Need help with mini frag grow out tank

Salty Brother · 02/01/2007, 08:58 AM

Id like to start a grow out tank because i have really gotten into sps and have a ton alot of acros already. Id like to start fraging and selling. So I would like to start a smaller grow out tank and was wondering what it would take. I was thinking a 10gal, but Im not sure if that would be to small, it would be connected to my main system so there would be no care for it except for like cleaning algae. Then I need some suggestions for light.
What do you think, would a 10gal be to small, what kind of light, and how much flow should I have in there?
Thanks for the help!
Patrick

Salty Brother · 02/01/2007, 11:16 AM

is there any suggestions?

besl · 02/01/2007, 11:21 AM

I am also contemplating sucjh a setup and I think the smallest i would do is a 20 gallon -I think 10 is too small. For flow I am going to put a couple of ph in the tank to give me at least 20x turnover. As for lighting I am contemplating a 150w mh (light the jbj k-2). I like aqua medic ocean light, but I think 250w on a 20 gallon may bleach the corals. Good thread though - now that I shared what I am contemplating I look forward to reading other inputs as well.

Salty Brother · 02/01/2007, 11:25 AM

Ya, your right, 20gals arnt that expensive anyways. I was thinking just doing like a 150W pendant and just hang it from the ceiling. I was then maybe thinking of putting like a seio 620 in there for flow. Lots of choices, but the most major is figring out how muich light.

lpkirby · 02/01/2007, 03:30 PM

For a frag tank you may even get away with T-5's for your lighting, I have a 75 gallon frag tank and wish it was bigger.

Salty Brother · 02/01/2007, 07:37 PM

Would a 250W MH be to powerful?

benray4fun · 02/01/2007, 07:53 PM

T-5's are fine and so are pc's as long as the lights are
right above the tank. A 10 gallon is also fine cause you just need enough room to keep frags under water and away from other frags. The turnover in a 10 gallon should be plus or minus 20x per hour, which could easily be done with a small power head..."have fun."

jpa0741 · 02/01/2007, 08:00 PM

How does everyone plumb into main system?

Salty Brother · 02/01/2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpa0741
How does everyone plumb into main system?

Im going to have it recirulating in my sump, just suck water out with a pump, and have it drain back in.

jpa0741 · 02/01/2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salty Brother
Im going to have it recirulating in my sump, just suck water out with a pump, and have it drain back in.

How will it drain back in? Maybe putting a bulkhead in frag tank?

Salty Brother · 02/01/2007, 09:00 PM

ya, i was planing on drilling either a 3/4" or 1" hole

Salty Brother · 02/02/2007, 11:25 AM

But what kind of lighting should I use, its most likley going to be a 10gal tank.

SERVO · 02/02/2007, 12:47 PM

A 10 gallon tank will really limit anything that will be worth doing. You want decent size frags to ensure that they will actually grow out. The smaller they are, the more of a chance that they won't make it. Another problem with a 10 gallon tank is that it will be very difficult to maintain appropriate temperatures and possibly appropriate water chemistrys. From the standpoint of lighting, I would use the 250W MH. You will get great growth, but heat could be an issue. You could use T5's, but I personally haven't had as much sucess with growth that other hobbiests claim, and time and time again, MH work for me. m

I would recommend something like a 20 gal long and plumb it into a 29 gallon plastic storage bins from Target. (The bottom should be flat).You can drill the glass and increase the overall water volume. This will help you with stability. You want to have room to at least add flow into the tank itself. I personally wouldn't worry about turn over, rather the current over the corals.

I got a 40X24X19inch (depth) frag tank and it is still too small

I decided to plumb it into my main system so I wouldn't have to worry about dosing a second system or worring about a 2nd calcium reactor (more $$$$). Now if something goes wrong, it will really go wrong, but that is what I decided to do.

The bigger you can afford monetarily and with space, the better success you will have.

It gets filled up REALLY quick!!!!

02/01/2007, 08:58 AM	#1
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Need help with mini frag grow out tank Id like to start a grow out tank because i have really gotten into sps and have a ton alot of acros already. Id like to start fraging and selling. So I would like to start a smaller grow out tank and was wondering what it would take. I was thinking a 10gal, but Im not sure if that would be to small, it would be connected to my main system so there would be no care for it except for like cleaning algae. Then I need some suggestions for light. What do you think, would a 10gal be to small, what kind of light, and how much flow should I have in there? Thanks for the help! Patrick

02/01/2007, 11:21 AM	#3
besl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boston-burb, MA Posts: 800	I am also contemplating sucjh a setup and I think the smallest i would do is a 20 gallon -I think 10 is too small. For flow I am going to put a couple of ph in the tank to give me at least 20x turnover. As for lighting I am contemplating a 150w mh (light the jbj k-2). I like aqua medic ocean light, but I think 250w on a 20 gallon may bleach the corals. Good thread though - now that I shared what I am contemplating I look forward to reading other inputs as well. __________________ Why did kamakazi pilots wear helmets? Current Tank Info: 55 Gal, 260W CF, 60 lbs LR, CC base, 7 fish, 10 corals, Aquafuge - chaetomorpha & grape

02/01/2007, 11:16 AM	#2
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	is there any suggestions?

02/01/2007, 11:25 AM	#4
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Ya, your right, 20gals arnt that expensive anyways. I was thinking just doing like a 150W pendant and just hang it from the ceiling. I was then maybe thinking of putting like a seio 620 in there for flow. Lots of choices, but the most major is figring out how muich light.

02/01/2007, 03:30 PM	#5
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	For a frag tank you may even get away with T-5's for your lighting, I have a 75 gallon frag tank and wish it was bigger.

02/01/2007, 07:37 PM	#6
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Would a 250W MH be to powerful?

02/01/2007, 07:53 PM	#7
benray4fun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hartford, CONNECTICUT Posts: 1,147	T-5's are fine and so are pc's as long as the lights are right above the tank. A 10 gallon is also fine cause you just need enough room to keep frags under water and away from other frags. The turnover in a 10 gallon should be plus or minus 20x per hour, which could easily be done with a small power head..."have fun."

02/01/2007, 08:00 PM	#8
jpa0741 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MI Posts: 1,392	How does everyone plumb into main system?

02/01/2007, 09:00 PM	#11
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	ya, i was planing on drilling either a 3/4" or 1" hole

02/02/2007, 11:25 AM	#12
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	But what kind of lighting should I use, its most likley going to be a 10gal tank.

02/02/2007, 12:47 PM	#13
SERVO Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,305	A 10 gallon tank will really limit anything that will be worth doing. You want decent size frags to ensure that they will actually grow out. The smaller they are, the more of a chance that they won't make it. Another problem with a 10 gallon tank is that it will be very difficult to maintain appropriate temperatures and possibly appropriate water chemistrys. From the standpoint of lighting, I would use the 250W MH. You will get great growth, but heat could be an issue. You could use T5's, but I personally haven't had as much sucess with growth that other hobbiests claim, and time and time again, MH work for me. m I would recommend something like a 20 gal long and plumb it into a 29 gallon plastic storage bins from Target. (The bottom should be flat).You can drill the glass and increase the overall water volume. This will help you with stability. You want to have room to at least add flow into the tank itself. I personally wouldn't worry about turn over, rather the current over the corals. I got a 40X24X19inch (depth) frag tank and it is still too small I decided to plumb it into my main system so I wouldn't have to worry about dosing a second system or worring about a 2nd calcium reactor (more $$$$). Now if something goes wrong, it will really go wrong, but that is what I decided to do. The bigger you can afford monetarily and with space, the better success you will have. It gets filled up REALLY quick!!!!