Question About Frag Tank Setup....

BigBoi5680 · 04/01/2013, 01:02 PM

I have a 40 gallon breeder I'm planning on setting up as a frag/grow-out tank, my question is, does it have to have a sump and skimmer?? Or will just a power head and water change work? I was initially going to do sump/skimmer, but I don't have the tank drilled nor overflow installed yet and wanted to go ahead and set it up if I could without those things. Please advise....

jerpa · 04/01/2013, 01:37 PM

It will work without a sump and skimmer. You will just need to be diligent with husbandry. Personally I'd get an HOB skimmer, even if it's a coralife super skimmer, just for gas exchange and some particulate filtration.

lvreefer · 04/01/2013, 03:16 PM

I agree, no sump but I would suggest a skimmer and possibly a reactor. It all depends on what you plan to keep in it.

Jscott11 · 04/01/2013, 03:50 PM

i would plumb it into your current setup

BigBoi5680 · 04/01/2013, 05:36 PM

My current setup is downstairs, so I won't be able to plumb it to that one.....but if I could get by with the HOB and a reactor that would work I guess!?

Reefer82 · 04/02/2013, 11:33 PM

I thought about doing the same thing as you but decided after reading a lot of threads a HOB Skimmer would probably be my best choice. I went with the octopus hf-100b that has the extra compartment for mechanical filtration plus it got my heater out of my frag tank. Its done well so far and that's the only piece in the tank other than a Koralia 3.

Unfortunately its been more of a holding tank than an actual frag tank but the everything is doing fine so far. Its not saying much but the Xenia is growing.

Bigcefa · 04/02/2013, 11:46 PM

Your going to need some bio filtration in there somewhere that's why I run all my frag tanks with a sump. I put the live rock down there. You wouldn't need to drill the tank you could use a hob overflow

powdertang05 · 04/03/2013, 12:13 AM

I vote HOB skimmer, powerheads and LR.

04/01/2013, 01:02 PM	#1
BigBoi5680 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cordova, Tn Posts: 187	Question About Frag Tank Setup.... I have a 40 gallon breeder I'm planning on setting up as a frag/grow-out tank, my question is, does it have to have a sump and skimmer?? Or will just a power head and water change work? I was initially going to do sump/skimmer, but I don't have the tank drilled nor overflow installed yet and wanted to go ahead and set it up if I could without those things. Please advise....

04/01/2013, 01:37 PM	#2
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	It will work without a sump and skimmer. You will just need to be diligent with husbandry. Personally I'd get an HOB skimmer, even if it's a coralife super skimmer, just for gas exchange and some particulate filtration. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

04/01/2013, 03:16 PM	#3
lvreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,163	I agree, no sump but I would suggest a skimmer and possibly a reactor. It all depends on what you plan to keep in it.

04/01/2013, 03:50 PM	#4
Jscott11 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Columbus Posts: 116	i would plumb it into your current setup

04/01/2013, 05:36 PM	#5
BigBoi5680 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cordova, Tn Posts: 187	My current setup is downstairs, so I won't be able to plumb it to that one.....but if I could get by with the HOB and a reactor that would work I guess!?

04/02/2013, 11:33 PM	#6
Reefer82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 216	I thought about doing the same thing as you but decided after reading a lot of threads a HOB Skimmer would probably be my best choice. I went with the octopus hf-100b that has the extra compartment for mechanical filtration plus it got my heater out of my frag tank. Its done well so far and that's the only piece in the tank other than a Koralia 3. Unfortunately its been more of a holding tank than an actual frag tank but the everything is doing fine so far. Its not saying much but the Xenia is growing.

04/02/2013, 11:46 PM	#7
Bigcefa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 843	Your going to need some bio filtration in there somewhere that's why I run all my frag tanks with a sump. I put the live rock down there. You wouldn't need to drill the tank you could use a hob overflow

04/03/2013, 12:13 AM	#8
powdertang05 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 613	I vote HOB skimmer, powerheads and LR.