Try again: Is anybody running an algae scrubber as primary filter. - Page 7

rbc1225 · 12/02/2007, 03:13 PM

Good deal, Thanks Matt

Flatlander · 12/02/2007, 03:59 PM

I would suggest getting the seed screen also. I never, even though he said he could ship it here. It took me a long time to develop a good turf algae and even then who knows if it was the correct turf algae for filtration.

matt & pam · 12/02/2007, 05:32 PM

Even with the seed screen it will take you a good 2 months at least before the entire surface has decent growth of turf algae. When you start harvesting you'll want to avoid pulling off all the algae where it attaches to the device. Think of a mowing a grass lawn, you want a low setting but not all the way down to the dirt.

rbc1225 · 12/02/2007, 05:54 PM

Thanks for the help guys. Should I go ahead and purchase more than one screen since it is going to take 2 months to cover anyway or just deal with the two months. I don't mind spending the money if it helps. My comments about the $60.00 earlier was before I understood the value of the screens.

matt & pam · 12/02/2007, 07:20 PM

Just get one screen. If you are just starting the tank it could take longer if you do not have much nutrient in the tank. One clear advantage of the ATS is it will compensate for overfeeding.

rbc1225 · 12/02/2007, 09:32 PM

The tank is right at a year old. Nice Coraline growth. I think I do overfeed though. My nitrates are around 25 would like to see those go to zero or there abouts. My skimmer is probably a little small for the amount of water I have flowing now. I will probably upgrade next month. Ok I will just purchase one screen and go from there. Thanks

rbc1225 · 12/09/2007, 07:52 PM

Well I received my ATS but it arrived broken. The side was cracked as well as the bottom seam was busted where glued. We will see what happens.

matt & pam · 12/09/2007, 07:59 PM

rbc,

That sucks. Hope the seller takes care of problem.

Have you visited a petshop called Mission Pet Mart? They run eco-wheels like I have. I think the guy who owns the rights to the eco-wheels actually helps with maintainance through their store. You might be able to get some turf algae from them? FWIW.

rbc1225 · 12/09/2007, 08:47 PM

Yes I know exactly who you are speaking of. I have seen that wheel running and it is awesome. They are in the middle of moving the store, so now might not be a good time.

As far as the seller taking care of this, he has put in a claim to UPS and expects me to send it back on Tuesday without having the refund in hand first. Or so that is what it seems now. I don't believe I will send it back without the refund first, since once it is gone from here, I am basically out $330.00 as well as no ATS. I tried getting him to just refund part of my money and I would try and fix it but he didn't want to do that. I basically said if he would refund $200 of the $330.00 we could call it good. I figured that was more than he had in materials as I know there is not more than $100.00 in materials and I thought he would jump at it but I guess I was wrong. My neighbor actually works for UPS so I asked him about it and he said he would be lucky to have the money back by the middle of January due to the Christmas rush. So we will see.

Flatlander · 12/10/2007, 02:27 PM

Sheez, thats to bad. Exactly how mine arrived also. I gave up the claims fight after awile. Thats was with the carriers though and not the vendor. I had to make a new box and throw the old one away, it was so broken.

rbc1225 · 12/28/2007, 08:19 PM

Well he made good. I sent the busted ATS back, kicking and screaming and he refunded my money a week or so later. I could not have asked for anything better than that. If I decide to purchase another one, it will be from him. The design looks good.

rbc1225 · 12/28/2007, 08:20 PM

Well he made good. I sent the busted ATS back, kicking and screaming and he refunded my money a week or so later. I could not have asked for anything better than that. If I decide to purchase another one, it will be from him. The design looks good.

rbc1225 · 12/28/2007, 08:20 PM

Well he made good. I sent the busted ATS back, kicking and screaming and he refunded my money a week or so later. I could not have asked for anything better than that. If I decide to purchase another one, it will be from him. The design looks good.

Swanwillow · 12/28/2007, 09:12 PM

well, good. I'm still thinking of making a modified wheel type one.

SantaMonica · 08/03/2008, 09:00 AM

Here is a DIY turf filter I made in a bucket... brought N and P to zero in a week:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...6#post12931276

Tang Salad · 08/03/2008, 10:24 AM

SantaMonica- Nice project you've been working on. I'm curious about what kinds of corals you're keeping. Are they mostly softies/LPS or SPS? And what did you use to measure PO4? Tks~

SantaMonica · 08/03/2008, 03:58 PM

Mostly softie/lps. Really don't like most sps, fortunately. However I have heard of sps success with turf. And I use Salifert, although I also occaisionally double check with a DD Merck. Here is the beginning of that thread, at which point I was still using the skimmer/carbon/poly's/socks.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1424843

Now it's just the bucket

12/02/2007, 03:59 PM	#152
Flatlander Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 2,886	I would suggest getting the seed screen also. I never, even though he said he could ship it here. It took me a long time to develop a good turf algae and even then who knows if it was the correct turf algae for filtration. __________________ Doug TOTM April 2001 Current Tank Info: 50g sumpless sps tank..Evergrow 2081 led..Apex control..Tunze 9012 skimmer..Tunze calcium reactor..Tunze kalk reactor..2 rw8,s..1 MP40..1 Hydor Korillia 1200gph..Tunze ATO..all propagated sps frags

12/10/2007, 02:27 PM	#160
Flatlander Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 2,886	Sheez, thats to bad. Exactly how mine arrived also. I gave up the claims fight after awile. Thats was with the carriers though and not the vendor. I had to make a new box and throw the old one away, it was so broken. __________________ Doug TOTM April 2001 Current Tank Info: 50g sumpless sps tank..Evergrow 2081 led..Apex control..Tunze 9012 skimmer..Tunze calcium reactor..Tunze kalk reactor..2 rw8,s..1 MP40..1 Hydor Korillia 1200gph..Tunze ATO..all propagated sps frags

12/28/2007, 09:12 PM	#164
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	well, good. I'm still thinking of making a modified wheel type one. __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

08/03/2008, 09:00 AM	#165
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Here is a DIY turf filter I made in a bucket... brought N and P to zero in a week: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...6#post12931276 Last edited by SantaMonica; 08/03/2008 at 09:25 AM.

08/03/2008, 10:24 AM	#166
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	SantaMonica- Nice project you've been working on. I'm curious about what kinds of corals you're keeping. Are they mostly softies/LPS or SPS? And what did you use to measure PO4? Tks~ __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

12/02/2007, 03:13 PM	#151
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Good deal, Thanks Matt

12/02/2007, 05:32 PM	#153
matt & pam Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 335	Even with the seed screen it will take you a good 2 months at least before the entire surface has decent growth of turf algae. When you start harvesting you'll want to avoid pulling off all the algae where it attaches to the device. Think of a mowing a grass lawn, you want a low setting but not all the way down to the dirt.

12/02/2007, 05:54 PM	#154
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Thanks for the help guys. Should I go ahead and purchase more than one screen since it is going to take 2 months to cover anyway or just deal with the two months. I don't mind spending the money if it helps. My comments about the $60.00 earlier was before I understood the value of the screens.

12/02/2007, 07:20 PM	#155
matt & pam Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 335	Just get one screen. If you are just starting the tank it could take longer if you do not have much nutrient in the tank. One clear advantage of the ATS is it will compensate for overfeeding.

12/02/2007, 09:32 PM	#156
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	The tank is right at a year old. Nice Coraline growth. I think I do overfeed though. My nitrates are around 25 would like to see those go to zero or there abouts. My skimmer is probably a little small for the amount of water I have flowing now. I will probably upgrade next month. Ok I will just purchase one screen and go from there. Thanks

12/09/2007, 07:52 PM	#157
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Well I received my ATS but it arrived broken. The side was cracked as well as the bottom seam was busted where glued. We will see what happens.

12/09/2007, 07:59 PM	#158
matt & pam Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 335	rbc, That sucks. Hope the seller takes care of problem. Have you visited a petshop called Mission Pet Mart? They run eco-wheels like I have. I think the guy who owns the rights to the eco-wheels actually helps with maintainance through their store. You might be able to get some turf algae from them? FWIW.

12/09/2007, 08:47 PM	#159
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Yes I know exactly who you are speaking of. I have seen that wheel running and it is awesome. They are in the middle of moving the store, so now might not be a good time. As far as the seller taking care of this, he has put in a claim to UPS and expects me to send it back on Tuesday without having the refund in hand first. Or so that is what it seems now. I don't believe I will send it back without the refund first, since once it is gone from here, I am basically out $330.00 as well as no ATS. I tried getting him to just refund part of my money and I would try and fix it but he didn't want to do that. I basically said if he would refund $200 of the $330.00 we could call it good. I figured that was more than he had in materials as I know there is not more than $100.00 in materials and I thought he would jump at it but I guess I was wrong. My neighbor actually works for UPS so I asked him about it and he said he would be lucky to have the money back by the middle of January due to the Christmas rush. So we will see.

12/28/2007, 08:19 PM	#161
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Well he made good. I sent the busted ATS back, kicking and screaming and he refunded my money a week or so later. I could not have asked for anything better than that. If I decide to purchase another one, it will be from him. The design looks good.

12/28/2007, 08:20 PM	#162
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Well he made good. I sent the busted ATS back, kicking and screaming and he refunded my money a week or so later. I could not have asked for anything better than that. If I decide to purchase another one, it will be from him. The design looks good.

12/28/2007, 08:20 PM	#163
rbc1225 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 179	Well he made good. I sent the busted ATS back, kicking and screaming and he refunded my money a week or so later. I could not have asked for anything better than that. If I decide to purchase another one, it will be from him. The design looks good.

08/03/2008, 03:58 PM	#167
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Mostly softie/lps. Really don't like most sps, fortunately. However I have heard of sps success with turf. And I use Salifert, although I also occaisionally double check with a DD Merck. Here is the beginning of that thread, at which point I was still using the skimmer/carbon/poly's/socks. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1424843 Now it's just the bucket