Frag tank sump question

[drummerkid97]

going to be setting up a 50 gallon frag tank soon. My question is whether to run gfo or chaeto. Does anyone have any opinions on which is better? Should I do both? I watched BRS's refugium video where they say running various forms of filtration can lead to stripping all elements out of the water. Thoughts?

 

[Acskippy]

going to be setting up a 50 gallon frag tank soon. My question is whether to run gfo or chaeto. Does anyone have any opinions on which is better? Should I do both? I watched BRS's refugium video where they say running various forms of filtration can lead to stripping all elements out of the water. Thoughts?

Depends on what type of coral you plan on fragging.... Have you decided on any? Sps for example have very different needs than zoas..

 

[drummerkid97]

mainly lps. Might put some sps too

 

[ReefLab]

Be prepared for both but run neither initially. Monitor nitrate and phosphate.
I would lean toward growing macro algae if needed. use GFO if phosphate gets out of control.

 

[Acskippy]

mainly lps. Might put some sps too

Awesome! Sps and most lps corals are going to need stable, nutrient rich, constantly monitored water as well as diff lighting intensities. Too much EXCESS nutrients need lead to high phos and nit which need to be low for sps and a little higher for lps. I like to use chaeto refugiums in my frag tanks with a skimmer. Have pellet reactors in all that flows BARELY in lps and stronger in sps. Chaeto its a cheaper method since you dont have to replace media. I use a ton of pods in my sps and lps tanks and feed phyto, and pods seen to do great in chaeto. They will both “strip” nutrients and each do their job... i just like the chaeto... also i run a seperate tank for each coral category... just make sure params are stable and if you add OR remove alot of livestock at once in such a small system readings can drastically change!