Help design the perfect propogation system: Part 1 Filtration

[fishgeek01]

I will be setting up a propogation unit using 2 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tanks. Each of them are pre-fitted with a 2 inch threaded outlet at the bottom, i am looking for help with deciding all of the specifics with this new setup, part one as you can tell will be filtration. Included is a picture of the stock tanks that will be used, they are approx 36 inches tall and 48 inches across. One of them will be used as a refugium, with lights on 100% of the time, macro algae, and a few breeding pairs of fish in it. The second tank will be where the frags and cuttings will be housed for grow out. I would like to do all types of corals, soft, sps, lps, and mushrooms/ zoas. Let me know what things you guys feel like i should have, I am thinking, a mechanical, a chemical, a skimmer, uv sterilizer, and the pumps to run them, i also need to know what types of pumps or ph to use for circulation. Let the suggestions begin

 

[xdave]

I wouldn't have fish on the same system. That being said, I would probably skip the UV on the coral system. Filter wise I'm thinkin stack of bread delivery trays lined with plastic window screen. You could probably fit 2 stacks in one of those tubs. Those could be completely out of the tub and then use that one for the fuge. (put a sponge or something on the pump) Filter media wise theres alot you could use. One you could definately just go out and buy would be lava gravel from a landscaping place. Rinsing it is a nightmare but just once. If I was gonna spend money I'd put floss in the top tray (actually, always do that) as a prefilter and pour Biochem Beads in the rest. You can get them in bulk from most distributors. That would rock. You have to rinse them with system water and stir if they start to get coated. One system I worked one where we used the shavings from a pvc pipe taping machine we got for free when we went to pick up the pipes. Another guy I know used defective shirt buttons. He got like 100# for $5 from a plastic factory. Pump wise, without my standing there testing the water, i'd say you'd probably get away with using a big Maxijet. You'll want to have the corals on eggcrate lighting stuff. The big expense will be the lighting.

 

[xdave]

Almost forgot, build your own skimmer. You can get plans anywhere.

 

[fishgeek01]

what do you mean about the bread trays being out of the tub completely you mean like a wet dry type deal where the water flows through them then into the tub as a fug? Also budgets are kind of tight, i am not talking about doing this low rent, but as cheap as possible and still be functional in the long haul. what pump would you recommend for the set-up you are talking about with the bread trays? I like the idea of the lava rock, it is porus and cheap, and can be gotten in quantity

 

[fishgeek01]

also i have the egg crate and have started to build the shelves for the coral frags and cuttings. i was thinking of doing an overflow type deal for the movement, the fug would over flow into the frag tank, and use a spray bar for the outlets... that way i can do an all around waterflow without pupms or ph which will add heat, on top of the lighting

 

[fishgeek01]

this does not have to be pleasing to the eye either, i am doing it in my garage, it never gets used for any of our cars, and it stays pretty much the same temp as my house, they will be up off the floor, to help with temp flucts. but like i said this can be pretty primitive for now

 

[lobstergrabber]

Maybe it is just me but.... You are talking a 200 gallon system basically. A little less but close. If you are talking major fuge here I don't think you need to worry about filter media. And the fish you are talking here aren't exactly waste factories on a scale you should be too worried about. I like the idea of a DIY skimmer on this project. I would build a decent sized one since it should be your primary remover of waste other than nitrate from the water. I would think this needs to be a two pump system. The fuge tank should be about half to one foot higher than other for gravity reasons. A couple of decent sized mag pumps should do fine but would be just as easy with a couple of externals. I am not sure the flow needed for the fuge but the coral prop tank should have quite a bit. Most corals need quite a bit of flow some more, some less. If you are just going to use the mag in the prop tank you can split the return end with some pvc and create your flow. one decent sized pump maybe a 9 or 12. As far as light maybe a simple 400 watt mogul hallide and two 48" vho's. This way you can put your light intense corals toward the middle and the lower light corals to the edges. The halide should cover the middle two feet from one edge to the other giving you lots of room for sps frag grow out. Wish I had the space to do this myself. Hopefully next year.
Rich

 

[viper_930]

Have you considered the 50 gallon stock tanks? They're a whole lot shallower than the 100 gallons so you won't lose as much light as it gets deeper.

 

[fishgeek01]

i was actually thinking of doing 2 systems, using the stock tanks i have now and getting 2 50 gallons for the coral frags, doing one hard one soft, with the 100 as the fug, but cost may not allow that

 

[fishgeek01]

the depth was a concern, but with a 400 watt light i was thinking sps by the top ridge and softies and mushrooms the rest of the way down.

 

[fishgeek01]

okay guys, you think i should build a do it yourself skimmer, lets talk design, give me the how to, i have never built my own skimmer before...