Diy Frag Tank

[joeminer117]

I am starting a frag tank and need help with a few ideas. I have a 20 gallon long tank with a 250 metal halide bulb and 3 60 watt t5 bulbs. I need help with trying to set up a sump or do I just run a caninster filter . If a sump is a better way to go, how do I set one up. If anyone has pics of their frag tank too and the way they went through it and posted it that would be a great help. I am just not sure what road to go down with all of these decisions. Thanks for any help upfront

 

[demasonisrule]

First off, Welcome to TFF!
Sumps are typically better for any marine tanks, they just work better. they obviously have much more space, allow for a fuge (which is important in a frag tank so you have no nutrients), and you can have more options for pumps. If you are just looking to add some flow with this, a canister is fine, just without all the media.


As far as setting up the sump, I'm assuming the tank isn't drilled? If not, you can either drill it (very nerve-racking, but better in the long run), or a HOB overflow (easy to set up, can pose problems later on), and then that will go down to your sump tank. In your sump, you put in your refugium, heaters, etc., and at the end of the sump, you put in a return pump to send water back up to the tank. This is obviously a very general gist of how to do it, but you get the idea.

What were you looking to grow?I can give some help with most corals, especially SPS, which judging by your lighting is probably what you're growing? So whatever you need to know, just ask, and I'm sure either I or someone else on here will respond.

 

[joeminer117]

I am looking at growing just some simple SPS and some LPS. I know i wont to try out some montipora, and Acropora. The LPS i am going to try out are brains, Acans, and Blastos. If I have room I may throw in a large rock with some zoos on it.

 

[demasonisrule]

Well, for SPS, especially Acropora, you need lots of light (which you have), lots of flow, and very good water quality. To grow them, I'd say you want 25-30x turnover, so a little less than 600 GPH total, including your powerheads and pumps/filters. You also need to make sure that you're nitrates are always very low (1-2 is best, with exactly 0 they can start to lose color, so I'd stay away from GFO/vodka dosing for this reason), and that your Calcium stays 435-475, and your alk is stable. The only problem with keeping LPS in there is that there may be too much flow/lighting for them.

 

[joeminer117]

If I had a 20 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump, how would I want to do the sump system. I know that it would be best to get the tank drilled and do it that way, but what size holes? Also wouldnt I want to have two holes that can filter from two areas. How do I set up the sump in the right way? Also if I am looking at turning over the water 25- 30 times what kind of pump can do a job without being too much? Sorry for all the questions, I am just trying to make sure I get this right.

 

[demasonisrule]

If I had a 20 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump, how would I want to do the sump system. I know that it would be best to get the tank drilled and do it that way, but what size holes? Also wouldnt I want to have two holes that can filter from two areas. How do I set up the sump in the right way? Also if I am looking at turning over the water 25- 30 times what kind of pump can do a job without being too much? Sorry for all the questions, I am just trying to make sure I get this right.

The hole sizes depend on your return pump. You can have it drain from more than 1 place, though in a tank that size I don't think it would make that much of a difference. This site gives you a lot more info:
http/www.melevsree...allmysumps.html

 

[GrayScale]

Personally, i'd use the 30 as a display and the 20 as the sump. The only tank that would need to be drilled is the display/frag tank, you can just have the plumbing go into the open top of the sump. Vortech or koralias are the powerheads I would recommend for flow and you will also get flow from your return. *Do not* drill the bottom of the tank. Its usually tempered glass and will more than likely break, drill the back if you go that route. On my 55 I have a 1 1/2" drain and a 1" return I think. For the return pump I will be using a mag-drive 9 or 9.5 but thats only cause it has to pump up about 4'. Like mentioned above, the hole size depends on your return pump. Or the return pump depends on the hole size and how far up it needs to pump.