new frag tank questions

[Max_Insanity]

Hi all, i have started building a new frag and live rock grow-out tank, it is 48" x 24" x 12" system(approx 50 gal.), i have two 1600 gph powerheads on a wavemaker, heater, gravity feed ato, and lighting it a 4 bulb t5 lamp. i have about 50 lbs of dry cured rock i added today and i made a spacer so it sits 1" off the bottom which i hope will keep any buildup from happening.

So my questions are:

Will the two power heads provide adequate flow as they alternate or do i need a third to be constantly on?

Should i add a fish or any types of snails or crabs when its done cycling or will the corals be able to thrive on there own? (i am planing on adding copepods, live plankton, and coral food)

Without fish (or with few small fish) will a skimmer be necessary?

i appreciate all input and thank you all for your help.

 

[amnesiac]

Glad to see you have the Sicce's. From what I understand of the Voyagers they are engineered to handle on/off cycling (wavemaker) for the long term. I would imagine that you should have more than enough flow for the tank. For my frag tanks I find that even with plenty of flow I still get some detritus build up under the eggcrate. I slipped a super cheap pump I had laying around underneath the eggcrate to keep detritus suspended in the water.
If this is a stand alone system (not connected to a main tank) then I would definitely put some livestock in there. You feed the fish and the fish feed the coral. Also, you get the added benefit of pest control assuming you pick frag tank friendly critters. I keep a yellow tang in all my frag tanks as well as a few snails above and below the eggcrate. I would love to put in a wrasse or two, but I don't want to cover the frag tanks and a wrasse with an uncovered tank is a big no no (at least for me).
And if you're going to put in livestock then I would definitely get a skimmer. Good luck

 

[Max_Insanity]

Glad to see you have the Sicce's. From what I understand of the Voyagers they are engineered to handle on/off cycling (wavemaker) for the long term. I would imagine that you should have more than enough flow for the tank. For my frag tanks I find that even with plenty of flow I still get some detritus build up under the eggcrate. I slipped a super cheap pump I had laying around underneath the eggcrate to keep detritus suspended in the water.
If this is a stand alone system (not connected to a main tank) then I would definitely put some livestock in there. You feed the fish and the fish feed the coral. Also, you get the added benefit of pest control assuming you pick frag tank friendly critters. I keep a yellow tang in all my frag tanks as well as a few snails above and below the eggcrate. I would love to put in a wrasse or two, but I don't want to cover the frag tanks and a wrasse with an uncovered tank is a big no no (at least for me).
And if you're going to put in livestock then I would definitely get a skimmer. Good luck

Yes i read great things about the Sicce's for wavemaking and silence (i'm trying to keep the tank as quiet as possible) and am very happy with them so far. i have seen a lot of people recommending yellow tangs, i have never kept herbivores fish so i will look into that, and as far a snails i have a breeding population of Nassarius Snails in my DT so i might move some of those over. as well i look into quiet skimmers that might fit.