Algae Scrubber Method - www.eztank.com

[martinojon]

I just got my new filter in the mail I went with the algae scrubber method. I purchased a Pro-prefilter and algae scrubber from www.eztank.com and wanted to know if there was anyone else out there who had an established tank from that company.

Anyone ever hear about them?

Any info.

 

[esmithiii]

I looked at the link and could not find anything on the site that looked like photos of the actual product. The site looks like an e-mail ad for a multi-level marketing company.

I would love to see actual photos of the equipment.

E

 

[mrosario]

Here is a link to some pictures,

http://www.eztank.com/shop/on-line-store.htm#Individual%20Components:

It was kinda buried under about 4-5 layers of the website. I think any of you do-it-yourselfers could make the algae scrubbers for much less. I'd probably try using one of those long rectangular planters from Home Depot, Some PVC, some Screen and a lightstrip. The Surge devices looks very interesting!!! Too bad I don't have the space or time, money to do either...

Mark

Don't forget your GFIC (Ground Fault Interrupt Circut) it could save a life!

Now what I'd like to find is a way to set an alarm if the GFIC trips!!! Any suggestions?

 

[martinojon]

The company has a great concept and provides excellant feedback. Everytime I call I speak to the same person. After recieving the product I do think that a Do it yourselfer could make the algae scrubber. The prefilter is vey good to but woulf be much harder to make.

It is really worth reading the extensive mterial that they provide it is an education in its self.

thanks

John

 

[liquid]

Looks like EZTank.com is also Aquaricare.com and SurgArium.com. I pulled the patents on this one a while back thru the US Patent and Trademark Office website while I was reviewing Adey's patents along w/ the Eco-Wheel patents to see what exactly was patented and what wasn't patented in regards to their ATS designs. Here are the patent numbers that I pulled from the USP&TO website for those inquisitive minds that like to look up this kind of stuff (I looked up Mark Reinke, the inventor on the USP&TO website):

ATS: #5,536,398
Surge: #5,738,137

If you want to see the full patent including all pictures and diagrams in the patent, you will need to install the AlternaTIFF plugin for IE and then click on the IMAGES button after looking up the patent:

http://www.uspto.gov/patft/images.htm

Here's a pic of the Aquaricare / EZTank ATS from their website:

And here's the URL where you can download their information packet (they're pretty large files for us users on dialup

):

http://aquaricare.com/pages/order-download-options.htm

The EZTank ATS unit looks like someone could easily DIY it as it basically is nothing more than a trough lit with NO's and it has bulkheads on both ends along with baffles across the width of the tank and these baffles are spaced every couple inches down the trough. There's also some eggcrate material underneath the baffles to make a sort of "refuge" for critters. I'm not sure that's wise as pods can dessimate an ATS screen if left unattended, but apparently the design works for the author if maintaned properly (I'm speculating here).

The surge is a glorified Carlson surge with a twist. The twist that they did with their design is that it looks like they've taken the output from the surge and had it dump into a second container before it surges into the tank. I think this might minimize the bubbles, etc. I'm going to have to read thru this one further... FWIW, I think someone could prove prior art on this design...

Enjoy the reading!

FWIW, If you really want to read up on the ATS concept, get Walter Adey's Dynamic Aquaria 2nd Edition book. It blows that EZTank propaganda out of the water.

Shane

[ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: LiquidShaneo ]</p>