. But here was my plan.

I have read up on the fuge with chaeto I was also thinking of trying that. I will keep it in mind thank you!
 

reef4girl

New Member
Originally Posted by nissan577
http:///forum/post/2967745
where is that? do you have a pic? i never heard of that?
I don't have any pics I have been reading up on the algae turf scrubber. Its a do it yourself build. Scrubbers remove Inorganic Nitrate, Inorganic Phosphate, ammonia, metals and CO2 from the water. Inorganic Nitrate and Inorganic Phosphate are what cause nuisance algae to grow on your rocks and glass and that it what I am having trouble with so I want to try it out. Google Algae Turf Scrubber and I am sure you find some photos and alot more info
 

posiden

Active Member
While spanko's idea is great, It would only give half the size neede to operate to its fullest. If there were a way to light both sides then this would be fantastic.
Mine is a BC 29. I have it light from behind.

Here is an in action shot. Growing some funky stuff,

You will need 28" squared for your BC14. That is if you light it on one side. If you come up with a way to light both sides (ie...a remote unit) then you only need 14 sq" for your BC14. Also in mine I did some other mods to make it skim the surface better as well as to allow me to utilize the ATS. I am using a piece of tile for the growing surface.
I responded to you on the other site.
 

reef4girl

New Member
Thanks posiden
I am anxious to start making my ats. I am trying to get it planned out. I have seen quite alot of info on making the larger ats but I haven't really seen any for the biocubes.I am not quite sure what you meant by remote unit on the light. Could you elaborate? please
 

reef4girl

New Member
Here are some pictures of my tank the first one
is to show the diatoms on the sand.
Second one is the different algae growth
on the live rock.I don't know all the names
but I do know there is a few small patches of
GHA and some green bubble Algae,and fauchea.


pictures of the hood and back chamber
Hood

What do you think? Will it be close
enough to the screen?
If it would work what would be a good light
source for the hood?
Middle chamber

I was thinking screen size being 2.5 in X 6 in

One other idea I had instead of cutting the tab
to widen the over flow was to make a spout to
hang on the overflow to widen the waterflow
( maybe easier than cutting the tab)
What do you think?
Here is a shot of all three chambers

Any ideas are appreciated thank you!
 

posiden

Active Member
I was talking about doing a completly remote unit. Pumping water out of your tank, across the screen, and letting gravity flow the water back to the tank. This would require another box, bucket, tupperware container and place it above your tank.
The size of screen you want to do will work, IF you light it on both sides. I haven't come up with a clever way to do this yet in a BC. If you could do a 5x6 or some other diemension that would add up to 28-30sq. inches. (size required for your tank lighted on one side)
This is what I did to mine. Excuse the ghetto light reflector please, I haven't finished mine yet.

In the pic I posted eariler in the thread you can see the orientation of my scrubber as well as the flow.
My tank sits in the corner of the room, so adding the light back there wasn't an issue for me.
 

reef4girl

New Member
Thanks Posiden. When you were talkin about a remote unit I was still thinking about the lights. I thought there was some special remote light unit that you were referring to. I was hoping to make it work in the sump but if not I will try the remote unit.
How long have you been running your ats? Has it brought your nitrates and phosphates down?
 

onemiami

New Member
Ok.... here is my little story... I came here to saltwaterfish because a friend told me about refuge design for 14g nano tanks.. I should check out... but while searching for the refuge build... I came across SantaMonica's ATS thread!!... that took up a good 3 hours of my life!! but I think i am willing to give it a shot now!!
reef4girl I too also have a 14g biocube.. and I will be following this thread..
heres just a quick idea...
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=341535
those kinda lights... SantaMonica mentions LED's a bunch.. i am not sure these would be strong enough... but maybe.. then hang the screen from the stock chamber 2 cover thing.. but angle the screen side ways... something like this
*/* <-- from the top.. * = light / = screen
just my 2 cents..
looking forward to this project
 

posiden

Active Member
Originally Posted by reef4girl
http:///forum/post/2969519
Thanks Posiden. When you were talkin about a remote unit I was still thinking about the lights. I thought there was some special remote light unit that you were referring to. I was hoping to make it work in the sump but if not I will try the remote unit.
How long have you been running your ats? Has it brought your nitrates and phosphates down?

Mine has been running since Christmas day. So that is just at 2 months now. Has it brought down my N&P? OH YES, it has and it isn't even running full steam yet. It is starting to settle in pretty good right about now. The HA in my display is starting to turn brownish in color and then it goes white. The HA in my tank is starting to go away slowly.
bye,bye. I use API test kits and the phosphate test is almost clear, like it is just tank water.
The process takes time but.....since I have done every thing others have mentioned and not gotten anywhere. I built this and have done nothing since I built it and it is starting to win the war. I like coming home to a changed aqua scape in my tank. I can see differences daily.
You getting one going now, you should never have any problems if you take care of it properly.
 

posiden

Active Member
Originally Posted by OneMiami
http:///forum/post/2969733
Ok.... here is my little story... I came here to saltwaterfish because a friend told me about refuge design for 14g nano tanks.. I should check out... but while searching for the refuge build... I came across SantaMonica's ATS thread!!... that took up a good 3 hours of my life!! but I think i am willing to give it a shot now!!
reef4girl I too also have a 14g biocube.. and I will be following this thread..
heres just a quick idea...
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=341535
those kinda lights... SantaMonica mentions LED's a bunch.. i am not sure these would be strong enough... but maybe.. then hang the screen from the stock chamber 2 cover thing.. but angle the screen side ways... something like this
*/* <-- from the top.. * = light / = screen
just my 2 cents..
looking forward to this project

My 29 started out as a refuge mod. I grew cheato back there before I got fed up and built a scrubber.
Good Luck
 
Top