Frag Tank Questions

[jhadaway]

I'll be connecting my 235 to my frag/qt tank this weekend and now I'm wondering about a few things. I'll be doing 3.5gals auto-water change every day. That water will go to the frag tank. It will primarily be for cuttings and new arrivals but I didn't want it to circulate back to the DT just in case I have QT anything. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to be looking at alkalinity instability. I know the ph might swing a bit at night but I'm not sure if it's anything I need to be concerned about. Same thing with evaporation/Salinity. The frag tank is a 40b with 2 drain lines at the top. New water comes in on the left side and overflows out on the right.
Has anyone used this setup before and run into any issues? I hate learning the hard way.

Thanks,
JOe

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#reefsquad

 

[BryanM]

I do not think I'd be connecting a QT tank to any other tank. Kinda defeats the purpose.

Frag tank, fine, but if this tank is intended for QT/treatment, IMO it should be solo.

 

[commod0re]

I agree with @BryanM, it's not quarantine if it's connected to the rest of your system. the whole point of quarantine is maximum separation from the regular population so that if anything in quarantine has disease or parasites, it can never escape to the general population and you can medicate without killing your CuC

 

[tbrown]

I agree with @BryanM but I also think maybe we're misunderstanding.

It sounds like maybe you're going to be setting up an AWC system and that the "connection" you're referring to is that the waste from the AWC goes into the frag/QT tank? So there's no physical connection where the frag/QT goes back to the sump and into the DT?

If that's the case I still think this might be a bit of an issue. Taking aged water that has had its minerals reduced and nutrients increased and pushing that into the frag tank that potentially has a higher need for the nutrients, yes, but also the minerals that were already reduced by the DT is going to make the requirement for dosing higher in the frag tank.

Basically, it looks like you're avoiding dosing in the DT by doing AWC but you're increasing the dosing requirements in the frag tank at the same time, if that makes sense?

 

[tbrown]

I agree with @BryanM, it's not quarantine if it's connected to the rest of your system. the whole point of quarantine is maximum separation from the regular population so that if anything in quarantine has disease or parasites, it can never escape to the general population and you can medicate without killing your CuC

I do not think I'd be connecting a QT tank to any other tank. Kinda defeats the purpose.

Frag tank, fine, but if this tank is intended for QT/treatment, IMO it should be solo.

I think, after reading through the post, he's not talking about actually connecting the two. At least I hope not.

 

[commod0re]

I agree with @BryanM but I also think maybe we're misunderstanding.

It sounds like maybe you're going to be setting up an AWC system and that the "connection" you're referring to is that the waste from the AWC goes into the frag/QT tank? So there's no physical connection where the frag/QT goes back to the sump and into the DT?

If that's the case I still think this might be a bit of an issue. Taking aged water that has had its minerals reduced and nutrients increased and pushing that into the frag tank that potentially has a higher need for the nutrients, yes, but also the minerals that were already reduced by the DT is going to make the requirement for dosing higher in the frag tank.

Basically, it looks like you're avoiding dosing in the DT by doing AWC but you're increasing the dosing requirements in the frag tank at the same time, if that makes sense?

ohhh that does make more sense, I should have read more carefully lol

 

[tbrown]

ohhh that does make more sense, I should have read more carefully lol

I still am not convinced that you read it wrong and I'm hoping it's just the wording choices.

 

[commod0re]

I guess I'd say it depends on what kinds of corals are going in the frag tank, softies would probably be pretty happy with that especially if the DT water has nutrients. As long as this process is all 1-way anyway

LPS/SPS you MIGHT have to dose something to the frag tank but if you keep calcium/alk in a good place in the DT and do this water shell game frequently enough it might be fine too

I think for fish quarantine reusing the tank water that is depleted in minerals is likely just fine

 

[jhadaway]

Correct. If I have to switch to QT to isolate something that's in the tank, I can switch off the water change dump from the DT. Primarily this is for grow out, and new corals coming in. I won't be doing any fish QT.

 

[tbrown]

I wouldn't QT corals in your frag tank. That has the potential to wipe out your whole frag system.

 

[jhadaway]

I guess I'd say it depends on what kinds of corals are going in the frag tank, softies would probably be pretty happy with that especially if the DT water has nutrients. As long as this process is all 1-way anyway

LPS/SPS you MIGHT have to dose something to the frag tank but if you keep calcium/alk in a good place in the DT and do this water shell game frequently enough it might be fine too

I think for fish quarantine reusing the tank water that is depleted in minerals is likely just fine

I figure the tank has about 32 gallons in it, so I'll be doing about 11% water change everyday. I would think any depletion of alk that was enough to cause an issue would take lots of frags. I'm guessing it should be stable enough. I'm building a mixed reef, but Acro dominant.

 

[jhadaway]

I wouldn't QT corals in your frag tank. That has the potential to wipe out your whole frag system.

Agreed. It would always be one way or the other. I'd drain and clean after QT. If I ever get to the point I have to do both, I have a 20g tall. I'm hoping to just be growing out frags eventually.

 

[commod0re]

sounds like it'll work out fine then! enjoy, that setup sounds pretty cool

 

[jhadaway]

sounds like it'll work out fine then! enjoy, that setup sounds pretty cool

Thanks. Building the frag racks this weekend and finishing the ATO setup. Been building for 1 1/2 years now.

 

[i cant think]

Thanks. Building the frag racks this weekend and finishing the ATO setup. Been building for 1 1/2 years now.

Im not able to contribute anything to this much, but I hope when you get it all set up you do a build thread if you haven’t already! I’d love to see how this works out both in the short and long term.

 

[jhadaway]

Im not able to contribute anything to this much, but I hope when you get it all set up you do a build thread if you haven’t already! I’d love to see how this works out both in the short and long term.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-235-custom-waterbox-reef.1067940/page-3#post-14315571

It's cycling with ammonia now while I try and get everything finished. It just keeps coming.

 

[Rocks reef]

I had to read the entire thread a couple times to get a picture in my head. If I’m picturing what you are wanting to accomplish correctly, you have a solid plan as long as the QT is completely separate from the DT.
I am sure most here would agree, but a picture or drawing would be quite advantageous.

 

[jhadaway]

I had to read the entire thread a couple times to get a picture in my head. If I’m picturing what you are wanting to accomplish correctly, you have a solid plan as long as the QT is completely separate from the DT.
I am sure most here would agree, but a picture or drawing would be quite advantageous.

I agree. They're on opposite sides of the fish room. I'll see what I can do.

 

[jhadaway]

DT on the right, Frag tank on the left. I'll be using a GHL Maxi Doser for AWC.