Setting Up a Frag Tank

[that Reef Guy]

I just got back from the Flint Frag Swap and it was awesome.

I bought way too many Frags though and do not have room for them.

I have been thinking about starting up a Frag Tank for a while (And the Ann Arbor Swap is next month so I will have even more Frags then).

What do you think about this setup?

10 Gallons

Meijers has a 10 Gallon Aquarium kit for $50. it has:

10 Gallon Tank
Glass Top
Flourescent Light Hood (I know it is crappy but I have not yet decided on the Lights I want yet).
Heater
Filter

So with that I just need better Lights and Powerheads.

I was thinking 2 Koralia Nano 240 Evolution Powerheads.

Water Pumps & Wavemakers: Hydor Koralia Nano 240 & 425

Then for lights I am looking at either the Marineland Reef LED.

Reef Aquarium Lighting & LED Lights: Marineland Reef Capable LED Lighting System

Or 2 of these Lights which each hold 2 Regular T5's for a Total of 4 T5 Bulbs (2 White and 2 Blue).

Aquarium Lighting Fixture Coralife Aqualight T5 Dual Linear Strip Fixture, 2X18 Watt, 30 inch

That is 72 Watts so 7.2 Watts per Gallon.

I know that the LED is better but I have a 10 Gallon Reef Tank already with the same Maineland Reef LED and it gives me alot of Algae and it would be $150 cheaper than the T5's.

My biggest concern is the Algae.

With a Frag Tank can I use no sand and no live rock? Will that give me no algae?

Plus no Fish and Fish Food will be less waste.

And my Hermit Crabs now currently flip over my Frags so I do not want a clean up crew in my Frag Tank.

I have salt water made and ready to go I just need to buy the kit at Meijers.

Will that kit be OK for now untill I get better lights if I set it up today?

I do not have SPS. I bought alot of Zoanthids, Acans, and encrusting Montipora. Will they be OK with the single T10 Bulb that comes with the kit?

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance

[larryandlaura]

I don't think the light will fly. And do you feed your corals? How will you get rid of waste? No live rock or sand so there wont be much bacteria.

[MyNemesis]

It seems to me that if you want to set up a frag tank, which is a great idea, you would be better off if you would get the one you want, rather than throwing away money on the Meijer kit and having to replace most of what you are getting in the kit. I like a frag tank plumbed into the entire system with the display tank, sump, skimmer and so on, so you get the advantages of your system. If you have a frag tank ala carte', I think you will find it difficult to keep clean, plus you will wind up having to have a separate skimmer, separate heater and on and on. I got a 18 X 24 X 15 tank for about $50.00, built a stand for it, plumbed it into the system, added the proper lights (retro fit 24" T5s which I already had) and it is a nice size (24 gallons or so) for raising corals. I think a 10 gallon will wind up being too small for you. Put your new corals down on the sand and spend some time designing your frag tank.

[that Reef Guy]

What so you guys suggest?

I do not have a Sump or anything to connect my Frag Tank to another Tank.

I have seen Frag Tanks on the Internet with no Live Sand or Live Rock that seemed to be about 10 Gallons. That is where I got the idea from.

Do you guys have Live Sand and Live Rock in your Frag Tanks or not?

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 PM ----------

I do not feed my Corals so there would be no waste.

[that Reef Guy]

I do a 60% water change on my current 10 gallon Reef Tank every week and nothing has ever died.

I have no Protein Skimmer, just a Tetra Whisper Freshwater Filter, Regular Sand, and Live Rock.

I would also be doing the same 60% water change for my frag Tank every week.

Does that work?

[that Reef Guy]

Here is a YouTube Video of someone with the same idea it seems. What do you think?

It is called Setting up my frag tank:part 4

Setting up my frag tank:part 4 - YouTube

[rmalone]

Well look through some of the "selling forums" first before you buy something new. In fact PM me if you want. This isn't a selling forum, so I don't want to incur the "wrath of Jim".

[jolson10450]

I have a 5.5g frag tank for sale comes with the frag rack and a return pump and full LED lighting and stand for it with moonlights as well for $60 only if you want it i work in canton just let me know and we can meet around lunch or after 4pm during the week. so really $60 plus the price of a heater for a LED setup mini frag tank.

[larryandlaura]

Like John said I would wait for a deal on a bigger frag tank and do it once.

[Nano-Newb1983]

i got a small 10gallon frag tank for z's and p's



my equipment is

aquaclear 70- gutted stock media and added Chemipure elite, bagged purigen and filter floss
Koriala 1 for flow
50w heater
My light is a duel 24w T-5 light
Soon i plan on gettin a small aquaclear 50 to add a small fuge


Hope this helps