Frag tanks

[350gt]

For those with frag tanks, what would you do differently if you could start all over.... Or what advice would you give to someone like me thats beginning a 20g long frag tank.....?

So far I have the tank and it was drilled for me by ace, the stand, and a temporary led lighting system. It's temporary cause I'm going to wait till everything is setup the check if it's enough light. If it is or isn't will probably be replaced by something better eventually.

I will be breaking down my sons aquapod and will transfer most of the stuff from that tank over.

[allan]

I had a 75 gallon frag tank, and it started really nice... but I ended up with a lot of cyano and algae growth in there. I'd recommend a bit of flow and stay on top of the maintenance of the tank. Maximize your space as well. I like the way that Rob has his frag tank set up.

I've seen some really nice frag tanks up north in MD. They had a ladder styled frag racks that stretched from the bottom to near the top... but it left a lot of space beneath the racks, and that's the problem that I had when I attempted to recreate the idea.

[350gt]

For flow I will have the mp10 and whatever return pump I end up getting.

[Sherita]

I have a 40br and a75g shallow cube. If I could do it over, I would go with shallower tanks, around 10". The depth of my tanks can make getting the lighting right a pita. And I would use staggered frag racks so I could move stuff up or down. I would also either suspend my lights, or put them on a rolling rack so I could get them out of my way.

[350gt]

yes, just ordered the aquatic life light hangers, or whatever they are called. They got real good reviews online and want everything to look clean.

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_Stand_Light_Fixture_Hanger_Hanging_Kit s_for_Aquarium_Light_Fixtures-AquaticLife-AK01209-FILTACMOFTHK-vi.html

they will work with my existing setup to try out and whatever light fixture I upgrade to. And for the racks I want to make 2 or 3 levels and going to use black egg crate from BRS.

[350gt]

SAND OR BARE BOTTOM?

[allan]

Fuge/sump?

If you've a fuge or sump tied in I'd definitely go bare bottom.

[350gt]

I'm waiting for a quote for a sump, won't be that big as my stand only has so much room....but no fuge..

[Mr Cob]

bare bottom all the way.... I started with partial sand.partial foam in a 85g I set up last year which MCC adopted..lol, but I quickly removed the sand so that I could increase the flow to keep the nuisance algae at bay. I also got annoyed with the wrasse spraying snow on all the frags.

Here's the build thread for that frag tank: (might help with some ideas)
http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?60706-85g-shallow-wide-FRAG-display-tank-build-*updated-pics-PG20*
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5267202491_f4141a60eb_z.jpg

I would definitely do a lot of things the same...this was originally set up to be a frag display tank...meaning a frag tank that was a part of the furniture in our house so it was crucial for me to do it up right.

If you can plumb into your current display more power to you...but if you cannot then it quickly becomes a complete second tank...because you need all the equipment that your main display would have.

I also like using the same lights as your other tanks so that you do not have light shock from one tank to the next and just compensate with ledges and shadowed areas for corals that need time to heal.

I'd also try to incorporate creative ways of getting more racks in the tank like racks that wrap around the glass on the sides and back wall that are held in place by a foam wall or something similar. I did something similar on the MCC 220g frag tank...but only on the overflow. I mounted racks to it.

anyways...can't wait to see what you come up with.

[350gt]

Thanks rob, I will definitely get to reading tomorrow. I wish I could tie it into my DT, would simplify so much for me.....

Asfar as the lighting, I am hoping to get LEDs on both tanks but have been looking at just T5 setups for the frag tank as well.... I don't mind t5s or there price.


Bare bottom it is.