How would you set up a frag tank?

[Cooper32803]

So I have a 40 breeder that I want to set up as a frag tank in the garage. I have a lead on a Current 1/6 HP chiller on craigslist so that is all set (hopefully).

I'm looking for ideas on filtration and actual design in the tank. Im thinking I will just get a T5 fixture for lighting. But what else would I need to do?

I would like to keep this on a low(ish) end budget so would a canister filter work with a chiller? Also should it be BB with eggcrate? or sand? or LR?

Any and all advice is appreciated!

 

[wysiwyg]

i would go with eggcrate and some sort of substrate and get a small skimmer

 

[thewackyreefer]

i would go with eggcrate and some sort of substrate and get a small skimmer

What is the reason for the substrate? From what I've seen the vast majority of frag tanks are bare bottom.

 

[Pappy]

I'm setting one up soon...going bare bottom with 2-3 decent rocks (29 gallon), LEDs, maybe a sump and skimmer later but just a cheesy hob filter for now. I was told font need a slimmer and sump for such a small tank if I do wc.


Mike D "like the beastie boys" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cooper32803]

I read that you can do bare bottom and put a power head under the egg crate that way any leftover food that falls to the bottom keeps moving in the tank until it is eaten... Is that true?

Would a hob be enough filtration? That would be an easy way to go

 

[thewackyreefer]

I read that you can do bare bottom and put a power head under the egg crate that way any leftover food that falls to the bottom keeps moving in the tank until it is eaten... Is that true?

Would a hob be enough filtration? That would be an easy way to go

I have a 20g with 2 Koralia nano's under the crate, it does keep some stuff from settling but I get in there with a turkey baster every day or two and blow things around.

 

[ritter6788]

No sand, minimal fish (wrasse, blenny) lots of live rock in the sump, skimmer, fuge with chaeto, lots of light and lots of flow ( depending on the type of frags).

 

[Cooper32803]

Ok so here is what I have so far and plan to purchase in the near future for my 40 Breeder frag tank. What else do I need?

Metal stand from Dr Foster & Smith (Has room to put another tank on the bottom which I will use later to build a sump)
HOB Skimmer (one that can be HOB or in sump Dont have it yet but planning to buy from aquatraders)
36" 6 bulb T5 Fixture with timers and moon LEDs (What combo of lights should I be running?)
Koralia 750 gph powerhead (plan on getting a 425 gph as well for under the frag rack)
Frag rack and 3" PVC couplers to hold frag rack off the bottom of the tank

What else should I be looking to get that is a necessity for growing frags?

 

[Cooper32803]

Bump

 

[Cooper32803]

Bump again for the night crowd

 

[Degener8]

Sounds like a pretty solid setup if you ask me. Should be able to house any coral you want depending on placement in the tank pretaining to flow requirements.

 

[Cooper32803]

I am also thinking of making a box of sorts out of acrylic with walls 4 inches high to place some sand in for any corals that might want to be placed right on the sand. I should be able to place that on top of the rack, right? And keep some Cheato under the rack to keep parameters in check? Also I will be switching out the stock bulbs in the light for geissemen (sp?) I am thinking 3 blue, 1 white and 1 purple... That should be good for color and growth right?

 

[Cooper32803]

So I bought a magnetic frag rack as well for any frags that might want more light at the top of the tank... Do they work well? Will light still get past the acrylic where no frags are at to any frags that might be below?

 

[NanoNathan]

The Here is my simple set up. Ignore the dirty glass the middle chamber is full of cheto

Sent from my tank using tapatalk

 

[droblack]

Connected mine to the display tank, to add to the stability and have in instantly cycled frag tank.

 

[Cooper32803]

That setup looks nice... Looks like the light gets beyond the frag rack so that's good!

Unfortunately I can't hook it up to the frag tank as the frag tank will be in the garage and the display tank will be in the living room right behind it but there is a wall there and the only person I know who could do the drilling and plumbing (not me for sure lol) is my father when he is in town next and he wouldn't understand the obsession I now have with fish tanks and would probably refuse drilling a hole for me and running pipes even though it is my house lol

 

[Steelerfan747]

I have seen a lot of reefers post about a 40g breeder tank. Must be a popular size. Please post pics

 

[Jaygalindo]

+1 on bare bottom. Also avoid fish unless it's a small tang to eat algae when it's an issue or a 6 line wrasse to eat pests. If this frag tank isn't going to house sps you don't need a skimmer unless u add fish. Also don't skimp on flow. As for lighting yeah the blue and purple actinic bulbs look great but if your focus is grow out I would opt for balanced lighting or even a 10k look. This should help with growth rate. If you are trying to sell or trade and want corals to pop u can always move them over to the dt for pics.

 

[Cooper32803]

Well growth isn't the major concern right now... My immediate purpose of this frag tank is to have a place for corals to thrive that I see and have to have so I buy them and don't have a display tank just yet. And once I have a display tank then I will put them all in there. Later plans for the tank will be to grow frags for trading and selling...

 

[Cooper32803]

So I just painted the back of the tank and the bottom of the tank black... yay! Just in the nick of time because it just started to rain LOL Now to rearrange and organize my messy garage to make room for it... Also got the metal stand from Dr.s Foster and Smith in today. So hopefully some pics of a dry tank will be posted tonight or tomorrow... It will more than likely be in a new thread and keep this thread for advice and information...