DIY Frag Tank

JCSReefing · Jan 25, 2017

Just wanted to post and get some thoughts and reviews on my diy frag tank I made. I still need to put a emergency drain and hang my light which I'll post once it's all finished. Just before I go any further please let me know what y'all think or any suggestions.

sde1500 · Jan 25, 2017

What sort of heathen records video vertically still?!?!

On a more serious note, pretty cool. I assume it is in a secluded area, seems pretty loud with the water falling that much into the sump. Planning on running a skimmer or something in there?

JCSReefing · Jan 25, 2017

HAHA, yeah wasn't thinking about the recording vertically.
Yes it is actually in my wash room where i can use shut the red valve off, open the blue and do water change simple by just dumping the old water down the drain for the washer. It honestly is WAY louder in the video compared to being in the room, I will be running a simple bio wheel and a small skimmer. possibly the tunze 9004 . this way all the filtration is in the sump itself.

sde1500 · Jan 25, 2017

Nice. I like the simplicity of something like this, just a brute container. Is it the 20 gallon one? Definitely the style I'd go for, when I set one up in the future. No need to spend hundreds on a frag tank when something like this would work well too.

JCSReefing · Jan 25, 2017

Its a 14g from lowes for i think like 15-20$. the dimensions are nice becuase its only 10" high.

JCSReefing · Jan 28, 2017

Please watch my video and any help on this drain/siphen would be appreciated to help fix

JCSReefing · Jan 28, 2017

Anyone?

JCSReefing · Feb 8, 2017

Got my tank all working and i just have a question. I am currently running a penguin 200 biowheel hanging on my sump for my 24 total volume frag tank. I ended up taking out the little blue filter/carbon that came with it and put in a bag of carbon/gfo mix instead. My question is for this type frag system since its my first try, do i need any other filtration such as pond matrix or anything of that sort to help filter or is my biowheel ok on its own? what would ya'll suggest?

morgank · Feb 16, 2017

jcs401 said:
Anyone?

Did you try closing the valve a lot? The danger here is you don't have an emergency overflow so if you don't get it perfect it will over flow. Ideally you'd build a durso style within the overflow area.

JCSReefing · Feb 16, 2017

morgank said:
Did you try closing the valve a lot? The danger here is you don't have an emergency overflow so if you don't get it perfect it will over flow. Ideally you'd build a durso style within the overflow area.

I do have an emergency 3/4 drain which drains faster than the 1/2.

JCSReefing · Feb 16, 2017

This is my test run which is up and running. My issue is that I cannot figure out why I'm getting all this nasty stuff in the display part(white bin). I know it's in my laundry room and I was unaware my wife wasn't covering it when she was drying clothes and I am thinking the lint/dust particles are falling into there which I have no idea if this would harm my corals but they aren't doing well and we're fine in my big tank. Any ideas? Water quality is fine and running a penguin biowheel with carbon GFO in a media bag which is filtering the sump part which is a 20g Rubbermaid bin which I'm not sure if that could be leeching anything. My corals (trumpet,Kenya tree) keep forming a stringy mucus type stuff.

sde1500 · Feb 17, 2017

Might just be an adjustment period. Tank params may be good, but its a new tank, different flow, different light maybe? If a lot of dust/lint is getting in the tank I'd be concerned, try getting a filter sock on there to help pull it out?

JCSReefing · Feb 17, 2017

sde1500 said:
Might just be an adjustment period. Tank params may be good, but its a new tank, different flow, different light maybe? If a lot of dust/lint is getting in the tank I'd be concerned, try getting a filter sock on there to help pull it out?

It is new lighting. Went from led to t5 to make sure I can maximize growth more than cosmetic since it just a frag tank. I will be making a clear lid for the top so light will still go through. I cleaned out everything and hope since the sump is covered by the stand persay that won't be as much an issue keeping lint/dust out. Do ya think I should just scrap this setup with the sump and what not and just buy a 20g long and build an all in one or let this one ride out for a bit longer?