$84 Frag tank update

[a2hotz]

Can you explain how the top-off works? That sounds like something I can use!

 

[joebob7]

if anyone is still answering this thread
could you show your entire setup with the filter and sup and plumbing?
also you should write down how much the frags have grown

 

[maxalmon]

There is a before and after photo of a zoo garden posted, maybe 2 post above... I was able growout enough frags from this tank to pay for my 3x250mh and 4x96 lights and I was able to stock the 125 tank, which is now overgrown..LOL... This was a softies tank...I actually took this tank down several months ago, as we moved into our new house. I have to admitt that this little tank produced more growth than I expected. I built this system to prove a point, you DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE BIG BUCKS AND HIGH TECH EQUIPMENT to have a frag tank, people put way to much though into frag tanks, all you need is a bucket, good quality salt (tropic marin pro) water flow and lights, thats it.. As for the sump on this frag tank, it was 20g tall with a huge clump of cheato and a 19w light, water changes every 2-3 weeks. I am working on another frag tank project, it's a sps growout tank, it is setup and running, goal was to spend no more than $400 including lights, sump, tank and skimmer. I have all the equipment and I'm just a little over budget at about $430. 55g tank, 20g fuge with needle wheel skimmer, aquaclear 1000 for running carbon and 250mh 2x96 actinic, 2"LS bed and eggcrate. I'll post pics of this a little later. I already have all the sps to put into the tank and I plan on documenting exact size of each frag with a micrometer (sp) I also plan on mounting the frags in various ways, two exact size frags from the same mother colony, one mounted horizontal and one mounted vertical and see which way produces more growth, ie...that kinda stuff, various mounting substrates like, white marble, abalone shells, LR, again same size frag from the same mother and each mounted on a different substrate.....So you can see this frag tank is going to be a little more complicated so I'm taking my time

 

[bronco300]

very nice job max....that is just a rubbermaid for walmart or some store like that correct?
cant wait to see the new project!
nevermind just found the answer!
could you however, explain the soap box DIY a bt more?

 

[joebob7]

yeah i didnt get the whole sump, fluval filter and soap dish
this thread has been really helpful i want to make one like that but i just need to find cheap lights
did you sell the frags for store credit or cash??

 

[maxalmon]

Some of my ideas at the time were absolutley brilliant. Then reality set in...LOL...I ended up ditching the soap skimmer idea and using a spraybar, but attaching it to the intake of the pump. Kinda like putting the spray bar on the wrong hose, and then I simply mounted the bar a little below water level, never sucked air, but did enough to move the surface water around. I ended up selling most of the frags and then making more frags.

 

[bronco300]

well it looks pretty sweet and easy to setup thats for sure...keep updates on your new setup and how it all goes please!

 

[whackamole]

i never understood y people use crates on the bottom?? is it just to bring the corals closer to the light or is there other reasons??
and wont after a while the plastic tank would git eaten up by the salt??

 

[patrick8929]

are you going to be selling and trading these frags?

 

[maxalmon]

Originally Posted by whackamole
i never understood y people use crates on the bottom?? is it just to bring the corals closer to the light or is there other reasons??
and wont after a while the plastic tank would git eaten up by the salt??
part of the reason is water flow, plus the eggcrate holes make for nice little holding areas so that things don't get moved around. Some people have reefplugs which are the size of the crate openings, so they fit pretty nicely.
And yes, you can control the distance from the light source much better.

 

[cannonman]

I've been thinking about setting up a frag tank for a while now and I must say that your post here has been nice to see...I'm glad you're sharing. I'm almost sure I have everything I need to set one up of my own except the egg crate. Keep up the good work and love seeing the pictures!

 

[m0nk]

This is a great project you have, I'm impressed. In fact, I was originally considering setting up a 5 gallon frag tank after moving this summer but I think this is a much better way, as long as you don't mind if I model mine from yours.

 

[maxalmon]

Someone just asked me to repost this project. I'm not one to bump my post back to the top and felt kinda weird about bumping it...

 

[reefforbrains]

I remember this thread. Its still cool,......very bump worthy

 

[maxalmon]

Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
I remember this thread. Its still cool,......very bump worthy
LOL....Not sure why this triggered my brain to flash back to a Seinfeld episode
about being "sponge worthy" LOL

 

[reefforbrains]

Hey tickets in the mail btw

 

[maxalmon]

I got tons of new frags and some really cool exotic stuff, you can pic some out when you guys arrive.

 

[saltn00b]

very nice work here. do you have a name for the zoos in the third picture you posted? i have those and they grow like wild brush, and have a great peach flourescence under actinics.

 

[mushroomss]

Can anyone tell me where to get the plastic grating used in most peoples frag tanks?thanks

 

[saltn00b]

the big depot. we refer to it egg crate, but its under light diffusers.