20 Gallon Frag Tank Build

[BillB83]

Hello,

I am building a small frag tank to support my 125.

I have a 20 gallon long with a 10 gallon sump for my office.

I need to get lights. I have Hydra32s for my 125 and I would love to pick up some AI Primes for the 20 gallon frag setup but i also dont wanna spend 400+ on frag tank lights. Am I better off running with like 2 24" T5 (Blue Plus) bulbs ? I can pick up a fixture and the bulbs for like 90 bucks or some amazon LED coral light for similar price?

Due to the tank being like 30x12x12 Would the 2 t5s be enough i assume yes. How far above the water do t5s get mounted on a 12" deep tank ? If they have to be mounted like 6" off the water i may not be interested because it will make getting in and out of the tank difficult.

Thanks

 

[bushdoc]

I use AI Blade on same size frag tank and corals seem to like it.

 

[BillB83]

Grow or glow?

I use AI Blade on same size frag tank and corals seem to like it.

 

[BanZI29]

What are you going to grow in it?

 

[BillB83]

What are you going to grow in it?

Mainly softies and lps maybe a few sps nothing wild

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with the tank!

 

[BillB83]

Best of luck with the tank!

thanks should be a fun little setup

 

[bushdoc]

Grow or glow?

Grow

 

[BillB83]

Had a big sheet of acrylic left over from another project so i decided to make a 10 gallon sump for the 20 gallon frag tank. Came out pretty good

 

[CasperOe]

Yeah I'd go the the grow blade on that one! Get one at firat, you can always upgrade as you go along

 

[BillB83]

Drilled and tank and setup all the bulkheads/overflow. Leak tested then took it apart to paint the back and bottom black. I used a brush on the bottom with some flat black paint i had laying around and it didnt cover too well. For the back of the tank I taped it all off and used some flat black spray paint which covered alot better and stuck better to the glass than the latex paint did.

 

[BillB83]

Went a little overboard with the plumbing but i had a bunch of the pvc laying around (outside of the valves) so why not. I only had 1 of the check valves so i cut a piece of pvc perfect to size on the one side so i can replace it later on with another check valve. Not really needed anyways as there is more than enough room in the sump for it to drain down to the returns. Sumps running 2 Sicce 1.0 return pumps.

 

[CoralCrafted]

For the cost of AI16's you can't go wrong over a smaller tank, or one Single 32 will also fit your needs. I know it sucks spending the money on lights but might as well do it right the first time. Cry now smile later you know?

 

[BillB83]

For the cost of AI16's you can't go wrong over a smaller tank, or one Single 32 will also fit your needs. I know it sucks spending the money on lights but might as well do it right the first time. Cry now smile later you know?

Yeah I lucked out and got 2 for 200 bucks. Tanks cycling with Dr tims now I'll post pics once it's finished

 

[nano reef]

Nice! I had a 20 gallon frag I was cycling. It finally cycled and I had about 100 frags mostly all highend I invested over 5 k in! Mostly zoas. I got deathly Ill was hospitized for weeks I come home and frag tank lost the cycle, about 1/3 on sandbed were dead mowed over by snails. I was bedridden for another month at home. Then my lights loose the setting so I am so sick and cant remember what I had them set at so I just choose preset LPs so I assume that was to strong. Snails continuing to mow over! OMG! I ended up losing all of the highend..UUUGGHH. Some cheapies survived! I certainly dont have another 5 grand and couldnt get those deals If I tried again. Mostly newbies on ebay auctions that went off cheap because they were unknown! No one does those auctions now! You can loose your but on them!
Dont now why I just told you that story but felt like a rant hahaha. Good luck with frag. I want to try to get mine going again. But the rocks and all are all yucky. Not sure how to clean them so I can use again!