Help me set up a frag tank

H@rry · Jan 20, 2009

I'm getting a 48 x 18 frag tank with a sump. This will be for SPS. I want to use T5 for lighting. I haven't gotten it yet but I think I'll be able to squeeze 8 bulbs in the canopy. What mixture of bulbs do you folks recommend for COLOR, not growth?

Also, I can use a skimmer with a 10 inch footprint. Recommend one for me.

While you're recommending these things, I'd appreciate if you could point me to a vendor that you like.

Thanx
H@rry

bkv1997 · Jan 20, 2009

Harry:

I just setup a frag tank as well and have went back and forth on lighting... I ended up going MH so I could have an areas with more and less light.

Sorry to get off topic but was curious why you are deciding to go T5?

H@rry · Jan 20, 2009

I thought T5s might not generate as much heat as MH and I thought it might not be as expensive (but now I'm not so sure). I had hoped that T5s might allow the frags to color up well. The tank will be less than 12 inches deep.

Are you saying that you tried T5s over a frag tank and were dissatisfied until you went with MH?

bkv1997 · Jan 20, 2009

My frag tank is also 12" deep.

I was concerned with T5s I wouldn't have the ability to keep zoas, leather, softies, acans, etc in the tank becuase Even on the bottom everything gets the same amount of light.

With a MH I have the ability to move things right to left away from the center spectrum, but the down side is i have to turn my SPS frags or only one side colors up.

Was just curious your reasoning because i've thought of putting a 24" T5 fixture over it to allow for a portion of the tank with less lighting, but allowing coloration on all sides of the frags directly under it.

As far as colors go I'm using a Radium 250 with an icecap ballast in a lumenmax reflector and don't think the colors could be beat.

Brandon

H@rry · Jan 20, 2009

Yeah, for what you're doing I can see what you are saying. For my application though, I want a more or less constant intensity all the way across. The frags will be SPS grown in the display tanks and will just be "warehoused" in the frag tank. Since some of the frags will be cut from the lower parts of the colonies and not "up to color" (some may even be brown) I want the bulb spectrum to make the colors "pop"

I may be going about this all wrong. If so please speak up to "lead me from the darkness into the light":wink:

bkv1997 · Jan 20, 2009

Harry:

I've never personally had T5s on a setup, but there are alot of locals here that do and have very nice tanks. From what i've seen most the people with T5s get a much more pastell looking color where those of us with MHs have Bolder looking colors.

Not really one better than the other just a personal preference.... I've been tempted to try t5s on the frag tank, but am just afraid to pull the trigger.... if you do please let me know the results.

Brandon

mltascp · Jan 20, 2009

Harry,

Don got his lights from Hello Lights and Marine and Reef. After much research they had the best prices on what he wanted. He put t5's in the canopy but is putting MH's over the frag tank. I like the look of the t5's.

JR's Reef · Jan 20, 2009

H@rry Im so glad your going to put some color to those frags. I T5s would work good but i prefer MH in the 20k range to get good color. I run radiums on a gallaxy ballast and love the colors

JR's Reef · Jan 20, 2009

Oh and check out the MSX skimmers there a great skimmer for the buck

H@rry · Jan 20, 2009

mltascp said:
He put t5's in the canopy but is putting MH's over the frag tank.

What is the canopy over?

bkv1997 · Jan 20, 2009

Joey08 said:
H@rry Im so glad your going to put some color to those frags. I T5s would work good but i prefer MH in the 20k range to get good color. I run radiums on a gallaxy ballast and love the colors

I second the radiums... I've never seen better colors personally.

H@rry · Jan 20, 2009

So you folks would recommend that I just forget about the T5s and go MH over the frag tank?

bkv1997 · Jan 20, 2009

I personally can't recommend one over the other as I have no personal experience with t5s, but i can't say one negative thing about the results i've had with radiums.

We don't live that far away from each other.... before making a decision if you want to drive up and see my tank/frag tank you are more than welcome.

Brandon

WinstONE · Jan 21, 2009

They both dissipate the same amount of heat. T-5s are just not as concentrated. I had a frag tank 12"T and used a MH set up. I found no issues.... I would also recommend a H&S 110 as a skimmer. I had an overbuilt frag tank running a BM200 on a 80g system. The mesh was cut down to allow enough contact time w/DOC. As far as T-5s go you will have to replace the bulbs vs replacing A bulb with MH. The blues on T-5 burn faster than the whites/red/yellow spectrum. Hope this helps.

iani · Jan 21, 2009

WinstONE said:
They both dissipate the same amount of heat. T-5s are just not as concentrated. I had a frag tank 12"T and used a MH set up. I found no issues.... I would also recommend a H&S 110 as a skimmer. I had an overbuilt frag tank running a BM200 on a 80g system. The mesh was cut down to allow enough contact time w/DOC. As far as T-5s go you will have to replace the bulbs vs replacing A bulb with MH. The blues on T-5 burn faster than the whites/red/yellow spectrum. Hope this helps.

Are you sure about that. I have both a MH/T5HO (2x250 4x39) combo fixture and T5HO (12x54) only fixture. The T5HO fixture is 3 inches over the water level in my tank, the MH/T5HO is about 12 inches over the water level in my frag tank. Both tanks are connected to the same system. The water temp increases more with the MH/T5HO combo fixture than it does with the all T5HO fixture. Blue T5 bulbs also do not burn out fast, in fact the ATI blue plus bulbs last a really long time. One thing to consider with frag tanks is that T5s will wrap your frags with light better (not a spot light like MHs). This will lead to a better growing condition, and you will get color all the way around your frags.

H@rry · Jan 21, 2009

I've been thinking about it since yesterday. If I go with MH I will use two bulbs over a 48 inch tank. I have a couple of 175W over another tank that I think could use more. I'll probably buy 250W and put on that tank and move the 175W to the frag tank.

I just thought MH would be overkill on a shallow frag tank and figured T5s would be all I need.

I dunno, I'm confused now.:confuse:

kgehrke · Jan 21, 2009

Aside from the lighting what else do you plan on doing?
What skimmer, flow style, flow amount, filtration type?
Ca reactor, lime drip or 2 part?
Bare bottom or sand?
There's a lot left to discuss.

mltascp · Jan 21, 2009

H@rry said:
What is the canopy over?

The canopy is over the 70RR.

mltascp · Jan 21, 2009

I think I would keep the same type of light on the frag tank that I have over my big tank.

H@rry · Jan 21, 2009

kgehrke said:
Aside from the lighting what else do you plan on doing?
What skimmer, flow style, flow amount, filtration type?
Ca reactor, lime drip or 2 part?
Bare bottom or sand?
There's a lot left to discuss.

I'm soliciting recommendations for a skimmer. I haven't decided between a "single output" return or a pipe around the top with holes to make a "spray bar". I'll have LR in the sump. The tank will be BB. I plan to do weekly water changes. If that does not keep the alk up I'll add a Ca reactor.

Everybody offer their suggestions, that what I'm looking for now.