So I want to make an ATS

[dempseyjosh]

I think I'm making the switch from a skimmer to a AS. I just have a question about making it.
I plan on using the pump from the ASM G2 skimmer, and using 3/4" pvc as i'm pretty sure thats the output on the pump.
I'm just not sure how i'm feeding the water onto the screen. Is it just a slot cut all the way down the pvc, or is it holes drilled into it. Then I need to know how i'm going to attach the screen to the pipe.
I plan on making a trip to Lowes to get the supplies needed for this sometime this weekend, so a quick response would be great.... I don't want to assume I know how to do it and mess something up.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Just T off the frame and add a hose barb adapter to connect your pump and ats frame together with a vinyl hose.
Make sure you can take the top of the ats off with a couple of unions. Cut the slot in the PVC 1/8" wide and very evenly with a table saw.

 

[dempseyjosh]

So T off of it instead of feeding it from just one side? I didn't think of that. I don't have much of an option for how thin my cut is... just whatever the table saw cut is, i'm pretty it is right around 1/8"
i'm still not sure how i'm attaching the screen.
And heres another question.... is the screen verticle or at an angle?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Post a diagram of your design when you can. Ill Help you design it. I'm busy today. I attached my screen with zip ties.

 

[dempseyjosh]

ok, so i'm going to keep the pump in the first section of the sump as it is already where the skimmer is, I want to put the screen over the second section. My question is, am i able to put the screen at an angle like my side view picture shows it, or do i need to come up high enough over the water to make it vertical?

 

[al&burke]

Verticle scrubber are much more efficient- when you angle the screen it says you have to make the screen much larger based on the gallons of your DT. Vertical is easier to feed in my opinion and you can put lights on both sides. What size is your DT tank?

 

[dempseyjosh]

this is going to be in a sump for a system that has a 75gal, and a 65 gal tank hooked up together.
Is there an easy way to accurately cut the slit in the pvc if i don't have a dremel? i have a table saw,and could safely cut it from end to end? but i'm nervous about trying to cut just the correct size slot needed. cutting it the whole way down, and putting a cap or whatever should be fine right?
After looking around i was able to find the thread that explained everything about the ATS, It had been so long since i saw it, and i just figured it would be in the DIY section and was going nuts when i couldn't find it.

 

[al&burke]

The trouble with cutting a pipe all the way down the length is that it will close in on the slot. What I do is lower the blade all the way down - set the tube on top then raise it up to cut the slot - this is very tricky so be very careful. You can also build a box around the tube to help hold it while you are cutting.

 

[dempseyjosh]

I may just use the opportunity to have a reason to buy a dremel tool. having it T off isn't going to cause any problems with there not being any water coming down in the middle where the T is right?

 

[dempseyjosh]

what section of lowes would i be looking for this screen?
i'm sick of looking through that 68 page thread(it's giving me a headache), so i'll ask my other questions here, if you would be so kind to answer them i would greatly appreciate it.
I found that I should have 1 square inch per gallon. so with the two tanks and the sump i'm around 150. My screen is going to be 18" tall by 8.5" wide or it could fit 14" tall by 11" wide, is one better than the other?
I couldn't find definitively how much light is needed a regular incandesent bulb vs a flood light vs cfl. and i was also wondering why people don't have the reflectors on the bulbs... like this
and how much flow should this have? i have two pumps available. 250 gph and 350 gph, the smaller one is easier for me to work with, and I can keep the skimmer together if i decide i want to start running it again
oh yeah... i also see mention of a fan on the thread about the ATS.... what is that for and where is it?

 

[2quills]

Lots of folks use those reflectors. 2700k warm white flourescents work best. Wattage depends on your system size. You'll probably need 42 watt bulbs (actual watts, not equivalent).
Screens can be found at craft stores, sometimes walmart if they still have a craft section. I ordered mine from here because I was looking for a bigger screen than the stores carried locally. http://www.anniesattic.com/supplies/list.html?cat_id=1093 You'll want either 5 or 7 count mesh. I got 7. Go with your bigger pump.

 

[dempseyjosh]

ok, I got everything i think i need to make it... we will see what i have to go back to the store for tomorrow....
i got a big peice of mesh... two clip on lights, two 40watt bulbs(which were the most expensive parts), the pvc pipe and necessary fittings, and a small dremel tool... cost me around 50 bucks total.

 

[dempseyjosh]

So i want to make sure this is right before i make it. The blue lines is where the water will be coming out, is that fine? or should I just be feeding it from one side so water can come out the whole length of the tube over the whole mesh screen evenly. i'm thinking i misunderstood when i was told to use a T

 

[al&burke]

You can make it like that - I made one like that but i cut the slot in the tee as well so there would not be a dry spot in the middle. If you can feed it from one side I would go that root.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dempseyjosh http:///t/389174/so-i-want-to-make-an-ats#post_3437499
what section of lowes would i be looking for this screen?
n't finI couldd definitively how much light is needed a regular incandesent bulb vs a flood light vs cfl. and i was also wondering why people don't have the reflectors on the bulbs... like this
and how much flow should this have? i have two pumps available. 250 gph and 350 gph, the smaller one is easier for me to work with, and I can keep the skimmer together if i decide i want to start running it again
oh yeah... i also see mention of a fan on the thread about the ATS.... what is that for and where is it?
Regular 2700 to 3,000k warm white bulbs, the higher the wattage of Real light, the better. You did good going with the 43w bulbs. I use those kinds of reflectors all the time, and many people do. Most people building one pretty much use whatever they have available - and build it for cheap/free in most instances. I'de go with the higher pump volume than the lower one. When algae starts to grow on the screen really well, you'll need to crank it up so that more nutrients can flow over the screen and you can get a more even flow. The fan is used on some peoples tanks to cool their water, and keep the temps low in their display tanks. Fans are not needed if your tank already runs at the proper temp.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///t/389174/so-i-want-to-make-an-ats#post_3437541
You can make it like that - I made one like that but i cut the slot in the tee as well so there would not be a dry spot in the middle. If you can feed it from one side I would go that root.
I would also cut the slot through the T as well. It would give you more surface area on one main screen.
Root, eh? Route? lol. I love Canada.

 

[dempseyjosh]

ok, so i'm done... here are some pictures.


I had some hair algae in my basement tank that I took the liberty of attaching to the screen... hopefully this jump starts the process. how long before you think I'll notice a difference in the amount of algae growing in the display tanks?

 

[al&burke]

Looks really good glad you took that "root" lol. I put splash sheild in front of my lights just to be safe. Funny you said about seeding your screen I have two running on my reef - I was going to crazy glue some to the new screen. Good luck, as with anything these things take time, reocrd your numbers right now, and then take them every week or so - you will see a difference.

 

[dempseyjosh]

well i've been having some issues with this splashing water out so i'm redoing it. I'm starting with an acrylic box around the screen to help with the splashing that occurs. The box is going to be removable for easy cleaning.
otherwise i'm pretty much sticking to the same design, but I was wondering if I could get away with using the overflow from my basement tank to supply the turf scrubber rather than a pump. any ideas on that?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Sure. You can do that. As long as there is enough gph going through your overflow, you should be fine. In fact, that was one of the original designs!

 

[dempseyjosh]

well i got it rebuilt and its been running for almost a week. I'm starting to get a little color on the screen, but then I realized I never roughed up this screen. Should I take it out and rough it up, or let it go since it's already a week into it.
Here is a picture of it. I built the box around it with some acrylic and used weld-on to make it nice and strong, since splashing was more of a problem than I expected the first time around and the little pieces I tried to use didn't work out so well.