Making an ATS in a bucket

[felixfish]

I took out my algae turf scrubber when I re-vamped my sump tank. I have a refugium set up now and still want to incorporate the ATS. I have ran across bucket style ones and wanted to make one out of my screen and piping. It all sizes up but with the lighting is where I'm getting confused. I originally had 2-CFL in medium sized reflectors. Would I just clip those to the top of the bucket aiming down, or could I cut holes into the sides of the bucket and mount them that way?

Also I have seen the Rubbermaid tote set ups as well. I plan to pump the water up and out of the sump, into the ATS, then gravity feed the water back into the sump.
Thanks

 

[little_fish]

You would clip them to the top of the bucket and aim them down, this works a little bit better in a larger tub than a bucket. I have my scrubber in a bucket and the scubber has to hang above the bucket to get light.

 

[felixfish]

Could you cut threw the side of a Rubbermaid container to mount the lights? Would the fixture potentially melt it? I have seen a few, but don't see any DIY's on it.

 

[little_fish]

I wouldnt do that because of the risk of mixing water and electricity and then burning your house to the ground.

 

[felixfish]

Yeah, that would not be the best of ideas. I'm sure I can rig something up into the lid, thanks

 

[felixfish]

Well I made the Lowes trip yesterday and decided upon a rubbermaid container with Lid to place my ATS in. I had to improvise a bit with getting a bulkhead type connector to gravity feed the water back into the refugium. Just a side note, the employees in Lowes had no idea where my ideas were heading, as they never do. Anyways, I cut up the rubbermaid container to fit my current ATS into it, and still in the works. I'll post pics up of my progress.