Converting AQUA Clear 70 to an ATS

[Pure Magic79]

1st question was why an ATS? Once I figured out the benefits to an ATS I had to have one. It took a lot of research, homework, and talking to knowledgeable folks such as laffingcrow to figure out what system was right for me (Thank you Brian, you helped me out tremendously).

I ended up going with an AQUA Clear 70 conversion to an ATS. It has been on my FRAG tank for 2 months now and working like a champ. Works so good my skimmer was not getting anything. So I took the skimmer off.

Why did I go with an ATS? Several reasons, it is on my FRAG tank and I overfeed mainly because I want to get good growth. It was causing my tank to have a lot of hair algae. My water quality was not as good as it should be forcing me to do 2 water changes a week (I still do just because but I could push it out to 2 weeks or more with no problem).

Here are some sources that I did some research on when I was looking for the system for me:
http://www.algaescrubber.net/forums/...c.php?f=9&t=68

http://www.algalturfscrubber.com/

Just do a google search for algae turf scrubber and thousands of sites pop. There are some threads on sdreefs. Just search for turf scrubber.

[Pure Magic79]

Once I figured what system was good for me, I was ready to get to work. Just had to find the basic items needed for an ATS:
- ATS chassis/ bought used AQUA Clear 70 for $10.00

- Light source/ clip lamp from Walmart $9.99
- Plastic mesh/ I found at Walmart $.75

- Plastic clips/ Had them already. Can buy at Walmart or any grocery store/ just make sure it does not have any metal parts.


- Bio media/ not needed but I used left over bio media from my fresh water tanks/ which I already had.

So for under $30 I was able to build an ATS.

My ATS build:
Step 1. Cleaned out the old AQUA Clear 70 with an old tooth brush and made sure it worked. Just tested it in a bucket.

Step 2. In the AQUA Clear picture you see item B(media basket). I cut it just above the mesh holes on the sides. I wanted the water to flow from the pump freely into the main chamber.

Step 3. I filled media basket with bio media. I found that pods and mysis shrimp love it in there. You could use base rock/ live rock, an aquarium sponge, or bio media like I did.

Step 4. Cut the plastic mesh to fit in the main chamber. Took me a couple of times to get the shape right. I used 4 plastic clips to hold the plastic mesh in place.

Step 5. Finish putting it together. I put it on the tank and filled it with water. Then I clipped the light from my CPR AQUAFuge to my ATS. On my tank I have a fuge and ATS. You could clip the light to anything; back of tank, you could clip it to the tank canopy if you have one. Then plug in the pump. Make sure the pump has water in it to start it.


I seeded my screen with hair algae I had in the tank. Just rubbed the hair algae on the plastic screen (you don't have to do this). Within 3 days the screen was turning green and red. I rubbed the red algae (cyno algae) off with my finger. After a month I was having to clean the screen with my hand twice a week. I am getting a lot of growth. From most threads that I’ve read, people clean their screen once a week. They use spoons, old credit cards, plastic algae scrappers.


Happy reefing,

[imsosalty]

http://www.uberfrags.net/forums/show...-Turf-scrubber


how to work into your sump!!!

[laffingcrow]

Hey Rob,
Great job on the modded AC70... I still have my AC110 on the floor
When I plugged it in I felt it made too much noise... IDK if it needs a new impeller or just needs to run awhile after being dry.

Question??? It looks like you have good flow over the top of the screen, did you do anything special or does the water flow over and around OR through the mesh?

Also... I learned some new ATS info while at Birch Aquarium behind the scenes... Fernando (Marine Biologist that takes care of thier displays and gave our tour) says that the algae does put some compounds back into the water that can limit stony coral growth and says we should skim or at least run carbon. I told him I have amazing growth and he was very diplomatic and said I shouldn't change what I'm doing but I have been running carbon since my electrocution incident. (all is OK... some bleaching but all OK now)

I also recently picked up a frag and a sponge from another local reefer who is also a Marine Biologist that has woked with algae for cancer research who thought running carbon or skimming is good because of many compounds within the algae. (not knowing of any specific bad ones but aware)
I'm still not skimming because all the good stuff that gets left in but am going to add one in my upgrade just for emergencies.

...and yes still working on the upgrade... 2nd frag rack is on the front glass ...this time a 20 gal. sump with verticle ATS like the link in the previous post ^ (imsosalty) and red / white / blue LEDs for the ATS. Lots to do to the new stand and plenty of procrastination, not to mention helping my GF prep and move into new condo.

[Confound]

Following this thread! Please keep us updated with pics. I'm not going to lie this sounds legitimate.

[supaboy1981]

Sooooo going to do this with my current aquaclear diy fuge

[Pure Magic79]

Brian, thanks for the kind words. Here are a couple of things that I’ve found.

When I plugged it in I felt it made too much noise... IDK if it needs a new impeller or just needs to run awhile after being dry.

I wouldn't plug a pump in while it is dry. Could you test it in a bucket with tap water? Let it run for a minute or two fully submerged. If it is still loud/ making a grinding sound. Just take an old tooth brush and clean the pump housing where the impeller goes. You know the drill if the above works or doesn't. Please let me know if this helps you.

About skimming, if I run a skimmer it does not get anything. Even if I run the skimmer full blast. My ATS and corals I hope are sucking up the entire excess gunk that a traditional skimmer system usually gets. Can’t even use a skimmer even if I wanted to.

About carbon, I've had bad experiences with carbon and reefs. Carbon is great to start a new reef tank. Carbon is outstanding for fresh water tanks. I've found carbon and established reef tanks with softies/ zoas is not great. Running carbon especially if you change it out about every two weeks (like you’re supposed to do) will strip your water of trace elements and even iodine. In the past when I did run carbon my zoas melted after about 2 months. Some people are successful with it. I will never use carbon for my reef. Will save it for my turtle tank. This is highly debatable, I know. SPS dominant tanks use it and get great results. If peeps believe in it, use it. Just passing on what my results were.

About my ATS flow, I am getting awesome flow over my mesh due to I cut the top of the media basket of the AQUA clear off. The mesh just sits flush againist where the water is coming into the main ATS chamber.

The ATS that I am running took me three tries to get it right since our last conversation. I had to tweak the cutting the mesh just right and cutting the media basket. My results are amazing.

Can't wait to see your upgraded ATS Brian. Those LEDs sound sick. Always look forward to hearing from you.

[Pure Magic79]

Following this thread! Please keep us updated with pics. I'm not going to lie this sounds legitimate.

I am getting great results with this system on my frag tank.

Sooooo going to do this with my current aquaclear diy fuge

Not ready yet to put an ATS on my show tank. I run a traditional system on it. If I had an algae problem I may try it but I don't. Different systems work on different tanks.
Still experimenting with my ATS. I've heard you don't have to do water changes, no algae. Don't know if this is true. Most I've pushed my ATS out to is 2 weeks. I didn't have any nitrates and my phosphats was reading near 0 ppm. I still have a little bit of hair algae too but I do over feed my tank. Will see in another month.

Good luck with your ATS supa. Please let us know how it is going.

[laffingcrow]

Rob,
Sorry for the confusion... I didn't run it dry, I ran it with fresh water in it. I mean sometimes after a pump has been dry for awhile they take a awhile to settle in and run quietly like when new.

..."Confound Following this thread! Please keep us updated with pics. I'm not going to lie this sounds legitimate."

totally legit... the hardest part is the DIY getting the flow right and the light right... lots of confused peeps, lots of knowitalls... and for every one I've seen they have done something wrong... wrong light... not enough flow... not scraping etc.
I'll post some updated growth pics in "my tank" in my signature... maybe tonight?...
I know I do things in an unconventional way sometimes but I came into this with an open mind and only after some success started to add to my collection slowly. ...
So far the only hitch has been my before mentioned "electrocution incident" which set things back a few weeks.... and my poor RO/DI system which caused some phosphate issues once scripps shut down. Otherwise I now have to upgrade to make room.
Thanks,
Brian

[supaboy1981]

Did you alter the flow at all on the 70?

[Pure Magic79]

Did you alter the flow at all on the 70?

The pump or AQUA Clear housing did not get modified. In order to make the flow better I cut the media basket from where the holes/ mesh is on the side. Just cut from the top part of the mesh off. Then the plastic mesh from walmart sits flush against the main chamber. Just used the clips to hold it in place. It gets great flow now. Let me know if you need anything else.

[supaboy1981]

I am getting great results with this system on my frag tank.

Not ready yet to put an ATS on my show tank. I run a traditional system on it. If I had an algae problem I may try it but I don't. Different systems work on different tanks.
Good luck with your ATS supa. Please let us know how it is going.

I dont have a algae problem I have a bit of a cyno problem, how does the turf scrubber work against that??

I have diatom algae but that's normal and I wouldn't call it a problem

[Pure Magic79]

I dont have a algae problem I have a bit of a cyno problem, how does the turf scrubber work against that??

I have diatom algae but that's normal and I wouldn't call it a problem

ATS sucks up the excess nutrients from your tank in the form of algae growth on your ATS mesh. In other words, you are just giving algae that would be growing in your tank a better place to growth on your mesh in your ATS. The conditions in the ATS are more attractive for algae growth with the high flow and excessive light. You will starve the cyno in your tank.

To my surprise when my FRAG tank and ATS cycled the last stage had cyno growing in my tank for about 2 weeks. I manually removed it and haven’t seen any since.

[supaboy1981]

I wandered around wal mart today for a good hour looking for that stupid mesh. The one in oceanside does not have it but I got everything else

[laffingcrow]

I wandered around wal mart today for a good hour looking for that stupid mesh. The one in oceanside does not have it but I got everything else

Try Michaels craft store... it is needle point mesh and be sure to ask if you can't find it. It comes in colors (color does not matter) and I think it is a 13 size mesh. larger over smaller if you have options and be sure to rough it up like a cactus just like the algaeturfscrubber web site suggests... use a hole saw if you have one... I've tried many ways of roughing it up and the hole saw is best. (I think there is a video on the ATS website)
Brian