Frag Tank ideas

[inactive]

I do water changes once a month on both of my systems, which are very beautiful. I mean... by what you're trying to explain to me, it would be smart to just plumb the frag tank into your main system.

The point of a water change is to export nutrients, if you are exporting them into another system then you are just dumping waste into a place you are trying to clone coral. I'm just not seeing any benefit to your theory unless you are looking for mild pollution in your new system. It just makes sense to use new water.

 

[inactive]

Unless you are transferring established live rock from one system to the other, I really see no need for the other tanks old water.

 

[ronnie]

I'm dumping water that has 2.5ppm nitrate reading and .00-.03 phosphate reading into a tank that was started with the same water. I then replace the water pulled with NEW water, thus improving said water a small percentage.

I then pull water from the frag tank, dump it down the drain, and replace with water from the 120.

Anything "really" bad would be pulled from the skimmer in either system.

--------------------------

I will concede that the frag tank water will NEVER be better than my 120, but I doubt it could ever get much worse either. That is kind of the object. To maintain both tanks at optimal levels for growing out frags. My 120 does a phenomenal job at growing sticks, so I don't see why I wouldn't replicate that in my frag tank. That is my ultimate goal. To replicate the 120 without plumbing together. I do wish I could plumb them together. Just not feasible, though.

 

[inactive]

Okay, now I am 100 percent convinced this makes no sense.

 

[ronnie]

Enlighten me. Please. State facts and produce concrete factual data that this won't work. You seem to be in the "know" on this - so give up the ghost.

 

[sprinklerdudes]

ok, I was a greenie for a while when I started out, I was told to do someting similer, I had a fifty five, tank, and when I would do a water change, I would put a couple of gallons into a ten gallon aquium that I was raiing brine shrimp to feed the fish, etc etc etc and I would put a gallon or so of the water from the ten into the toliet well this trying to save money thing just didn't work, it just increased the phospate levels in the ten gallon tank, and the shrimp thing just turned into a big hassle, best thing I did was switch water change to about once a month in the fifty five, gt rid of the ten gallon tank, and just dumped the extra water, (do not reuse) add freash salt water, or ocean water is better don't try to justify it, certify it just dump it and replace it, it is easier, cheaper and yeilds better results ,,, just my opion, and saving my two cents

 

[ronnie]

Well, I guess I will just have to either prove or disprove this theory. FYI - I'm not a greenhorn at this. :D


I'm just building a frag tank - didn't know I stir a controversy! It is all good though. I enjoy presenting my side of the ball - and appreciate everyone keeping it somewhat civil. Being closed-minded won't do any good though. Actually trying things and then reporting on them is the only way we can further our hobby along.

Thanks sprinkerdudes - My 120 has low to no phosphates available, so I am unsure if they will jump or not. Especially since the bioload in the 40 will be pretty minimal. Anything that does get produced, should skim out pretty quickly anyways. Or get pulled out with the daily water changes.

 

[chris goetz]

Ronnie,
Your plan will work and the way you explained it makes sense. I did this for a short time(6-7) months last year and it worked just fine until I took the frag tank offline.
I plan to do the exact same thing when I setup my next tank and use the separate tank for a quarantine system. Stability being the key, I would highly suggest you do this via a dosing pump or something similar and then setup the frag tank to drain directly to a house drain. So no matter how much water you add from the 120g the 40g will maintain the same water level. Just make sure you watch the salinity on the 40g and top off as needed.

Kraylen,
All he's suggesting is taking some(1.5g) of "clean" water from the 120 and moving it to the 40g each day. Reusing the "old" water is really no different than just leaving it in the tank for a month and doing a monthly water change like you do. So to use your example, he's diluting his "pee" water every day, while you just pee away to your hearts content and then only flush once a month... which is more stable? :wink:

Chris

 

[ronnie]

Got the stand trimmed out. Just need to finish the door and get it hung.

The trim on top is raised to create a lip and cover the black trim on the 40B.

Now I just need to get some baffles made and siliconed in, do a little door action, get it plumbed, hang the light system, and put water in it!

 

[ronnie]

Light in place:

 

[ronnie]

Well - the tank is now inside, plumbed, and currently testing for leaks.

Here are some shots as I progressed to this point:

My frag rack - full on DIY three tier acrlyic frag rack

Closeup of the hanging kit:

Painted and sanded stand:

Lighting rail - again, full DIY:

Skimmer for frag tank - ASM G2 w/Sedra 5000 and feeding from drain

 

[ronnie]

Inside the house and ready to go!

RKL controller:

Full shot (yes, the door is not done yet - last thing to do):

Sump:

 

[ronnie]

 

[Rayzback]

Thats looking really nice!!!

 

[ronnie]

Thats looking really nice!!!

Thanks!

 

[inactive]

Looks awesome man!!!

 

[ronnie]

Looks awesome man!!!

Thanks.

I have about five gallons of water in it now. Gonna be after Thanksgiving before it is full - not in a big rush right now since I'll be gone half of the week to family dinners. I don't need two tanks to worry about right now!

 

[chris goetz]

Looks great Ronnie.

1 comment: Do you have a siphon break drilled in your return yet? I couldn't see one and that sump doesn't look big enough to handle all the water that could siphon back down the return line when the pump is turned off.

Chris

 

[ronnie]

No siphon break. The dump should hold all the water that will siphon out if I lose power.

I don't believe in siphon breaks, as they are a weak link in a system.

The water level will be about 3" from the top of the tank.