input needed for frag tank plan

[TomD]

I am planning on setting up a frag tank. I am limited for space so I hope to have Gustavo build something I can kind of tuck away. My biggest concern is added hobby cost, electric etc. I already am tight with my massive hobby addiction.

My early plans so far are a shallow tank using a single 250 with a big reflector. If I keep it shallow I am even thinking T5's would provide me enough light to keep SPS as well as all my other stuff. I don't want to tie it into my main system so I am considering simple mechanical filtration/no LR and flow through a few powerheads.

I know what I have in mind but I am interested in your input as far as things to consider, experiences.....


Thanks

 

[starrfish]

Tom, why don't you want to plug it into the main system? IME, it's going to be difficult to keep the parameters up if you aren't tied into the main system. You're going to have to set up a seperate top-off, dosing and water change schedule for this tank.

 

[jbundas]

I second Tom's comment. Feeding a frag tank from the overflow of your main tank is by far the easiest and least expensive method - no pumps at all. If it's close enough to your main tank you can also take advantage of some light spill from your main lights. Grab a 20L and put a bulkhead in the side and you're done.

Especially with SPS, you'll probably have a difficult time maintaining the water parameters in a small independent system with no LR and such to get the growth results you'd want. You'd have a much better chance if you just wanted to grow out softie frags.

 

[TomD]

Daire I hear you and I know you are right. The first issue is that the tank will not be near the main as I am very limited for space.

The second is that with a frag tank I would like to use it as kind of a QT for new corals as well. I treat the hell out of everything I get but what if I am buying frags and a pest comes in the frag tank? I looked at that as a risk.

 

[starrfish]

Tom, it's going to be extremely difficult to keep a frag tank going if it's not connected to the main system. You really need to have the QT tank seperate if you're afraid of pests. What if you have a lot of expensive frags in your frag tank and you're also using it as a QT and you introduce some pests? You're going to infect all your frags, not to mention pass them onto people you're selling the frags to. How are you going to keep the salinity, alk & calc up in a seperate tank? Is there any way to connect a small frag tank to your display? I think this would be a better way to go if you can squeeze it in some way.

 

[TomD]

Tom, it's going to be extremely difficult to keep a frag tank going if it's not connected to the main system. You really need to have the QT tank seperate if you're afraid of pests. What if you have a lot of expensive frags in your frag tank and you're also using it as a QT and you introduce some pests? You're going to infect all your frags, not to mention pass them onto people you're selling the frags to. How are you going to keep the salinity, alk & calc up in a seperate tank? Is there any way to connect a small frag tank to your display? I think this would be a better way to go if you can squeeze it in some way.

As much as you are telling me reality I do not want to here, you are right. Thanks. There is no way I have time to maintain/monitor or dose a seperate tank.

Looks like I am going to have to get a bigger place

 

[Clam Man]

tom pick up a 40 breeder used there cheep.you can get a metal stand for them cheep.
light get a se 175 retro (65k bulb growth will be the same as a 250 10k but the 65k will never need to be changed.)mount it to a hood diy its just a frag tank keep the cost down.I use 2 maxi jets and a bak pak skimmer.the extra 75 watts you save from running a 175 compared to a 250 is like running the power heads and the pump for the skimmer for free.
NEVER RUN A FRAG TANK OFF YOUR MAIN SYSTEM.
ONE REASON IS IF YOU CRASH YOUR MAIN TANK YOU CRASH YOUR FRAG TANK.
ANOTHER REASON IS IF SOMTHING FOR SOME REASON DOES'NT DIE IN THE TREATMENT TANK YOU CAN STILL CATCH IT BEFORE IT GOES IN YOUR DISPLAY.
never put any predator fish such as a wrase in your frag tank you want to know you have them before they might get in your display.
dosing all I do is pour in 2 part bionics 30ml of each a week or you can use randy holmes fomula either way is good. I never check the levels and the sps frags encrust and grow much better than my main display tank.
sorry this was so long.

 

[starrfish]

I hate to be the "glass is half full" on this, but I've tried to maintain a seperate tank and it's a major PIA! I just hate to see you go through all the hassle of setting it up only to realize it's impossible to maintain. Getting a bigger place - now that's a great idea! Then you can get a bigger tank AND a connected frag tank.