Frag Tank Issues

Wildeone · 11/28/2006, 06:35 PM

I am trying to get my frag tank off the ground. It is a 30G breeder with a 10 gallon sump. I have about 20 lbs of LR in the main frag tank and a 250watt 20K MH. In the tank I have one egg crate frag stand.

My issue is that I started the tank about 6 weeks ago. After about 2 or 3 weeks, the levels looked good and all my levels looked good. I put the racks in, added a few cleanup critters and about 12 frags. I put a small amount of phyto in the tank as well.

I noticed the water looked cloudy and after 2 more weeks it was looking a bit green. I ended deciding that I basicall rushed it and shouldn't have put any phyto in that early. Basically I though I made a giant phyto farm out of my tank.

I emptied, cleaned and restarted the whole process. It has been 2 weeks and Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are at 0, PH is 8.2. I have one small rack and one frag in there. and it is starting to look cloudy again.

Anyone have any ideas? I am not used to MH 's because my display is PC. I am not real experienced (< a year), but my 65 Gallon is doing great (see photo below). What am I missing?

T Man · 11/28/2006, 07:58 PM

Did you "frag" the pieces in the tank or buy them elsewhere? If you did frag them, did you mix several different types? I would not have added any supplements other that the MH lighting, at least until the toxins filter out and the frags take hold- then I would gradually introduce any supplements. I've accidently overdosed phyto into my 125, and your right! Giant Phyto Farm. TinMan

Wildeone · 11/28/2006, 08:44 PM

Good point, I didn't think of that angle. I did frag all of them the same evening, so that may have contributed. What I did find tonight was that I think I have a microbubble issue. I restricted the flow from the overflow to the sum, thus causing the water level to raise above the drain line in the overflow. I was pulling air into my sump, and although I didn't see big bubbles in the return line once I did this things cleared up a bit. I will keep an eye out for a day or two and see if that does the trick.

11/28/2006, 06:35 PM	#1
Wildeone Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 303	Frag Tank Issues I am trying to get my frag tank off the ground. It is a 30G breeder with a 10 gallon sump. I have about 20 lbs of LR in the main frag tank and a 250watt 20K MH. In the tank I have one egg crate frag stand. My issue is that I started the tank about 6 weeks ago. After about 2 or 3 weeks, the levels looked good and all my levels looked good. I put the racks in, added a few cleanup critters and about 12 frags. I put a small amount of phyto in the tank as well. I noticed the water looked cloudy and after 2 more weeks it was looking a bit green. I ended deciding that I basicall rushed it and shouldn't have put any phyto in that early. Basically I though I made a giant phyto farm out of my tank. I emptied, cleaned and restarted the whole process. It has been 2 weeks and Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are at 0, PH is 8.2. I have one small rack and one frag in there. and it is starting to look cloudy again. Anyone have any ideas? I am not used to MH 's because my display is PC. I am not real experienced (< a year), but my 65 Gallon is doing great (see photo below). What am I missing?

11/28/2006, 07:58 PM	#2
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	Did you "frag" the pieces in the tank or buy them elsewhere? If you did frag them, did you mix several different types? I would not have added any supplements other that the MH lighting, at least until the toxins filter out and the frags take hold- then I would gradually introduce any supplements. I've accidently overdosed phyto into my 125, and your right! Giant Phyto Farm. TinMan __________________ He that can have patience can have what he will. ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: click the "TzFuture" folder in my profile

11/28/2006, 08:44 PM	#3
Wildeone Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 303	Good point, I didn't think of that angle. I did frag all of them the same evening, so that may have contributed. What I did find tonight was that I think I have a microbubble issue. I restricted the flow from the overflow to the sum, thus causing the water level to raise above the drain line in the overflow. I was pulling air into my sump, and although I didn't see big bubbles in the return line once I did this things cleared up a bit. I will keep an eye out for a day or two and see if that does the trick.