Maroun.c Frag setup

[maroun.c]

As if I wasn't busy enough with the 390 G Tank build,

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/large-aquariums-180g/60956-maroun-c-390-g-build-thread.html


I'm also starting the build of a fragging setup in my basement.
Initial plan and objective of the setup is to provide a backup of my nicest corals which is not inline with the tank. So that if disaster strikes I will not have to start from scratch.
I will also use the setup to share trade or sell frags to fellow reefers instead of continuously fragging my colonies, as after the move they'll be placed in the new tank with enough room to grow before they need to be fragged again. This will allow my corals to shape up more naturally and faster.
After That the target would be try to make it beneficial to offset some of the tank running expense. Wouldn't have any space limitation to grow the setup up bigger if it proves productive
Will Experiment with lots of DIY and less expensive alternatives at least at the early stage of the setup as I'm trying to keep this low budget. Still would definilty upgrade to whatever is needed that might affect the safety or stability of the setup.
Enough talk here's the initial plan and as always open to your suggestions:
Starting plan and the reason to start the project at the time where I'm very busy with the 390 G build. I will place the Coral quarantine, fish introduction tank and fish Quarantine on the stand. Eventually those will move elsewhere in the basement after it's fully constructed and furnished so this way they won't have to be moved if they're in the way:

Frag tank 1:
-288 L (85G) DIY Tank
Yes this will be the biggest tank I've ever built myslef, still it's not like its a huge tank...
130x60x40 cm 52"x24"x16"
10mm (0.4") glass.
-Lighting will be DIY T5s with individual reflectors or maybe a T5 fixture.
-Flow will experiment with an idea I have in mind using a 1" SCWD I picked up on my last trip to the states to see what I can get and if that fails will go with some wavemaker... won't be going CL so will experiment with an over the back loop circulation with the main pump in the sump and pushing water in the SCWD which will divert the flow to one of 2 outputs on the sides of the tank. Theoratically this should provide me with a Rt to teft surge followed by a LT to right surge. something along the pics on following link with maybe an additional outlet from each side to the other side or maybe 2 outlets from each side to the other.
3iQ Ventures
The SCWD should handle up to 3500 GPH (13000 LPH) So much more than I need. More on this later on...
-Frags will go on eggcrate not sure if I should have a stair like shelve or a straight one and how high from tank bottom.
In a second stage the Fish and coral introduction tanks will be taken off to a final location and I will add a frag Tank2 336L (90G) tank with external overflow on top of 1st Frag tank.

The fish Quarantine tank on bottom rigth might either be taken out and replaced by a fuge or 3rd small frag tank or I might just remove the small sump and go with a larger one...
I'm starting with following for sump:
160L (42G) sump
80x50x40 cm 32"x20"x16"
Classic Skimmer, return Fuge partition.
Automatic top off with a Kent float valve for a start, might switch to an electrical one in case of issues

 

[maroun.c]

Glass for Frag tank and Sump.
Excuse the phone pics and messy basement.

Drilling at the glass workshop was easy as a breeze. They went with a small hole where the Bulkhead didn't fit and dae it progressively larger.
So its the best bulkhead fit I ever got.

Sump being assembled

Baffles done

 

[maroun.c]

Now a few points to discuss so I can finalize the design of teh whole setup:

Frag Tank:
-Would you go with 1 level eggcrate and provide some bottom space for light acclimation VS stairlike eggcrate?

Fish Quarantine:
-would you go with 1 Larger quarantine with ability to insert separation for fish aggression or 2 smaller quarantines for treatment of multiple fish.

-Coral introduction tank:
How big would you go with this tank and what filtration flow and lighting would you have on it?
What protocol would you follow and what dips would you perform before feeling safe introducing corals to your display?

Looking forward for some active discussion on those which might help others as well in how to deal with new corals and fish.
Lets not turn it into a Quarantine VS no Quarantine thread as that choice was already made.

 

[MurseBS]

is that a swash buckling sword in the background? yar be plundering that booty.

 

[maroun.c]

Good Catch MurseBS.
Only thing its a plastic one for my 5 years old!!!

 

[maroun.c]

Steel Stand finished:

It was delivered along with the stand for the 390 G tank and both had a very bad epoxy paint on them so they had to be sanded down to the steel (a really ugly process) and 3 coats of quality epoxy were done causing a weeks delay!!!

And The biggest tank I've assembled myself so far, Needless to say how stressfull the first water fill would be:

As planned,
Sump is:
80x50x45 (32"x20"x18") classic 3 partition drain in skimmer partition, return and Fuge.
8mm glass
Frag tank 1:
130x60x40 (52"x24"x16")
Frag tank and sump on stand:

Water filled and no leaks or seam failure so far:

 

[gumby]

nice! how long you been building your own?

 

[maroun.c]

nice! how long you been building your own?

Thanks,
So far built me a 15 g Frag tank, a 24 g Cube (braceless with external overflow), A Fuge for a friend. Didn't even imagine building my new 390 tank so had a pro doing but will be doing all the other tanks linked to it:
-120G sump (just finished building it)
-Tank for water changes (30-40 g tank next on the list)
and a couple of large fuges, and frag tanks to come.

 

[maroun.c]

Eggcrate stands assembled. Went with stairlike stands to allow for low medium and high light as I'll have Softies LPS and SPS.

DIY T5 light rack finished.
went with 6x54W T5 and am happy with the amount of light I'm getting even with some used T5s (3 Actinics 2 14 K and 1 6500K Final light selection will be more blue as I have lots of PAR.

Plumbing to Sump finished.

Overflow:
2 x 1" drains and 1 x 3/4" return
with Durso Standpipes

At this stage a change of plans for the frag tank happened as I decided to move all the corals from my 150G tank to it for temporary holding while my 390 gets finished as my 150G was starting to show signs of neglect that I wasn't able to deal with...
Pics to follow shortly

 

[maroun.c]

Overflow Screen installed.

And first corals moving in.
flow was still not complete and electrical was running but still needed to be tidied up.
Some pics while tank was getting filled and lighting setup

trying different color combinations

Wave maker installed still have to upgrade it's pump, Playing more with light selection and disposition.

Final lights I'm going with for now.

 

[maroun.c]

Bubble magus skimmer that I had modded to couple with an Eheim pump, didn't really give good skimate on my 27G due to low water volume and fish load. On this tank it did perform rather well

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Very cool and digging it!

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks

 

[SunnyX]

Looking good! : D

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks Sunny

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

woowwww thats a cool frag tank... Proud to have such a reefer in Lebanon... and in my neighbourhood!!!

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks for your kind words.
Can't believe my last update was mid 2011!!!
So far the frag tank was acting as a storage for my corals and not as a it's intended purpose.
current status is that I connected it to a new sump in the basement which also filters the 400 tank in my home so now it's a single much larger system. Waiting to finish up organizing electrical and some plumbing and might add a couple more frag tanks and start experimenting with some corals when I have some free time.

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

More frag tanks!!! wooowww... anyways if you need any extra hand you know who to call...

 

[gettaReef]

Curious to see how/what this system is doing now. Update?

 

[maroun.c]

You did wake up an old thread.
Yes frag setup is still running but it has been modified. At the last update above it was running as single tank to house a few coarls I was moving from my old tank to my new 400G tank. since then I have drilled the floor and connected the DT to a sump in the basement where the frag tank is and added another frag tank on top of this one. the frag tanks have been connected to same sump as main DT and I Also added a smaller cube in the basement and also an 80G water change system is hooked to the setup.
both frag tanks are now nearly full and lighting has been changed to LED Using RAzor on this frag tank and orphek on one above. Also testing an ASTA by LumiLED on the cube.
total system size is now close to 800G I guess and I will be adding a few more frag tanks or display tanks in the future or possibly an SPS with angels and butterflies tank maybe...
will post some pics shortly of the filled frag tanks and you can check out the build thread of the tank that is linked to the frag tank as well.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/maroun-c-390-g-build-thread.60956/
Will try to update this thread in coming days with some pics.