Using a Frag tank as a Back-up?

Woodchuck12 · 01/30/2012, 06:37 PM

Is it a good idea to frag every coral and have a separately plumbed tank to keep all of your frags as a back up incase of a tank crash? Otherwise, could one be plumbed to the display tank in a way that makes it easy to cut off from the DT in an emergency, but be open as a refugium of sorts when parameters are stable? Sorry if its a stupid question or if the post is confusing to read.

Thanks, Charlie

Reef264 · 01/30/2012, 07:28 PM

It sounds good in theory, but If a crash happens in the DT, and the frag tank is plumbed in to the DT, it would then crash the Frag tank...Ergo defeating the purpose of doing the frag tank, I would do the frag tank, and not plumb it into the DT.That way it will be safe in the event a crash takes place.

It is a Top Shelf Idea though, bravo.

rtbm · 01/30/2012, 07:31 PM

I have a back up tank for all my sps. Separate set up. The first frag of everything I have goes in there. It's actually looking pretty sweet these days.

Just like backing up your hard drive. Prepare for the wost. I have been "backing up"
my precious sps collection for quite a while now.

Reefing Newbie · 01/30/2012, 07:40 PM

I am actually setting up a frag tank soon so I can use the frags of the orignal corals(for the frag tank) to stock my DT. Initially it will probably be serving as a coral QT. I do like having a drop back in case something does go wrong with the main tank. When you lose corals in the DT it usally means lots of money lost because the corals could be big enough for upwards of 10 small frags at the LFS. Back ups and prevention in this hobby are very important!

Woodchuck12 · 01/30/2012, 10:29 PM

Okay thanks. Do you need to have fish in a frag tank? Also if not, is there any need to run a protein skimmer on the tank? Or is it just throw in the heater and powerheads for the frags with hang on back filtration?

maroun.c · 01/30/2012, 11:04 PM

There are 2 reasons to backup your corals.
One is loosing a coral for STN / RTN where a frag in the same tank or in a connected one might be all you need.
Or a tank crash which will also take out your inline frag tank.
So separate is better.
My plan is a coral introduction tank for each new coral to sit for few days to recover then get needed dipd and observation. Then the coral will get dragged for backups which will go to the frag tank and then the coral will go to main display.
I will keep fish that serve a purpose (eat pests) in the frag tank. And also add new additions of fish to it to check for nipping before they go to DT. If a frag tank has no fish I'm not sure if just doing water changes from your tank will supply the corals with the food they need coming from fishpoo?
A skimmer or other form of filtration will be needed even with no fish.

jrjones800 · 01/30/2012, 11:16 PM

sounds like a good idea

iMob · 01/31/2012, 03:22 AM

dont see anything wrong with doing that

sslak · 01/31/2012, 06:48 AM

Use friends as a backup. Share (sell cheaply) your frags with local club members and you can always get one back if you have something happen

01/30/2012, 06:37 PM	#1
Woodchuck12 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 245	Using a Frag tank as a Back-up? Is it a good idea to frag every coral and have a separately plumbed tank to keep all of your frags as a back up incase of a tank crash? Otherwise, could one be plumbed to the display tank in a way that makes it easy to cut off from the DT in an emergency, but be open as a refugium of sorts when parameters are stable? Sorry if its a stupid question or if the post is confusing to read. Thanks, Charlie

01/30/2012, 07:28 PM	#2
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	It sounds good in theory, but If a crash happens in the DT, and the frag tank is plumbed in to the DT, it would then crash the Frag tank...Ergo defeating the purpose of doing the frag tank, I would do the frag tank, and not plumb it into the DT.That way it will be safe in the event a crash takes place. It is a Top Shelf Idea though, bravo. __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

01/30/2012, 07:31 PM	#3
rtbm Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wisconsin Posts: 958	I have a back up tank for all my sps. Separate set up. The first frag of everything I have goes in there. It's actually looking pretty sweet these days. Just like backing up your hard drive. Prepare for the wost. I have been "backing up" my precious sps collection for quite a while now. __________________ "Better to act while you're still foolish enough to think you know everything than to be slowly frozen by the creeping uncertainty of bitter wisdom..." L.Person Current Tank Info: 30x30 miracles starfire sps reef + 800 gal sps prop system

01/30/2012, 11:04 PM	#6
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	There are 2 reasons to backup your corals. One is loosing a coral for STN / RTN where a frag in the same tank or in a connected one might be all you need. Or a tank crash which will also take out your inline frag tank. So separate is better. My plan is a coral introduction tank for each new coral to sit for few days to recover then get needed dipd and observation. Then the coral will get dragged for backups which will go to the frag tank and then the coral will go to main display. I will keep fish that serve a purpose (eat pests) in the frag tank. And also add new additions of fish to it to check for nipping before they go to DT. If a frag tank has no fish I'm not sure if just doing water changes from your tank will supply the corals with the food they need coming from fishpoo? A skimmer or other form of filtration will be needed even with no fish. __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

01/31/2012, 06:48 AM	#9
sslak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,705	Use friends as a backup. Share (sell cheaply) your frags with local club members and you can always get one back if you have something happen __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic/20g Sump/250w XM 20k/2x39w T5 True Actinic 03/2010 Reef Octopus NW Cone Skimmer

01/30/2012, 07:40 PM	#4
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	I am actually setting up a frag tank soon so I can use the frags of the orignal corals(for the frag tank) to stock my DT. Initially it will probably be serving as a coral QT. I do like having a drop back in case something does go wrong with the main tank. When you lose corals in the DT it usally means lots of money lost because the corals could be big enough for upwards of 10 small frags at the LFS. Back ups and prevention in this hobby are very important!

01/30/2012, 10:29 PM	#5
Woodchuck12 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 245	Okay thanks. Do you need to have fish in a frag tank? Also if not, is there any need to run a protein skimmer on the tank? Or is it just throw in the heater and powerheads for the frags with hang on back filtration?

01/30/2012, 11:16 PM	#7
jrjones800 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: sparks Posts: 50	sounds like a good idea

01/31/2012, 03:22 AM	#8
iMob Moved On Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Rancho Cordova CA Posts: 191	dont see anything wrong with doing that