Frag tank (1 Viewer)

[KarenB]

Suppose down the line -- and I'm dreaming here -- my corals have grown so well that I actually need a frag tank. I understand the lighting needs aspect, but as far as substrate, I have a question.

I've seen frag tanks set up with sand and rock, and I've seen them bare bottom with egg crate shelving.....either with or without fish included for various reasons. What are the theories behind each, and what are the advantages/disadvantages of each? It seems to me that if you mimic the conditions of your main tank as closely as possible, that you'd have the greatest results. Does one use bare bottom and egg crate as simply an economical means to get the same results?

 

[incysor]

I assumed that the frag tanks were bare bottom with the eggcrate, to make it easier to keep an eye on the frags, in case one got seperated from a plug, it'd be simpler to find it and get to it. Plus you can stack the crate pretty easily, and really add a lot of flow, (which helps in healing), without worring about sandstorms.

Of course these are just my assumptions, cause I'm not anywhere near the fragging stage for most of my corals.

 

[Guest]

There are advantages to both. A bare bottom tank means easier to clean and less detrital buildup. A tank with crushed coral has the benefit of added buffering capacity. However, if your adding kalkwasser than you shouldn't have to worry about that.

I would not use eggcrate on the bottom because of the amount of detritus that will settle down in it.

 

[Guest]

When I had my 29g frag tank up it was plumbed to my 120g sps tank. I had a mag something pump that Keith plumbed from my 120g's sump and he then did an amazing job of pvc plumbing the 2 tanks together. I had tons of flow and used a halide pendant with 250w iwasaki's that I used that came off my 180g tank after a years use.

The tank itself was quite simple as keeping and growing frags out is all I wanted it to do. I used a very shallow sand bed and egg crate with 4 "legs" under it of pvc pipe. I got the level to about 4" under the water surface. That little frag tank grew some great acropora's out in it's time.

 

[cparka23]

Wow, sueT. You must REALLY be fond of acropora. Terrific tank you have there on your page.

 

[cparka23]

By the way, I think the fish are included to stir the substrate, eat a pest or two, or to possibly eat any floating pieces of food not eaten by the corals and missed by crabs or shrimp. Just my own reasoning (and no I do not have a frag tank). And if there are fish, they are usually kept to a minimum to avoid elevating nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia levels.

also, don't people use substrate to plant macroalgae? I guess they could pin their caluerpa between a couple live rocks if they have any in the tank, but LR takes up space. The point of not just leaving the algae free floating is to avoid it getting caught up in a powerhead or some other inlet.

 

[Guest]

Thanks cparka23, yes, I've been known to have a freaky passion for these corals. Hey I even have a few montipora's too. 8)

Both the sites I have are outdated and with the reset up of my 120g from FOWLR back to sps/clam tank I am going to get some new pics taken.

Mandoman has graciously agreed to take some pics for me. Hope to have some new shots plus a new website up shortly.

Thanks again for the kind words.....