labnjab's frag tank

[labnjab]

We started fragging our sps and realized we didn't have much room for frags in our display so we picked up a used aqueon 20 long last night and decided to make a frag tank. Its in the planning stages now.

Here's the plan. It will plumbed into our 75 gallons sump. I'm debating on getting it drilled or using the eshoppes overflow HOB that we have. I'm thinking drilled. The HOB overflow is kind large for a 20 gallon and I really want to maximize room for frags.

Since it will house mainly sps frags it will be high flow and high light. To start I will use 2 koralia 2 powerheads and add more if needed.

For lighting were going to go with a 150 watt metal halide fixture with a 14000K bulb so they look the same as the parent colony. I was going to go with a 10,000K for growth but decided I'd rather them look as good as the parent colony so I'll stick with the same bulb the display has.

The tank will be bare bottom with eggcrate shelves and I'll add a few snails to help with algae.

Thats all we have for now. I still need to buy the powerheads, a return pump, a stand, and light. Hopefully we will have it running by the new year

[labnjab]

We are picking up a 175 watt light Metal hailde this week, its a little more then we wanted, but I can always mount it higher and acclimate them to it. For $40 I can't complain, lol. I also ordered 2 koralia 2 powerheads so all we need now is to have the tank drilled and a return pump.

[Cliff]

I'm looking forward to the up-dates as you go.

[labnjab]

I'm looking for suggestions on a return pump. It needs to be small as I'm lacking space in the sump. I'm thinking something in the 500-600 gph range, which would give me 10x turnover after factoring in head loss. A friend even offered to drill the tank for us.

Another benefit of this tank is 20 gallons more water volume to the system

I'll keep you updated. We pick up the light early this week and the powerheads on Saturday. I also need to buy or build a stand.

[labnjab]

Turns out the tank we have is actually a reptile tank, it was used for fish but IMO its too think to safely drill. (were going drilled vs HOB overflow) A friend is giving us a pre-drilled acrylic tank, I think its about the same size as a 20 long, but it may be a little smaller.

Looks like the power heads were getting are the new koralia evo 750 gph which will give us 70x turnover between the 2, plus then can be used with a wave maker unlike the older series of koralia power heads. This will give us the chance to try out the wave maker feature of our reefkeeper lite.

[labnjab]

Update:

We ordered a return pump from the same guy we're getting the powerheads from and he's building us a stand for the tank. All for $110 and 7 frags which is a really good deal. All in all this build will cost us under $200 and a few frags once we buy new bulbs and misc plumbing. If all goes well it will be running by thanksgiving

[Cliff]

Can't wait to see pics

[hockeyhead019]

Neeeddddd..... piccccsssss

[labnjab]

I'll get some tomorrow. All I have is the light though so they will be boring.

Speaking of that, we picked the light up this afternoon. Its missing the reflector, but I found a good one for $20 online. Its a 175 watt single ended metal halide with 2 24 inch vho super atinics and 2 big strips of led moonlights. It also has a 6 inch fan in it as well. All for $40. It needs new bulbs and the reflector which will bring the total cost to $140 but still not bad considering its everything and should grow some serious sps in a 20 gallon

[labnjab]

Still no pictures but hopefully soon. We picked up the acrylic tank last night. Its a little scratched but they should buff out. We also pick up the stand, powerheads, and return pump tomorrow night. I hope to have the tank plumbed in and running by Sunday night.

I'm still waiting for the reflector and a new bulb for the light so the tank will be just extra water volume until next week until we get the light going. Once I get the light running I'll start some serious fragging