Low cost frag tank

[allan]

Okay, my sump isn't swinging the way I'd like it to. Too crowded and I'm far too large to try to squeeze in there.

Thoughts, pick up a 14 gallon bio cube and run it bare bottom without a skimmer, no fish. Just coral.

Or a 10-20 gallon with a bio wheel filter and a MH pendant on top.

Any thoughts? I can see faults with both but in the end I don't want a crazy mess of wires or anything too over the top. I just got my room back and digging the new open look.

Cuc would be one or two crabs and a few snails as I would be, periodically, feeding the frags.

Water change on a weekly basis right from the DT. Low 'trates, with a high level of calcium.

[Zack]

When I had my biocube, I always felt that it would not be good long term for corals since most corals grow wide not tall, I think a 20 long frag tank would be awesome with some egg-crate racks, bare bottom with a MH pendant would be pretty awesome.

[Cammed_02]

A 20 long would be great. That's what I run without a skimmer or sump currently and maintenance is a breeze,. Just 1 weekly water change and top off with ro water everyday to compensate for evap.

[allan]

What do you use for filtration?

[Cammed_02]

A few pieces o live rock that some zoas are growing on and that's it coupled with weekly water changes.

[reefreak]

I had an emporrer 400 on mine as filtration with a koralia nano and some liverock but since then it's been up for sale lol

[allan]

I saw that, Jeremy, and thought about it for a minute.

The thing is with a biocube it's one or two plugs... With a 20l (not even sure it would fit on the coffee table that I want to put it) I would need... I guess about the same.

[Zack]

Have you considered a 15 gallon? There 24'' long instead of the 20'' of the 10 gallon and are pretty shallow.

[reefreak]

Well it was using 4 plugs with the heater

[allan]

The table is 26" circular, don't think anything over 20" will work.

[Zack]

A 10 gallon would fit on there and the dimensions are not terrible for a small frag tank?

[allan]

Was just contacted... Looks like I have a direction...

[Zack]

Details?!?

[allan]

I don't want to drop any names without permission first. But looks good, and a bit of a shift from my comfort zone.

[Zack]

o_o that sounds interesting

[allan]

Ace is building me a square acrylic tank. Since there's no fish, just coral, my filtration will be rock, macro, and a power head.

[Big_Pun]

Emily's tank is basically that, the aquaclear filter has cheato and a Chemipure bag.

[allan]

What is an aquafilter? I guess I can look it up.

My concern at the moment is lighting. I was thinking of using the 150 MH that's is over my fuge now. But keeping the water cool is a concern. Maybe hanging it higher will prevent the too much heat build up?

[Cammed_02]

What is an aquafilter? I guess I can look it up.

My concern at the moment is lighting. I was thinking of using the 150 MH that's is over my fuge now. But keeping the water cool is a concern. Maybe hanging it higher will prevent the too much heat build up?

Just buy a small fan and run it across the surface of the water. Evaporation will be high, but that will def help with temperature.

[allan]

Yeah, I'm using a fan now on my big system that tends to run hot. I'm hoping that I can keep temps down by the fan and distance to the light fixture. In the event that my temp swings in the other direction I will pick up a new heater to make sure I'm covered.

[Big_Pun]

all it is Allan is a aquaclear hang on the back filter, you cut some of the media basket up glue it down and turn it into a fuge kinda like the CPR ones.check out this link and also do google search on aquaclear fuge mod.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/my-diy-aquaclear-70-refugium-guide-84100.html

[allan]

That's what I was thinking you were referring to. This frag tank will be just the tank, some live rock, a power head and a light.... oh, and a fan to keep temps down.

[allan]

Looks like I get to pick up today :-)

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6937b9f-5a6b-efee.jpg

[KING]

what size is it>? D..G ?

[hobogato]

16x16x14