Sump Frag System

[-Logzor]

I'm beginning to question if we have propagation systems backwards. In an effort to expand the footprint of grow area for corals in my aquarium, the only place left was the sump. So I removed my macro-algae, put in egg-crate, and dropped in a AI Sol Blue module that I had as a spare.

What I'm seeing is that corals are plating out faster than in the display tank. The sump is definitely dirtier than the display, all the heavy particles from the display end up there. Perhaps the corals are being feed better in the sump and is causing the increased growth rate? Who knows, but I was surprised to see how well the corals are doing in the sump.

 

[zesty]

I'm going to stab a few ideas in here:

Light height/intensity; are they the same?
Flow, same between DT and sump?
Fish, how many fish in your DT vs sump?


The food would be something I would also bring up, had you not.
I run some corals in my sump as well. However, mine have been mostly acans, blastos, mushrooms and a few others. I have really good growth from my acans vs my DT acans. Light and flow are the two factors that I can think of right off that could help my situation.

 

[-Logzor]

I'm going to stab a few ideas in here:

Light height/intensity; are they the same?
Flow, same between DT and sump?
Fish, how many fish in your DT vs sump?


The food would be something I would also bring up, had you not.
I run some corals in my sump as well. However, mine have been mostly acans, blastos, mushrooms and a few others. I have really good growth from my acans vs my DT acans. Light and flow are the two factors that I can think of right off that could help my situation.

Hard to say on light intensity, the lighting in the DT is mostly T5's, the sump light is an AI Sol Blue.

Flow is pretty low in the sump, most of the flow comes from water passing through. I have one small powerhead in the sump. The DT flow is definitely higher.

No fish in the sump, the coral growing area is pretty small, maybe 13" x 20".

I'll have to try some acans down there next and see how they do.

 

[kireek]

I have seen some nice corals growing in sumps.If I had some better lighting for mine I would load it up with acans,zoas and brains.