Frag tanks question

[macawmagic]

We'll I'm setting up 2 frag tanks. One is for sps and one is for everything else. at least that was my original thought. Now I'm thinking about just connecting the 2 systems. I was thinking about all the extra work, equipment, etc that would go into 2 systems. Plus I'm in college and with all the extra work. double the tests, carbon, water changes, etc. In your opinion, money not an option, would you make 2 diff systems or just make one large system?

 

[Troylee]

2 separate... Sps require special attention and special quarantine like interceptor baths etc... I always have mine separate especially with fights against aefw in quarantine... I'm taking mine down now that I'm done buying coral lol...

 

[macawmagic]

bump...

 

[drainbamage]

I can't vote on your poll-I have more than two :xd:

But my current plan is to upgrade to a 4x2 tank for LPS/Zoas, and to keep my 2x2 tank for SPS. Main reason for me is lighting and flow-the lighting and flow in the SPS tank is way too much for the zoa's and LPS's, causing polyps to shrink and other things to not open as much.

Yea, there's a slight bit of extra work in maintaining several systems instead of just one, but not a big issue for me as both tanks will get filled to the brim pretty quickly, so not like I'll have any wasted space.

 

[Captain Nemo]

I think 1 since it would give you a larger water volume overall, just my opinion though.

 

[macawmagic]

well...even with just one I would have 2 diff tanks aka 2 diff flows, lighting, etc. It would just share a common sump instead of 2 sumps.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

i would go with one system. its easy to connect both tanks and just run different lights over them seperately if that makes sense

 

[NeverlosT]

My frag and Dt are plumbed together. It is possible to separate them if need be for pest treatments (heaven forbid) but other than that, having one system is much easier. As far as QT goes, I dip all incoming corals and am a very shrewd buyer (learned lessons the hard way), so those policies, in addition to a few others like cutting off bases of acro colonies, keep me pest free.

The crappy thing is, now all my corals seem to like my frag tank more than my DT! Everything looks awesome down there and only 3/4 as good upstairs! nuts.

 

[akabryanhall]

I voted for the 2 tank system, butI'm thinking you need to prioritize your time and do one system.

 

[Tabasco1]

I voted one, from what I have heard sps can be more sensitive to chemical warfare and would probably be less inhibited to grow if they didnt have to deal with it. SO if it is an option I would go with 2.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

I'd do 2, separate tanks.

I currently have a very densely stocked Frag tank sharing a sump with my mixed reef DT. I find it a challenge to maintain ideal conditions for SPS, LPS, soft corals and Z/Ps using a common water supply. Although more work and expense, If the goal is the best propagation environment - I think the best-practice is 2 separate systems that can be tailored to the inhabitants.

 

[coyle]

definitely two separate systems.

 

[butts182]

less equipment (possibly) with 1 system, but you have the possibility of spreading disease to the entire system...for easibility 1 would do 1 system.

 

[blackraven1425]

I agree with the post above. The advantage to one system is water parameters and equipment; the advantage to two is separation for disease purposes.

I keep my personal frag tank on my main system, just because I don't have room for a full frag setup.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

so have we ade a decision on what he/she will be doing. i think the one system with 2 different tanks so you can alter the lighting is the best

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Altering lighting is easy - The challenge is water quality. Allelopathy concerns and maintaining water quality / optimal nutrient levels for both SPS and soft corals when their needs are so different. It certainly can be done, but may require compromises that would not have to be made in a separate systems.

 

[macawmagic]

I'm working on making it one system solely for the fact that It'll be a lot easier for me to maintain. I'm going to put a ball valve in between the 2 sumps and still give myself the option to seperate them if needed for disease control or something. At least that way I'd be able to move everything over, clean out one system, and then I'd have a "clean" system and a "dirty" system untill controlling all the disease and then moving to the "clean" system. It would be a ton of work, but I'm basically hoping that through dipping heavily that it will not ever need to happen.

 

[caudill187]

I have two seperate systems - a Zoa/paly system and a SPS/LPS system with a frag tank plumbed into it. This way, I am able quarantine sick corals from one system into the other, maintaining the advantages of a frag tank with lower lighting in the SPS/LPS system. Pest and disease are fairly specific to certain classes of corals (zoa pox doesn't effect acros....etc.) I have LED's over 1/3 of the frag system for frags that need alot of light, and T5's over the rest, halides in the SPS display. Zoa/Paly frags stay in the Zoa/Paly system. New Acro's go in the zoa/paly system, new Zoas go in the frag tank plumbed into the high light system. This isn't perfect, but it is much better for me than one system.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

i run one system and never never had a problem with aloepathy. now stingers from lps is a whole nuther story. it make it easier for equipment and stability

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

i run one system and never never had a problem with aloepathy. now stingers from lps is a whole nuther story. it make it easier for equipment and stability

Re: Allelopathy - What I struggle with is "how do you know"?

As I understand it, all corals excrete some type of slime/slough/excrement that contains untold numbers of chemicals and potential toxins. In a very densely packed Frag tank, I find differing levels of growth, coloration and overall success from same-species corals under virtually identical lighting and flow using a common, high quality water source. One noted variable....Who their neighbors are.

Eliminating all other variables I can identify, I am convinced the varying levels of success are at least partially, a result of allelopathic concerns. I view it rather like detecting a black hole - You cant see or test for it, but if you eliminate all other possibilities and watch the impact on those things around it - it leaves very few other explanations. Even continuously running ROX 0.8 GAC, I still encounter inexplicable variations in coral success that I can't attribute to anything other than Allelopathy (i.e. identical Frags inches apart in a rack, but with different up-stream neighbors with significant differences in growth or coloration.)

Just my 2 cents.