Frag Tank Pre-Build/Conceptualizing: Lights, Equipment

Sour137

Sour137

Cleaner Shrimp
#1
#1
I'm considering doing a 24x24 frag tank build to sit next to my aquarium. I'm considering plumbing it directly to the display rank's sump since they will be so close. I have a good deal of equipment which could be used for a new build, namely a return pump, excess piping, what not. I'm in the initial phase of conceptualizing the build, and I have water table targeted, https://hydrobuilder.com/id-white-2ft-x-2ft-grow-tray.html?dzid=strands_707050 , so I'm looking for a light that can cover a 24 inch square. I'm not too concerned about the corners as less demanding corals can easily go there, but I would like sps capable growth. Recommendations?

Additionally, I would like to know what other equipment I will need. Will I need a powerhead in a frag tank that small? Could I just use return jets to create enough flow? Any other considerations I should factor in?
 
Cherub

Cherub

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#3
#3
I would plumb it separately so that it can be used as a backup if needed. Plus you can QT any Coral frags before you stick them in your display and not risk cooties. I have a frag tank setup right now that's separate from my display and I love that set up
 
Sour137

Sour137

Cleaner Shrimp
#5
#5
Cherub said:
I would plumb it separately so that it can be used as a backup if needed. Plus you can QT any Coral frags before you stick them in your display and not risk cooties. I have a frag tank setup right now that's separate from my display and I love that set up
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If I do plumb it separately, would I be able to use the water pulled from the DT for it? If not I will need to cycle the frag system right? Should I use the frag tank to fill water into the DT during a water change? Right now, I would have a frag system volume of about 23 gallons which would be close to a 25% water change on the DT.

Also I could use an answer on how many bulbs I would need for the T5. I found a T5 last night that comes in 2, 4, and 8 bar varieties. The dimensions on the frag system would be about 23W x 23L x 7H inches, so I don't need a lot of penetration as far as the light is concerned. The 8 bar would almost be able to cover the entire tank wide and long, is that necessary, or could I go with the 4 bar, with peak intensity in the middle of the tank?
 
SynDen

SynDen

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#7
#7
Its not the water that would make the other tank cycle, but the rock, sand and other surfaces that need the bacteria to colonize. If they arent plumbed together I would use separate water completely, because otherwise you would be robbing one of the tanks from a good portion of the micro-nutrients in the water that the corals, and other critters, need to survive.

A 4 bulb will likely do fine, although an 8 bulb would grow anything you wanted.
 
Cherub

Cherub

Hey you
M.A.S.C Club Member
#8
#8
Sour137 said:
If I do plumb it separately, would I be able to use the water pulled from the DT for it? If not I will need to cycle the frag system right? Should I use the frag tank to fill water into the DT during a water change? Right now, I would have a frag system volume of about 23 gallons which would be close to a 25% water change on the DT.

Also I could use an answer on how many bulbs I would need for the T5. I found a T5 last night that comes in 2, 4, and 8 bar varieties. The dimensions on the frag system would be about 23W x 23L x 7H inches, so I don't need a lot of penetration as far as the light is concerned. The 8 bar would almost be able to cover the entire tank wide and long, is that necessary, or could I go with the 4 bar, with peak intensity in the middle of the tank?
Click to expand...
Oh no, you can use the same tank water to get it going. Maybe even stick some of the live rock in there too. I started both of my tanks at the same time so both cycled(still cycling) together. If I did the frag tank second I would have just done a water change on the main and used that water I removed in the new system and added some freshly mixed salt water into it. The bacteria in the water would help move the new cycle along if you're going with fresh rock.

I have a sump on my frag tank too with rock and sand and it's in the green hair algae phase. Ugh... Makes me want to do a lights out but I know it will pass.

I'm not sure about T5's, Balz would know better I'm sure.
 
Sour137

Sour137

Cleaner Shrimp
#9
#9
Excellent, 4 bar will save some money. Right now, the corals I have in my DT haven't been drawing enough nutrients for them to fall out of the ideal range in between water changes, but I can definitely see how that would be a problem as the tank matures. I was just hoping I could save on water, and therefore salt, but I can now see that I would lose that battle eventually.

New question, does a frag system need a skimmer? I have an extra one, but it has a broken impeller. This was one of the main reasons I wanted to plumb it directly to the DT sump.
 
Cherub

Cherub

Hey you
M.A.S.C Club Member
#10
#10
Not really if you keep up with water changes. I only keep a pair of clowns in mine. Well and a small cuc
 
Balz3352

Balz3352

Reef Shark
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#11
#11
You might need a skimmer if you are reusing water in fact id put it in the likely category.

There is an argument on both sides whether to separate or to do one larger system.

Separate has been stated benefits above.

Together benefits of a lerger total system. No need to switch out water in multiple systems. Only dosing one system. One skimmer. Only having to test one system. Makes husbandry easier.

I think this should said. I personally have a plumbed in system and wouldn't do it differently.

Id also think about adding a blue led strip but I lobe the look of blue tanks.
 
Sour137

Sour137

Cleaner Shrimp
#12
#12
Balz3352 said:
You might need a skimmer if you are reusing water in fact id put it in the likely category.

There is an argument on both sides whether to separate or to do one larger system.

Separate has been stated benefits above.

Together benefits of a lerger total system. No need to switch out water in multiple systems. Only dosing one system. One skimmer. Only having to test one system. Makes husbandry easier.

I think this should said. I personally have a plumbed in system and wouldn't do it differently.

Id also think about adding a blue led strip but I lobe the look of blue tanks.
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Yeah, some corals are just meant to be viewed in the blue. This seems like it could be quite a debate. I like the security of the separate systems, but I like the simplicity of the the combined system. A combined system would also mean I would not have to set up another sump. The skimmer on the DT is a tad overkill, and I only have so many vials for my test kits. There is definitely some considerations to be thought about here. I just submitted a request for a quote from an acrylic company to cut the frag tank. If it's cheaper to do than trying to track down, and get home a hydroponics reservoir that will fit where I need it to, I'll build it myself. By the time I get the acrylic I should have made a decision, and started a new post in the build subforum.
 
Smiley

Smiley

Nurse Shark
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#16
#16
damn for the price of t5's, get an ai prime.... maybe a hydra24...im loving the growth and color out of both those fixtures...
 
Legonch

Legonch

Butterfly Fish
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#17
#17
I just bought a jbj frag tank. I plan on plumbing it into my existing system. I also have a 20 gallon coral qt tank. Every coral goes into qt for 30-45 days. Then on to the frag tank. I'll plumb all this so I can have the coral frag tank run by its self if the main system goes down, etc. Frag tank will be bare bottom, and have a couple small fish in there, and a couple snails for algae, etc.
 
Sour137

Sour137

Cleaner Shrimp
#18
#18
Smiley said:
damn for the price of t5's, get an ai prime.... maybe a hydra24...im loving the growth and color out of both those fixtures...
Click to expand...
You know I had considered them. They look a bit finicky. Ideally I'd like to just plug it into the timer and forget about messing with it.
 
Sour137

Sour137

Cleaner Shrimp
#20
#20
So now I'm looking into the Kessil A160WE. I'm running the 360 on my DT and I just read that I should be able to daisy the lights up onto my light controller. Thoughts?
 
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