Frag Tank Turnover Rate..........

turfster26 · Nov 6, 2012

I recently installed a 40-gl (48" x 16" x 12") frag tank to my existing system. I have a separate maintenance room in my basement that supplies/services my 180-gl SPS tank upstairs.

My question is, what should my turnover rate be within the frag tank? Currently the frag tank is supplied with an Iwaki recirculating pump at a rate of 90-gls/hr (just over a 2x rate) and it is gravity feed back to my sump. I also have (1) MJ1200 powerhead in the frag tank for internal circulate and will most likely add a second one.

The tank will be mainly used for fragging corals, as well as housing fish for a couple of weeks to acclimate and feed them prior to putting in the display tank.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

revsgirl · Nov 7, 2012

:bump2:

turfster26 · Nov 7, 2012

WOW....I guess no one has frag tanks setup?

Loki · Nov 7, 2012

From my understanding you have a 90gph pump returning water from your sump that may actually be pushing 40-50gph through the tank. Then you have a mj1200 and I'm not sure what they push. I would add a lot more flow unless you are going to keep acans and scolys in it. I know it's a frag tank but I think it needs a lot more flow. I have a 15g frag tank with two hob filters and an mp10. So I have way more flow than you on a tank 1/3 the size.

Sent from tapatalk

RacinRevo0818 · Nov 7, 2012

I would guess it all depends on what you have in your frag tank? I think in general you want at least 10x the tank size (40 gallons) to be flowing into some type of filtration so around 400 gallons an hour. I would think you would want the surface of the water rippling and not allowing dust to settle and stay on surface. The mj1200 moves like 1300gph so thats a fair amount of flow. Just eliminate the dead spots and adjust according. Best of luck and nice size frag tank.

turfster26 · Nov 8, 2012

Loki2902 said:
From my understanding you have a 90gph pump returning water from your sump that may actually be pushing 40-50gph through the tank. Then you have a mj1200 and I'm not sure what they push. I would add a lot more flow unless you are going to keep acans and scolys in it. I know it's a frag tank but I think it needs a lot more flow. I have a 15g frag tank with two hob filters and an mp10. So I have way more flow than you on a tank 1/3 the size.

Let me try to clarify my current flow. I did a (1) gl catch test to determine my current turnover rate. I am running an Iwaki return pump feeding my carbon, gfo reactor and calcium reactor as well as now my frag tank. But I definitely know I am flowing 90-gls/hr going into the frag tank. I have (1) MJ1200 installed now and want to install another one soon. Ideally, if I could afford and/or justify it, I would install an EcoTech MP10.

Having surface disruption/flow is a great idea to keep dust from settling and refracting the light from my T5 setup and another great idea.

But 10x turnover rate sounds like a lot??? I know people like Sanjay and others have now gone to a much lower (3x rate) turnover on their main display. I know another topic for another thread, but all the rage of high turnover rate (display to sump) has been reversed in recent years from my experience.

Anyhow, great info so far and keep the suggestions coming.

MANY thx...............

Loki · Nov 8, 2012

I don't have a sump on my frag tank, but I don't think 10x through the sump is needed. On my display I maybe have 2-3x through the sump and 20(ish)x of flow in the display itself. If you have 90 through the sump that seems perfect. I was thinking the pump was rated at 90 and after plumbing and everything else was actually pushing a lot less. Sorry for the confusion.

With that and the MJ I would just make sure there aren't any dead spots and you would be good.

I traded for the mp10 because I knew I wasn't going to have a sump for my frag tank so it's really the only flow in there.

Sent from tapatalk