santa monica hog1x PROGRESS LOG

[MrineLfRlz]

I have been slowly upgrading my mothers 20g long tank she got from my sister about 2 years ago and so far ive done a few things.
protein skimmer
conversion to hang on back overflow and simple sump
RODI unit w/auto shut off
uv
replaced sand
20+ lbs of some of my dry at the time rock
led fixture
reefkeeper lite controller (mothers day)
and another little add on i went ahead and ordered is the santa monica hog1x

Anyways she just loves this tank and i want to make it as good as i can with me doing as little maintenance as i can because i do the up keep on it and since ive been reading alot on turf scrubbers (im getting the new L4 version from turboaquatics myself) im trying this for her.
These are the pics of the tank with hair and cyano growth and were im going to place the ATS in front of the sump.

[MrineLfRlz]

I will be over there today so i will take some water samples home with me and test them.
for initial nitrate and phos. levels.

[LuvMyBlenny]

I just set one up yesterday on my 56 .

[MrineLfRlz]

Tests results are in, Im only logging phos. and nitrate i hope reductions.
phosphate=.13 ppm (checked with a Hanna checker low range HI-713-25 color-meter)
Nitrate=50+ppm (tested with salifert)

[MrineLfRlz]

Originally Posted by LuvMyBlenny

I just set one up yesterday on my 56 .

Are you going to log the progress?

[MrineLfRlz]

When i go see them i always pull out all the algae, hair and bubble(and try not to pop them!) and clean up the substrate of cyano as much as i can and it always comes back im ready for this ATS to kick some algae/bacteria butt!



excuse the cloudy water i cleaned off the cyano but im going to try to leave it be to see how the hog does it just looks terrible right now!

[LuvMyBlenny]

No, I'm currently not having any algae issues except for some very minor cyano which, I think , is mainly a waterflow issue . Wanted to try out some new equipment .
I did have a major GHA outbreak about 3 months ago , cleared up with Algaefix Marine , a phoshate reactor , replacing MarinePure block back in sump and minimal Red Sea NO3PO4 dosing .

[MrineLfRlz]

Well it arrived this morning the only thing I don't like so far is the edges of the enclosure are pretty flimsy wish the whole thing was nice and solid but still pretty well made over all.
Also these magnets are strong be careful with a thin glass tank like the one I have for the sump these things will snap together quickly!
The LEDs are pretty bright and right now I have the screen on per Santa Monica's advice, for the next 2 weeks I have it set up right now to run 20 hrs a day
Unboxing

[MrineLfRlz]

Here it is installed in my mom's sump. Once I start seeing improvements I'm going to do better wire management.
Hopefully soon I will start to see algae growth and I will let it grow for 2 weeks.


LEDs on

[Devaji108]

mighty fine of you sir to care for your mum tank.

I am adding a DIY upflow to mice new 90...been looking forward to ATS system for quite some time. now that I am back at it. it time to scrub.

what kind of screen is that your using? i find it interesting he suggested it then run the lights for 20 hrs. why not cut back on the lighting time with no screen??

anyway plz do keep us posted.

[MrineLfRlz]

Originally Posted by Devaji108

mighty fine of you sir to care for your mum tank.

I am adding a DIY upflow to mice new 90...been looking forward to ATS system for quite some time. now that I am back at it. it time to scrub.

what kind of screen is that your using? i find it interesting he suggested it then run the lights for 20 hrs. why not cut back on the lighting time with no screen??

anyway plz do keep us posted.

Thanks, the screen is just black mesh the reason for the screen is because with the extra leds for the 1x it's pretty bright and you can't dim them and I wanted to follow just what Santa Monica said and see what happens. But it's only going to be used until algae starts growing good and then the screen will come off.

[Devaji108]

^ yeah you dont want to burn the algae for sure. just found it odd to add that and run for 20hrs.
but i am sure he has experimented can came up with the best way to get it going...

[MrineLfRlz]

Day 4 and still absolutely no algae growth just yet so i took very small pieces of hair algae from her DT and seeded the ATS.

[jcs11236]

Takes a while to take off especially if u have high nutrients. Mine didn't start growing anything for a few weeks. At first just green slime. But once it took off it was awesome
Good luck

[MrineLfRlz]

Originally Posted by jcs11236

Takes a while to take off especially if u have high nutrients. Mine didn't start growing anything for a few weeks. At first just green slime. But once it took off it was awesome
Good luck

Thanks for the info i hope growth will start up sooner with me seeding it.
When i finally get my L4 ATS for my system i will start a setup/log on that as well.

[MrineLfRlz]

Day#8 Ok we are finally getting some algae growth just alittle in the lower right hand corner and a few other very small green spots but hay its a start.