Fuge setup journal

So I am going to start a journal here. I had a decent GHA outbreak mainly in the 40b frag tank and minimal in the 80g display. No matter how much manual removal I did and water changes it is not subsiding. Nitrates are ~.05 but i know know where their all hiding. I didn't have my fuge set up yet and the only thing I had was a skimmer. As with all new tanks algae is inevitable. I wanted to wait to see what a fuge would do for me.
I also went ahead and thought to give a algae scrubber a go. Never had experience with one.
So as of today I rerouted some plumbing to give room for my skimmer in the first section of my sump (had it in the middle section, just convenient). Built and set up my algae scrubber and fuge in the second section. Lights on bit sides of the scrubber set up. I am drawing water out of the first section of the sump and feeding the scrubber. Took a handful of cheato from my main dt and added it to this fuge. (Separate tanks).
Right now everything is up and running.
I want to use this to track the progress and see what is going on by the day.
This is the sump

Day 1 tank algae

Day 1 fuge

Day 1 scrubber screen

 

Day 2
I see a slight green Hugh on the scrubber screen. (Hard to see in pic as it looks like a comp screen picture)
The cheato is floating today probably from the microbubbles from the scrubber.
Like suspected I don't see any change in the GHA in the 40b.
Tank day 2

Scrubber screen day 2

Cheato day 2

 

you've got green!! Yay! I really like the idea of doing the journal. It will be good information for those considering an ATS.

 

You want the light to be a little closer to the screen. Also without something to block the light you're going to get algae growing in the other sections including the skimmer. Basically in a few months it will be a huge mess. I would suggest at least get some black plastic or something to block the light from getting out of the center section. What bulb kelvin are you running?
That will grow algae on that screen but it's going to get really messy with salt creep. You're going to get salt all over that light. It may appear that nothing is splashing on the light but without an acrylic barrier it will somehow over time get salt all over everything.

Looking at that sump here is what I would do. .. I hope you don't mind a suggestion just want your scrubber to succeed...

Take a look at the upflow style algae scrubbers. It just blows air bubble up from the bottom vs. the waterfall method. You can use an air pump, get the screen close to the outside wall of the sump. Have something black on the back and sides to keep light from seeping out.
Put the light down low on the outside of the sump where it would only be an inch or two from the screen. Have the air pump blowing bubbles upflow style on the screen.
This seems to be the newer preferred method of algae scrubbers. the extra air gets the algae growing. Is your screen good and roughed up? Can't tell in the photo but if not take a hole saw or something similar and scratch it up really well.

Usually if you are running a chaeto refugium and an algae scrubber at the same time the scrubber algae will win the battle and the chaeto will die.

 

Yes I do! One of the reasons I wanted to do this is for anyone considering one. Whether it's a win or fail it'll be fun trying.
Thanks OFK!

Thanks for the comment av. Yes definitely open to suggestions, comments or criticism.
I am new to the ATS. I will answer your questions the best I can.
I moved the light closer to the screen. Thank you.
The next night I have a chance I will line the side walls with black acrylic. I have some just didn't think about it.
I've got a 5000k bulb in front and a 5000k bulb in back.
I will make a barrier for the front so there is no salt creep in the light.
I did take a look at the up flow method but personally I want to give this method a try.
Yes the screen is pretty roughed up. "Cactus" like.
I do understand that the cheato will probably starve out. This is my little experiment. Just want to see what it's going to do.

Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.

 

Day 3
Today I didn't do anything but move the light closer to the screen per AV.
I am seeing more green on the ATS screen. Not much difference in the GHA in the 40b.
Only change today is there is more growth on the scrubber screen.
Tank day 3

Scrubber day 3

Cheato day 3

 

5k works. And so will waterfall. Main reason for uplow is to save space and easier to build.
Most important thing is to harvest the algae every week.

 

Thanks. Yea the only thing I need to look more into is the harvest method.
Thanks for the jingo and help.

 

Day 4
Not much to note. More growth on the ATS screen.
Day 4 tank

Day 4 screen


Day 4 cheato

 

Is it just the lighting of is the DT algae kind of browning? Could mean it's dying ?