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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 20, 2014 6:39:09 GMT -5
Ok so I've been trying to get rid of my fresh water tank for quite awhile, so I could hopefully convince the my better half to allow me to have a Frag tank in our living room!  long story short fresh water is emptied and I got the go ahead on the Frag tank! So there's a couple things I'd like to do... #1-take up as little space as possible #2-not cost a arm and a leg #3-get ideas and suggestions from you!  I'm stuck between a regular fish tank and a diy Rubbermaid tank? The wife is worried that if we use a Rubbermaid she won't be able to see, but she also wants it to take up less space then the tank we just took down? (30g on a metal stand) I'm going to be completely starting from scratch I don't have anything for the tank yet... but I do know I want to try to diy as much as I possibly can on this project. I'd also like people's ideas and suggestions on this as I'm open to what the looks and functions will be. nothing at all is set in stone yet. The only thing I really want is for it to be a sps dominant tank w/some lps mixed in. I have a 20g long tank brand new, but I think it's to long for what I'm trying to accomplish? Hopefully I'll be going up to see Christian to stock it and what I don't get from him I'll have to order from liveaquaria, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. but, I want to start out with some nice sized smaller colonies in the Frag tank not just small Frags. Ty for your time and hopefully your help! |
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Post by gotareef on Feb 20, 2014 7:33:42 GMT -5
30g on metal stand has a footprint of 36"x12" or 24"x12" not sure you can go much smaller a rubbermaid tote is even bigger...
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Post by gotareef on Feb 20, 2014 7:36:44 GMT -5
I have an old 20 long that would work, not in the best shape but glass isnt scratched. I think its 30"x12"
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 20, 2014 8:14:08 GMT -5
I have an old 20 long that would work, not in the best shape but glass isnt scratched. I think its 30"x12" Yeah I already have a brand new 20L ty though. I was thinking it wouldn't be as big looking? The old tank was away from our salt water tank this one would be right next to it. And it'd be on the floor if it was a Rubbermaid tote? Either way it's only temporary because we're going to buy a house soon and when I get a basement I'm going to build a large Frag tank out of fiberglass. My wife is a composite Tec now and used to specialize in fiberglass before she started building yachts out of carbon fiber. I wish carbon fiber wasn't so expensive because it would be awesome to build it out of carbon! |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 20, 2014 8:16:31 GMT -5
Hopefully I'll be going up to see Christian to stock it I like where this is going , LOL. Figured you would like that! Lol |
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Post by moulton712 on Feb 21, 2014 12:47:08 GMT -5
I have a holesaw for 3/4 bulkheads. I'm going to get a set of most sizes soon. I also have a plunge stabilizer for drilling. Its awesome. A 20 L would be fine. I bought my overflow box off eBay for $25. Then I used a 1 in return.
I like my frag set up but it's just too small for me and I wish I did my sump different.
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Post by speedyron on Feb 21, 2014 13:03:58 GMT -5
well if is going to be next to your tank you could save alot money overflow to frag tank from your main display then bukhead it into your refugium. then all you need get is couple wave makers and a light for it
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 21, 2014 13:11:32 GMT -5
Love to save money believe me but my Frag tank will be mostly sps so I'll be attempting to keep crystal clear pristine water quality with parameters that fluctuate very little. With the size of my tank and everything in it already got corals and stuff I know this will be easier to accomplish with a completely separate system.
Maybe my next Frag tank can be hooked in because I plan to have one for sps and some lps and one for softies. So the next system won't be as touchy and that would be better because the softies will love it when they get those nutrients.
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 25, 2014 11:48:56 GMT -5
I'd go with the 20L...makes a great frag tank. What's the plan for filtration? I'm assuming that it won't have a refuge if you're planning on having it sit on the floor. It's a lot of work trying to keep pristine water conditions in a Rubbermaid siting on the floor. Keeping it stable is going to be a challenge.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 25, 2014 12:03:17 GMT -5
Thinking about a 40B now! Lol how fast they get bigger. Got a stand already because of my fresh water tank was on a 40g stand so it works out perfectly.
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Post by gotareef on Feb 25, 2014 12:49:01 GMT -5
sounds like 10'x4'x18" is in your future lmao
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 25, 2014 12:57:34 GMT -5
If I had a basement I'd of already tried to buy it!
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Post by gotareef on Feb 25, 2014 14:25:34 GMT -5
if I didnt just dedicate my $$ to my newest sw adventure.... maybe next month once I recoup some $$
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Post by jasonandsarah on Mar 24, 2014 5:14:56 GMT -5
So I've been thinking and researching more and I'm thinking I want to do something shallow and wider? I'm also thinking about going with a round container? Any ideas or suggestions? Was thinking sps before but I've decided to go a different route so I'm thinking led lights a Skimmer and I'm not positive about other types of filtration? I'm thinking I want to try and cut cost where ever I can in order to keep electricity down and things like that.cheaper I run the tank the cheaper I'll be able to sell the things in the tank. I read this article about using sunlight on frag tanks to save on cost and overhead witch in turn saves the customer money. I love this concept but don't think I'm gonna go with natural sunlight on this build. (But I'm thinking a green house frag farm is in my future!) Led's are probably the next cheapest after free sunlight!  |
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Post by foggman on Mar 24, 2014 7:14:01 GMT -5
If you end up going with the "value LEDs" I have just orderd my arduino stuff and have a program to do sun rise and sunset with them, I haven't confirmed it will work untill I get my parts in, but so far I'm only $30 in to it so a lot cheaper than a photon or other controllable LEDs
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long story short fresh water is emptied and I got the go ahead on the Frag tank!
