My new frag tank

H@rry · Feb 14, 2009

I just got my frag tank from Ocea. It looks very well built and I think it will do very well for warehousing SPS frags. It is 48 x 18 x 13. I have about 9.5 inches in the canopy to work with the lights.

Help be decide on lighting and a skimmer. I'm interested in color only, not growth.

I'll post more details as I get it "going on".

Ladipyg · Feb 14, 2009

That is probably the sweetest frag set up I've ever seen...Are you just going to put some eggcrate in the bottom to hold frag plugs. I'd love to see pics of that bad boy up and running.
Skimmer...I'd say go Euro-Reef...not too expensive and pulls out a ton of stinky skimmate. I have one and I LOVE it., easy to dial in.
Lights, since your tank is so shallow, I'd go T5's. Plenty of light for everything including SPS and Clams, yet you won't get the heat build up like you would with MH. Couple of fans will keep everything nice and cool, on the plus side they aren't as expensive to run. 18" you could get away with 4 bulbs I think without a problem.

H@rry · Feb 14, 2009

Yeah, I'm gonna jack a sheet of eggcrate about 2 inches off the bottom.

Thanx for the suggestion on the T5s. If I go that route I'll probably use 6 bulbs (unless I think I can get 8 in).

Right now my thinking in 175W MH. I have a couple of them over a display tank. I thought about "upgrading" the display with 400W and migrate the 175s to the frag tank. I want to make a decision by Monday morning and place an order for whatever I'll need. Can you recommend a vendor for the Euro-Reef?

gflat65 · Feb 14, 2009

I can't wait til Jenn will let me order one from Ocea. It'll be more than twice the size of what I have

.

mltascp · Feb 14, 2009

Nice looking Tank. I love it.

Ladipyg · Feb 15, 2009

Just my oppinion of course but if you put in 6 or 8 T5's you're gonna burn every coral in the tank. Especially as shallow as it is, the heat from 400 watt MH's will have you running a chiller 24/7. Check Euro_reef.com for a skimmer if you're looking new. They usually have some sweet bargains in clearance if cosmetic isn't important to you. Can always find used ones for sale here or on E-bay.
Here's a guy with a deeper tank then you that is having to move his Acans off to the side to keep from frying them with 4 T5's. http://reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=17501 Anyway, good luck with the set up and keep taking pictures.

H@rry · Feb 15, 2009

What about heaters too. I want two for redundancy.

Before I order new stuff, anybody around the Huntsville area wanting to sell a skimmer, return pump, or MH lights?

Ladipyg · Feb 15, 2009

I'd suggest 2 heaters on a controller...it would detect any malfunctions and shut down an overheating heater (talk about redundant) before it could cook your corals. Again I would have to say that is one of the sweetest frag set ups I've ever seen. Does this Ocea have a website or is it local to Huntsville... I used to live at the other end of the state in Ozark Alabama. I loved the fact that is was like 90 minutes or so from Panama City.

H@rry · Feb 15, 2009

Ocea is in Boaz, AL. www.oceallc.com.

Ladipyg · Feb 15, 2009

Here's a link to a Euro-reef for sale with an up-graded pump at a great price.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1574615

H@rry · Feb 17, 2009

Got the plumbing finished and got the eggcrate laid down. M@ry Ruth's painting the inside of the canopy.

jimmybling31 · Feb 17, 2009

2 150watt metal halides would be great for that.

H@rry · Feb 17, 2009

jimmybling31 said:
2 150watt metal halides would be great for that.

Actually, I plan to use 2 175w MH. It's going to take a couple of weeks to get it all "going on" but I'll try to keep this thread updated!

jimmybling31 · Feb 17, 2009

H@rry said:
Actually, I plan to use 2 175w MH. It's going to take a couple of weeks to get it all "going on" but I'll try to keep this thread updated!

cool. I would say go with a 20k bulb for good color. go with mogul base if you can for more bulb options. do use a good reflector if it's in the budget. it will make a world of difference.

gflat65 · Feb 17, 2009

I have missed the threads on the lighting questions, but heard you were looking for something. 175's will be great for that size tank. I don't like Coralvue 14K bulbs all that much (very dim compared to the 2.5 year old Ushio 14K's...), but I'd think that a 20K Ushio or something along those lines would give good intensity without being too much for that height, and great color.

TritonsGarden · Feb 17, 2009

That is one sweet looking setup. Can't wait to see it full of frags.

Jack

rarelyseriousb · Feb 17, 2009

keep us updated this is a cool build.

H@rry · Feb 19, 2009

M@ry Ruth painted the inside of the canopy and I installed the fans.

Kitty was keeping a watchful eye in case I needed any supervision.

TritonsGarden · Feb 19, 2009

Looking good!!!!

My luck, I would have spilled the paint on the kitty which would have then ran all through the house slinging paint everywhere.:cry:

Jack