20L Frag Tank: Advice Needed

[Frag Freaks]

So I have an extra 20G long hanging around and my frag rack is starting to get a little crowded and some of my corals need a good trimming, so I was thinking about making into a frag tank. Housing everything including SPS, LPS, Softies and zoos. I want to make this tank as energy efficient as possible.

I have a few questions regarding on what would be my basic needs for a frag tank.

First off, I wanted to squeeze as much room out of the tank as I needed so I was planning on doing a closed loop system with to outlets and one inlet split out into a y-shape using flexible loc-line tubing. The question on this would be what would be a sufficient enough pump for flow? I have a MAG3 hanging around, but would this be enough? All suggestions and advice would be welcome.

As for lighting I have a spare Icecap 660 that I was going to use to run T5 bulbs. I was going to overdrive 4x24 bulbs. Would this be enough light? I would have steps made out of eggcrate to house the frags. Having three levels leaving me the highest level for the highest lighting corals. Since I would have them close to the surface, would I be able to get away with just the T5? How long would I want to run the lights? Could I get away with just running them 4-6 hours a day?

Do I want to run a skimmer on a frag tank or do I want to try and leave the tank high in nutrients? If I do need a skimmer would something like a small Hang-On do the job?

I was going to try and recycle my water out of my main tank and use it for water changes on the frag tank.

Am I missing anything else? Would something like this setup work fine for a frag tank?

 

[Frag Freaks]

Forgot to mention that I was planning on using a sand bed and placing LR under the levels of the racks and in the back of the tank.

 

[Cjtabares]

If you r going to keep sps in there you are going to want to keep it low nutrients. If you want to do that with a skimmer then you need a skimmer, I am sure a 5 gal a week water change would do this as well all depends on what u want to do IMO. If u where just going to keep soffties, lps, and zoas I have heard some people keeping a higher nutriants frag tank, and the frags doing verry well.

 

[Popeye]

If you can plumb it into the main tank you could use all the equipment you already have to maintain water quality. Could you run it off the sump?

 

[Frag Freaks]

If you can plumb it into the main tank you could use all the equipment you already have to maintain water quality. Could you run it off the sump?

I don't room for a sump under my stand. I set up the tank without planning for a sump. The frag tank would be in another room on its own system.

 

[Frag Freaks]

Flow Question.

I was planning on doing two outlets with strainers hidden behind an overflow wall in my closed loop along with two inlets. I figured the two outlets would give me a little more flow inside the tank.

Like I said I was going to use a Mag 3 for the pump in the closed loop since I have one laying around. For the outlets back into the tank I wanted to use two penductors to increase the flow in my tank.

My question is that would two penductors be overkill? Should I just do one inlet with a penductor in the top back corner of the tank? I know the Mag 3 doesn't put out too much flow so maybe the two penductors would make it sufficient for the flow in the tank.

Please give me your suggestions.

 

[RayD]

Rob I have a 20g frag tank that is doing outstanding. PM me if you need any assistance or advice. I started mine for the same reason.

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=91013

 

[Frag Freaks]

Some Preliminary Design

Here is the scheme that at the moment I plan on using, unless my budget changes or If I simply decide to go down another route. All of the designs are done to the exact dimensions using SolidWorks.

Hole Locations:

Overflow Box

 

[Frag Freaks]

Frag Rack

 

[bigdog]

thats what i run 20 gallon frag tank but they do fill up fast with frags. i plumbed in 2 main system are u doing a sump on this tank

 

[Frag Freaks]

thats what i run 20 gallon frag tank but they do fill up fast with frags. i plumbed in 2 main system are u doing a sump on this tank

Right now I am not going to do a sump just because I am trying to keep the budget down to a minimum. I just plan on keeping softies, lps, and zoas at first and just do 5 gallon bi-weekly water changes. This way the tank can stay high in nutrients and still have the frags do well.

Once I start to keep some more demanding SPS frags, I was thinking of plumbing a skimmer into the 20L or running a 10g sump.

The plan for the two outlets and the two inlets will allow me easily to add a sump in the future. I would just dedicate one outlet and inlet to the closed loop instead of 2 and 2 in the current setup.

 

[bigdog]

that will work the 30 gallon breeder is a nice tank 2 same hight 6 inches longer and 4 or 6 inches wider

 

[Frag Freaks]

I hope to have this up and running over the next couple of months. I have a 1.5" Diamond Hole saw on its way at the moment. If I successfully drill the tank then its on to ordering the plumbing I need for the closed loop.

The one thing that really is holding me back from getting it going sooner is that I have to send out and Icecap 660 to be repaired before I can get the lighting all situated, unless in the mean time I can find something cheaper.

I have estimated the budget at the following:

20 Gallon Long tank - Free
1.5" Diamond Hole Saw - $15
12" x 48" Black Acrylic Sheet - $25
Eggrate - Free (was given a sheet awhile back)
Two Penductors - $35
Plumbing - $100 (estimated)
Ballast Repair - $75
Reflectors, Endcaps - $120
Bulbs - $80
20lbs Sand - $20
15lbs Rubble or Rock - $25

Grand total to have my frag tank up and running - $495

All of these prices are reflected off of items being bought new. Since I am in no rush I will see if I can find used equipment to shave down on my costs. I should be able to find some reflectors and endcaps used. I also should be able to get sand along with some rock for cheaper from members here.

I hope I can try and shave a good $200 off that estimated tank cost to get this going.

 

[jayman10134]

i think if you are going to be dumping $300 you might want to start off with a bigger tank like bigdog said. maybe a 30 breeder or 40 breeder. it would only cost about $40 more since it wouldn't be free and would almost double your usable frag space.

 

[Frag Freaks]

i think if you are going to be dumping $300 you might want to start off with a bigger tank like bigdog said. maybe a 30 breeder or 40 breeder. it would only cost about $40 more since it wouldn't be free and would almost double your usable frag space.

Good point, but I think I found an alternative lighting route that although their reputation 5 years back wasn't so great but since then have actually had some great reviews after their new line came out. Easily would cut my budget down by $200. Which would be nice since I really only wanted to have roughly a $250-$300 budget on this one.

Also instead of doing rigid PVC all through out the closed loop plumbing and use some flexible PVC and a couple barbed fittings and tubing into the pump itself, I would also save another $20-25 or so.

Like I said, the tank will be built as i find funding for it, and also depending on how the tank drilling goes. I have never drilled a tank so Id rather break a tank that I had lying around for years instead of going out and dumping extra cash and having a mishap leaving me even more over my budget.