Frag tank advice

[Aquaph8]

Just looking for everyone's thoughts on the best way to run a frag tank. I'm thinking a shallow 36x24 tank plumbed into the main tank. Just looking for random thoughts of what you would do differently, lighting, plumbing what to use for racks for frags and pretty much anything goes. Please post some pics to give me ideas too.

Thanks

 

[143MPCo]

I was kicking this idea around myself, it's been a VERY long road and truthfully started this last year and only recently added glass tanks. The setup I originally imaged has changed a bit but, this is what I have... a 100 gallon (sump) rubbermaid trough, 60 gallon shallow frag tank, a 180 gallon DT, and a 50 gallon cheato rubbermaid trough... all plumed together. I didn't want to depend on a power heads (not that I wont add any) so I over sized the return pumps, in thinking it through a little more, I didn't want one pump failure to bring the whole system down so I plumped an additional pump as a cold stand by. I'm trying to keep is simple in it's design and not add a bunch of stuff I don't think I need... I have run a full system fill test, drained it, filled it again and added vinegar to clean out the two glass tanks as I bought them used.

Just so it's clear, at the start of this all I wanted was to add two or three shallow frag tanks, and this is what I ended up with, do I need help?:der:

 

[Aquaph8]

Thanks for the reply, I was beggining to think nobody loved me. Great setup and nice work on the plumbing. I wish I had that much space to deal with, Im so jelous of everyone with basements and garages that aren't 150 degrees.

My biggest obstacle is heat, Im seriously thinking of adding a chiller back into system when I do this. How big of a return pump would you run on 36x24 tank? I hate the idea of more lighting, I allmost have go LED cause if I have to change one more bulb Im gonna freak out, haha.

 

[143MPCo]

So if I'm doing the math right, that's a 45 gallon frag tank?
What types of coral are you thinking of growing out?

 

[Jlobes]

the gallons on24x36 will vary with the depth, but @12" its 45.

I dont have a frag tank set up at the moment, but have been seriously considering setting one up again. I cant decide if I want a stand alone or something tied into the main system. Ideally I would have both!

 

[Aquaph8]

So if I'm doing the math right, that's a 45 gallon frag tank?
What types of coral are you thinking of growing out?

Pretty much just SPS.

 

[143MPCo]

This one always starts a firestorm of replies... so let see we happens... lol

For "return pump" i would do 5x - 10x tank water volume....
Reef tanks with mostly SPS dominated, 30X - 40X or higher is preferred....

Tank turn over:
5*40=200gph
10*40=400gph

Power heads flow:
30*40=1200gph
40*40=1600gph

I have seen SPS tanks running power heads at 60X... so it all depends...

As with anything in this hobby, there are also other requirements and not just the actual numbers I would be looking at. Varying the directions of the flow, and eliminating dead spots are another important considerations, the best way to try and achieve this is by using multiple power-heads to adjust the flow for the type of tank you're keeping, this will help you achieve better crossing flows and creating turbulence with varying degrees of flow.

Hope that's a little help full?

 

[Aquaph8]

Come on people show me some frag tank setups!

 

[CUNAReefer]

Just looking for everyone's thoughts on the best way to run a frag tank. I'm thinking a shallow 36x24 tank plumbed into the main tank. Just looking for random thoughts of what you would do differently, lighting, plumbing what to use for racks for frags and pretty much anything goes. Please post some pics to give me ideas too.

Thanks

Hey Brett,

Hope all is well!

I would go with blue glow frag racks. Get yourself a 36" 6x39 ATI Sunpower for lighting. One, two or even three Jebao RW-8s depending how tall your tank is. Your going to need a couple fish in there. Chromis or even clowns will do well. A small piece of live rock for the fish to sleep near at night.

A couple old pics

 

[Robink]

Nice... following. would like to do the same...

 

[Aquaph8]

Very nice James, thanks for posting man. How big is your tank and how far apart do you start your frags on those racks?

 

[CUNAReefer]

Hey Brett,

The tank is a 100g rimless made by Great Lakes Aquariums. The Blue Glow made the racks custom for me. The good thing about the racks is how easy it is to move the corals around when they grow. As long as the coral doesn't begin to grow down into the holes, it is really easy to lift the coral off the acrylic. The bad thing about the racks... you can only use ceramic plugs... and not all ceramic plugs will fit these racks. If your going for SPS only, you really cannot beat this type of set up. Good luck.

James

 

[c.poindexter]

I agree the racks from TBG are top notch. When I do my frag set up that will be where I get the racks from no question about that.

 

[ReeferEric]

I only found this thread because of R2R Facebook, they used my picture of my frag tank. LOL

My advice on the chiller would be to plumb one in but have a controlled by a controller. I've got a garage sump and frag tank set up with the display in the house. What's really helping with keeping the tank cool is a fan from Home Depot, the chiller rarely kicks on, only in the summer when it's really hot. I've insulated the garage doors so it should be a lot cooler during the summer now. I'm also planning to install a mini split A/C system.

 

[ReeferEric]

Also, you can check out my frag tank addition/build in my signature below. It shows how I plumbed in everything and so on and so forth.

 

[tonymission]

The tank on the left has a lot more frags and fish now

 

[Robink]

Following... want to set up a frag tank also...

 

[JMSKI333]

I hooked a 40b to my main display system with identical lighting as my main display. That way I can transfer corals back and forth with no stress. Frag rack is nothing special, just some egg crate propped up with some PVC legs.