SPS Frag Tanks

[CivicS14]

Hi All,

So, I'm setting up a new tank just for my SPS frags, but I'm not tying it to my main like most people do. Anyone have one set up independently and how you maintaining the parameters? Or am I just over thinking it?

I was thinking of getting another calcium reactor but I think it might be overkill / unnecessary since it's not a grow out tank. Would Kalk be fine?

Thoughts?

 

[SeaDweller]

I am thinking of setting up a 40B for a frag tank too, and thought about not tying it in to the main system. Personally, I was just gonna dose by hand.

 

[Coral Reef Keepers]

Just set it up like you would a brand new system. It will be months before you have to worry about dosing etc so take your time.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

How big? Sump or no sump? Permanent or temporary? Lots of things to consider...

But for something like a 40B or Lowboy, I’d plumb it to a sump and put as much rock as I could in he sump. Cycle it like a regular tank and go from there. CaRx would be extreme and a simple 2 part doser would go a long way if you needed to dose. Put a few fish in the frag tank to help keep nutrients up. Might even have to does nitrate and phosphate.

 

[CivicS14]

How big? Sump or no sump? Permanent or temporary? Lots of things to consider...

But for something like a 40B or Lowboy, I’d plumb it to a sump and put as much rock as I could in he sump. Cycle it like a regular tank and go from there. CaRx would be extreme and a simple 2 part doser would go a long way if you needed to dose. Put a few fish in the frag tank to help keep nutrients up. Might even have to does nitrate and phosphate.

It's a 54g (Red Sea Reefer 250), but I have a raised frag rack made for it. The lights are the one that comes with it, the Hydra 26HD. I am cycling it now and plan to add a small tang and maybe a sixline wrasse for nutrients.

I hate doing things by hand because I get busy with just life in general and forget about it. Maybe just get two dosers down the road.

 

[CivicS14]

Here is the set up. I got it on an amazing deal - it's the RSR250 deluxe. Local club member had to move out of state.

 

[SeaDweller]

Here is the set up. I got it on an amazing deal - it's the RSR250 deluxe. Local club member had to move out of state.

You want to set THAT up as a frag tank? Set it up as a second display!!! It's too nice for a frag tank.

 

[CivicS14]

You want to set THAT up as a frag tank? Set it up as a second display!!! It's too nice for a frag tank.

Too lazy to maintain two displays. Also, I'm tired of seeing frags in my display on frag racks. Makes it looks really ugly.

 

[UWC]

I would try and tie them together if at all possible. Saves you on a lot of equipment and you get the instant stability of your main system, which in return adds more water volume

 

[CivicS14]

I would try and tie them together if at all possible. Saves you on a lot of equipment and you get the instant stability of your main system, which in return adds more water volume

Trust me, I wanted to, but the wife didn't want another tank in the area. It sits between the living room and the kitchen.

That's why I'm trying to get feedback on who's successfully set up an independent frag tank and how they managed it because I'm unable to tie it together.

 

[joseserrano]

You run it like any other tank. Dose is necessary, good flow, lighting, and water quality. You can get away with less rock if you use media blocks. Otherwise its the same idea.

 

[motortrendz]

You absolutely can set it up independently. But you are setting up a brand new system. So youd need to treat it as such, adding acros from the start will be tricky at best. I wouldn't worry about a ca/rx, water changes will be fine for the first 6months, unless you get it packed full and they're all doing well and drawing alot of alk/ca. At that point I'd just run a simple doser.

 

[Huff747]

Don’t have a current picture, it’s been up and running with corals/clams/fish now for a bit. But here’s an early picture. Too early to say if it’ll work well but I had the same issue so I got a zoomed lowboy and built a divider to make a skimmer/heater/probe section.

I didn’t want to have a second tank where I drilled it and plumbed it to a sump so I wanted to try something simpler for this tank. So only things under the stand are power supplies, storage, and an ato. I was able to run a long apex cable and hook up an EB4 and a PM2 so it’s on the same apex as my other tank. One thing I wish I had done was not go with a 4ft fixture since I made the side compartment. I’ve since built a light shield to keep the light out of that side. So far Kalk in the ATO seems to be keeping the Alk/Cal pretty steady. Nitrates are higher than my main tank but there’s no fuge or ATS on this one.

 

[CivicS14]

Don’t have a current picture, it’s been up and running with corals/clams/fish now for a bit. But here’s an early picture. Too early to say if it’ll work well but I had the same issue so I got a zoomed lowboy and built a divider to make a skimmer/heater/probe section.

I didn’t want to have a second tank where I drilled it and plumbed it to a sump so I wanted to try something simpler for this tank. So only things under the stand are power supplies, storage, and an ato. I was able to run a long apex cable and hook up an EB4 and a PM2 so it’s on the same apex as my other tank. One thing I wish I had done was not go with a 4ft fixture since I made the side compartment. I’ve since built a light shield to keep the light out of that side. So far Kalk in the ATO seems to be keeping the Alk/Cal pretty steady. Nitrates are higher than my main tank but there’s no fuge or ATS on this one.

I see CBB in there, any other fish? How many frags do you have in there? I might try the kalk also in my initial test to see how it goes.

 

[Huff747]

I see CBB in there, any other fish? How many frags do you have in there? I might try the kalk also in my initial test to see how it goes.

Yeah, the Copperband was supposed to go in my main tank but some of the other residents didn't agree so he became the first resident of this tank. Currently I have the Copperband, a cleaner wrasse (that I also would like to go in the main tank but haven't tried yet), a small yellow tang and some sort of small bristletooth tang. Was supposed to be a Kole but don't think it is. Wanted those guys for algae. And lastly a Bangai, and a Mandarin. The maindarin was getting skinny in the main tank but in here he's the only real pod eater so he's fattened back up.

There's 4 clams, some zoas, a dozen or so SPS, some LPS and I plan to trim up a few more from the main tank to go in there. Hoping this will work in part as a tank for new arrivals and as a place to put a few spare frags of some of my favorites as a backup.

 

[Huff747]

Here’s a few crumby pictures from last night before the lights went out.

 

[Bills beginning]

Did mine with 40 breeder and homemade 20 sump. Using biobrick and skimz protein skimmer and fuge with cheato. Currently have a few corals in with one fish.