SPS Frag Tank Setup

[Brandon McHenry]

Hi all!

Recently I've noticed that my tank has been experiencing quite a bit of growth and I'm starting to realize the need to prune certain pieces in my display. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to discuss their experience with setting up a frag tank for SPS. What type of setup is required and how much attention does it really need in comparison to my display tank. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[luke33]

It totally depends in a nutshell. If you plumb it to your current tank it makes things easier as the frags always go into the same water chemistry they are use to. If you use the same light from your display as your frag tank that also helps things.

That being said if you plumb it to a different stand alone you have a separate system and nothing from your display should affect your frag system(as long as you don't move pests over). If your display crashes you still have frags of your colonies available. I prefer this method. Is it more difficult...yes, but its worth it for this reason. You can also use it as a qt system when you buy other frags as well. Only thing that is a pain is setting it up as we all know sps don't do well in newly established systems. I ran my frag tank for a good year with fish in it before starting to drop in sps. Is that excessive? Yea, but thats just me : )

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I use a stand alone 20L. It's a basic setup, with a HOB filter for gfo, carbon, and filter floss. I have a Smart micro ATO, that I consider a must because my evap is pretty high. I had a bunch of extra koralias so I have plenty of flow, somewhere around 65x turnover. For lighting I'm using an old BoostLED (old school black box LED). Couple softball size pieces of rock, an eggcrate frag rack, a few snails, and a single damsel. Sticks are growing pretty well, but the color could use a little work. It's an extra tank so it has it's own maintenance schedule, but that averages out to about 5-10 minutes a day for me...

 

[Brandon McHenry]

It totally depends in a nutshell. If you plumb it to your current tank it makes things easier as the frags always go into the same water chemistry they are use to. If you use the same light from your display as your frag tank that also helps things.

That being said if you plumb it to a different stand alone you have a separate system and nothing from your display should affect your frag system(as long as you don't move pests over). If your display crashes you still have frags of your colonies available. I prefer this method. Is it more difficult...yes, but its worth it for this reason. You can also use it as a qt system when you buy other frags as well. Only thing that is a pain is setting it up as we all know sps don't do well in newly established systems. I ran my frag tank for a good year with fish in it before starting to drop in sps. Is that excessive? Yea, but thats just me : )

I don't think plumbing to my current system would be an option so most likely it would be separate. I know that SPS don't like newer systems but I figured I could at least start the tank with water from my current system to keep shock as minimal as possible. What about equipment needed for a small frag system?

I use a stand alone 20L. It's a basic setup, with a HOB filter for gfo, carbon, and filter floss. I have a Smart micro ATO, that I consider a must because my evap is pretty high. I had a bunch of extra koralias so I have plenty of flow, somewhere around 65x turnover. For lighting I'm using an old BoostLED (old school black box LED). Couple softball size pieces of rock, an eggcrate frag rack, a few snails, and a single damsel. Sticks are growing pretty well, but the color could use a little work. It's an extra tank so it has it's own maintenance schedule, but that averages out to about 5-10 minutes a day for me...

So you have been successful with a HOB filter? That was one of my biggest questions was if I needed to create a system with a sumo and stand. Also how do you dose the tank?

All pictures are welcome!

 

[Coastie Reefer]

So you have been successful with a HOB filter? That was one of my biggest questions was if I needed to create a system with a sumo and stand. Also how do you dose the tank?

All pictures are welcome!

A HOB works perfectly fine for me. I just try to keep up on water changes and changing out the filter media. I use two mesh bags for carbon and gfo. I put the recommended amount of gfo in one and mix in a little carbon to keep it from turning into a clump. I then put the recommended amount of carbon in the other. Then the filter pad goes on top of them. The system is also barebottom. I'm not currently dosing, but I'm testing and watching parameters. I have some B-Ionic Ca and Alk ordered and will get here today or tomorrow. I'm just going to dose manually. LOL, sump and stand... my 20 is literally sitting on the floor in a walk-in closet of our spare bedroom. It's like my mini fish room. I will say that I'm planning on putting it on some sort of stand in the near future as being on the floor makes siphon water changes a pain, but a small pump makes that a non-issue.

Here's a couple pics I had on my phone.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

A HOB works perfectly fine for me. I just try to keep up on water changes and changing out the filter media. I use two mesh bags for carbon and gfo. I put the recommended amount of gfo in one and mix in a little carbon to keep it from turning into a clump. I then put the recommended amount of carbon in the other. Then the filter pad goes on top of them. The system is also barebottom. I'm not currently dosing, but I'm testing and watching parameters. I have some B-Ionic Ca and Alk ordered and will get here today or tomorrow. I'm just going to dose manually. LOL, sump and stand... my 20 is literally sitting on the floor in a walk-in closet of our spare bedroom. It's like my mini fish room. I will say that I'm planning on putting it on some sort of stand in the near future as being on the floor makes siphon water changes a pain, but a small pump makes that a non-issue.

Here's a couple pics I had on my phone.

Oh wow that seems to be working well for you. I'm looking to set up something basic that isn't going to cost me a fortune but will be successful. That's why I'm looking for as many ideas and suggestions as possible.

 

[luke33]

I don't think plumbing to my current system would be an option so most likely it would be separate. I know that SPS don't like newer systems but I figured I could at least start the tank with water from my current system to keep shock as minimal as possible. What about equipment needed for a small frag system?

So you have been successful with a HOB filter? That was one of my biggest questions was if I needed to create a system with a sumo and stand. Also how do you dose the tank?

All pictures are welcome!

Thats what I did but it still took the tank time to mature. I purchased an AIO custom acrylic tank with a section in back that was 8x8" for a skimmer. The tank is 36x24x12" and I had custom frag racks made for it. It works perfect for me, but next time i may go with 1/2" vs 3/4" acrylic just due to magnet's. Equipment wise i have powerheads, skimmer, heater, ato, reservoir and live rock. You could make due with less but i always think your better off planning it like its a small display.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Thats what I did but it still took the tank time to mature. I purchased an AIO custom acrylic tank with a section in back that was 8x8" for a skimmer. The tank is 36x24x12" and I had custom frag racks made for it. It works perfect for me, but next time i may go with 1/2" vs 3/4" acrylic just due to magnet's. Equipment wise i have powerheads, skimmer, heater, ato, reservoir and live rock. You could make due with less but i always think your better off planning it like its a small display.

Yes I understand that all too well. I learned from my display how to plan ahead better. I am also just trying to be cost effective as well. What did your current frag system cost you, ballpark. I'm just trying to get an idea of what I'm getting into.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I know you didn't ask me, but here's a rough cost breakdown of what I have.

20L - $20 petco $/gallon
150w heater - $25
AC 50 - $35
Black box LED - $100 (had this in storage, but paid more than that a few years ago. New MarsAqua and other "Black Boxes" run around 100-125, SB has great reviews too)
Powerheads x 4 - $15 (bought used and had in storage, roughly $30 each new. You can find cheap pumps/powerheads online, but they may not last)
Eggcrate - $10
Thermometer - $3
About 8 lbs of rock - 2.50/lb (had in storage)

My total setup brand new would probably be around 300 bucks or so...

An AIO would look much cleaner, but I'd guess it would add 1-200 bucks to the overall cost. All depends on what you want to do, and if you plan on having it out in the open or not. Or in my case, what the wife would allow...

 

[Tyreef2016]

This is on my list also. I setup my Bio cube again to become a frag tank but ended up making it a full reef tank. I would like to eventually get a AIO, it seems like a good route and then get your add ons.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

I know you didn't ask me, but here's a rough cost breakdown of what I have.

20L - $20 petco $/gallon
150w heater - $25
AC 50 - $35
Black box LED - $100 (had this in storage, but paid more than that a few years ago. New MarsAqua and other "Black Boxes" run around 100-125, SB has great reviews too)
Powerheads x 4 - $15 (bought used and had in storage, roughly $30 each new. You can find cheap pumps/powerheads online, but they may not last)
Eggcrate - $10
Thermometer - $3
About 8 lbs of rock - 2.50/lb (had in storage)

My total setup brand new would probably be around 300 bucks or so...

An AIO would look much cleaner, but I'd guess it would add 1-200 bucks to the overall cost. All depends on what you want to do, and if you plan on having it out in the open or not. Or in my case, what the wife would allow...

I appreciate it! My goal is to get an idea of what everybody does for SPS frag tanks and design a system that is going to work for what I need it for. Equipment and maintenance and cost from everybody really does help out a bunch!

 

[luke33]

Yes I understand that all too well. I learned from my display how to plan ahead better. I am also just trying to be cost effective as well. What did your current frag system cost you, ballpark. I'm just trying to get an idea of what I'm getting into.

Well, I didn't try to skimp as looked at it as a long term thing....atleast on the tank : ) everything else i worked with.

36x24x12" acrylic 3/4" rounded edge AIO tank with frag racks - $700
Mars 32" led - $170
Skimz 143 - $200
Heater - $30
2xPH's - $100
Return - $50
ATO - $120
LR - $80

Total - $1450

You could probably swap out the $700 and get a 40g breeder at petco for $40 bux. Then your talking $790 which sounds slightly more reasonable.

But there are many ways for this to work, not one system will be the same.

Pic from many moons ago

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Well, I didn't try to skimp as looked at it as a long term thing....atleast on the tank : ) everything else i worked with.

36x24x12" acrylic 3/4" rounded edge AIO tank with frag racks - $700
Mars 32" led - $170
Skimz 143 - $200
Heater - $30
2xPH's - $100
Return - $50
ATO - $120
LR - $80

Total - $1450

You could probably swap out the $700 and get a 40g breeder at petco for $40 bux. Then your talking $790 which sounds slightly more reasonable.

But there are many ways for this to work, not one system will be the same.

Pic from many moons ago

Wow that is a nice investment! I can see why you chose to go with it. For the time being I think I'm looking for something simple that I can get my feet wet so to speak (more like my hands). I kind of just want to see if I can frag corals out of my system and grow them. I almost considered a frag rack for the display tank but I don't know if I can bring myself to put that in there and have to look at it. I also have some extra equipment from previous upgrades that I will try to incorporate as best I can.

 

[luke33]

On that note.......i generally frag, keep them in my tank for a couple weeks to heel, then move them to frag tank : )

That generally keeps my success rate at 95% or higher

 

[Brandon McHenry]

On that note.......i generally frag, keep them in my tank for a couple weeks to heel, then move them to frag tank : )

That generally keeps my success rate at 95% or higher

Oh wow so then do you have a frag rack in your display tank as well for the healing process?

 

[luke33]

Oh wow so then do you have a frag rack in your display tank as well for the healing process?

Correct. In the past when the system was connected I did not, but since its separate i let them heal a couple weeks first, then once encrusting i move them.

It is on the back right corner of my display.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Correct. In the past when the system was connected I did not, but since its separate i let them heal a couple weeks first, then once encrusting i move them.

It is on the back right corner of my display.

For a beginner "fragger" would you suggest starting with a frag rack in the display tank before I set up a brand new system?

 

[luke33]

For a beginner "fragger" would you suggest starting with a frag rack in the display tank before I set up a brand new system?

I 100% would suggest starting with a frag rack, then moving to a frag system. A frag system imo gets neglected quite often, then shut down and sold for 30% of the setup cost.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

I 100% would suggest starting with a frag rack, then moving to a frag system. A frag system imo gets neglected quite often, then shut down and sold for 30% of the setup cost.

Huh. Well maybe that is what I should be considering instead. I didn't really think of it but I guess it could be a good way to see how it all works for me. And I know my system works since I've got the need to frag in the first place lol. What type of frag rack do you use? DYI or a particular brand?

 

[luke33]

There are many out there that work just fine if your tank is 1/2" or less in thickness. There are very few that work well that are 3/4" thickness or more. I fall under the latter ofcourse because it makes sense to make things difficult. What to look for are strong magnets for stability, and stability and stability. Nothing worst than a snail being able to knock it down.