Frag tank set up questions

[Sky's Reef]

So I came up on yet another tank lol. Its a 20" cube with black stand that matches pretty well to my 60 cube so I'm gonna put it next to the 60 and use it as a frag tank.

My question is what's the fastest way to get it going? I'm going to leave it bare with just a rack. If I use established tank water and just put in a heater and powerhead how soon can I put in a couple zoa frags I have laying around?

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[Sky's Reef]

Would it be better to pull out some established live rock from my 240 and put it in?

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[Peppster3090]

Wouldn't be a bad idea to use some established rock for the system. It would help put some tiny beneficial critters in there.

 

[Six2seven]

What type of filtration do you have planned for it? Will it be a separate system or connected to your display? If separate I would fill a sump with some of your existing live rock.

 

[Sky's Reef]

The tank isn't drilled so I was just going to use a CPR back pack skimmer and a Koralia.

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[Sky's Reef]

I will also add some inverts but not till later down the line

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[cowboycove]

Id drill the thing and share sump with the 60. That way if you cycle it'll be small. I used half old water and all my rock from a 90 and filled my 150. Within a week I put tester frags and none died. I fully stocked it in 2 or 3 weeks. I'm not sure if you'd like to risk it. But use a crappy frag.

 

[esanacore]

The tank isn't drilled so I was just going to use a CPR back pack skimmer and a Koralia.

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If you aren't gonna tie it into your existing tank, find yourself an aqua clear hob filter. Keep the standard stuff in there, sponge/carbon/ceramic biological media. The CPR backpack will deff help with biological surface area too (assuming you left the plastic bio media in there). Use tank water to fill it up, or at least a large percentage tank water and a mixture of new saltwater...realistically you can do all new saltwater as well, won't make too much if a difference other than saving you some $ recycling water. Then get yourself some dr.tims or Hagen cycle, dose nitrifying bacteria from 3 days to a week, turn on the skimmer and you're good to go. Or get an overflow box for the frag tank to drain into your sump and split the return line between the two tanks/use two return pumps.

 

[watchguy123]

I tried with tank water on a separate system and frag tank cycled. Wasn't smart enough to use a starter bacteria kit. Seemed the brand new acrylic wanted to get some type of surface coating on it. When I added new frag racks, got another mini cycle until those racks got coated as well

 

[reefes pieces]

plumbing it would be ideal if you can. Will save a lot of time and energy in water changes and top offs in the long run and add stability to your frag tank with the added water volume. If you can't then I'd throw in established rock for now and slowly take it out. The hob filter mentioned before is a great idea as you're going to need some kind of substrate to have bacteria adhere to. Otherwise just find some really small pieces and rubble to throw in the tank.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Drill the tank and plumb it to your other tank. Having to top off separate tanks can be a big pain in the arse.

U can buy a kit online to drill it, it's not that big of a deal really.

 

[Sky's Reef]

Yea I just don't know if the bottom is tempered but I'm just going to go a head and try and drill it. Tank and stand were 40 bucks no big deal. Here's a shot next my 60 gal

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[SchnitzelReef]

There's a way to find out, call chad from coral gazers. He might even have the drill to drill it

 

[Sky's Reef]

Yea I'm just in central Cali. Long way away. I've read there's I'd some sort of like UV light that grows purple if it's tempered. I'll have to look it up since I read it a long time ago

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[FijiZoo]

That tank is more of a cube than a Frag tank lol. I was thinking about a 9-10in deep tank. But yes sir your best bet is to just plumb in into your DT trust me top offs, and water swings will be minimal.

 

[Sky's Reef]

It is indeed but it will work just fine as a frag tank lol I may end up just doing all nems not sure yet

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