Stand alone frag tank

[theyangman]

So I have a spare tank lying around I was thinking of turning into a full time frag tank. Somewhere I can monitor new incoming pieces more carefully.

This tank wouldn't require much would it? It will rarely house any fish (if ever) so if I get it cycled over the next few weeks, with the frozen shrimp method, and monitor my parameters it wouldn't need a skimmer, or sump now would it?

36 gallon
heater
t5 HO lighting / Maybe LED.
powerheads
Maybe a HOB filter for more water movement at the surface?

Would this work as a long term tank? Just keeping up with weekly small percentage water changes?

 

[Poseidon]

If you want a successful frag tank you will need almost all the same equipment as a normal tank... Especially if you want to keep sps

 

[nexusnight]

Agreed. Must have all the same equipment, patience and its actually much more work to keep Parameters good on a small tank. I have 30g system running for frags and damn its been a struggle. Sps have severely suffered. If ur tank is big like 40+ it would b easier but still tough for sps to do well.


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[Salty Cracker]

I cannot match the results I get with my DT with a 35 gallon separate tank.  However, it's a work in progress

 

[theyangman]

Hmmmm....

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[TORX]

In short No...
It should be a simple answer, just think of everything you have learned about the circle of water chemistry and how it works with coral life, then you would have answered your own question. The smaller the water volume, the harder to care for on a daily basis. Read up on Nano tanks, that is basically what you will be running at that point. The guys that run frag tanks for swaps are just for the swaps. Even at that, some people bring full set ups including sumps to big shows.

Now if you modify your parts list, it would work for softies/LPS. Just switch HOB filter to a HOB skimmer, add a damsel and shrimp or something small and a few hunks of live rock and you will be rocking there. Only I am pretty sure you are looking at grabbing up something other then LSP/softies.

 

[Salty Cracker]

Yeah I should mention that softies and lps absolutely thrive in the frag tank.  SPS goes brown almost overnight.  WAY too much stuff in the water column for sps.  (plus I built it in may, I think it's too "new" for sps, but that's just IMHO). 

 

[TORX]

Of course you could just buy up the Prdibio line up and just dose like mad. But even their system takes time and patience.

 

[theyangman]

Fair enough, I just don't know what to do with my smaller tank. Sits in the corner looking lonely and bored. It isn't drilled and I don't really care to replicate my equipment list on my display tank. Maybe I could make it into a softie tank. The wheels are turning slowly....

Maybe I should get a hob skimmer and start a softie tank with some smaller fishies.

 

[TORX]

Fair enough, I just don't know what to do with my smaller tank. Sits in the corner looking lonely and bored. It isn't drilled and I don't really care to replicate my equipment list on my display tank. Maybe I could make it into a softie tank. The wheels are turning slowly....

Maybe I should get a hob skimmer and start a softie tank with some smaller fishies.

Can I suggest a FOWLR predator tank instead of a frag tank? It would be fun to watch and care for. Lionfish with snowflake eel, maybe a very rare mini orca?

 

[Salty Cracker]

I bought a mated pair of mini orca, but got flamed on AP.  It was all "that nano tank is NOWHERE big enough for those orca!"

 

[theyangman]

I could try and catch my damsels out of the main tank one by one and put them into a cage match in the spare tank and let em fight it out. Survival of the fittest. 10 assorted damsels in a 35 gallon tank with no hiding spots! Royal Rumble!

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

what about getting some wavey shit and some nems and a pack of clowns.    ..like duke has

 

[curiousphil]

I WANT A MINI ORCA!!!!

 

[Salty Cracker]

I could try and catch my damsels out of the main tank one by one and put them into a cage match in the spare tank and let em fight it out. Survival of the fittest. 10 assorted damsels in a 35 gallon tank with no hiding spots! Royal Rumble!

That *thunk* you heard was Torx falling over. 

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

I could try and catch my damsels out of the main tank one by one and put them into a cage match in the spare tank and let em fight it out. Survival of the fittest. 10 assorted damsels in a 35 gallon tank with no hiding spots! Royal Rumble!

i have 7 diff damsels in my tank. and they all get along

 

[theyangman]

I hate mine. And they hate each other as well it seems

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[Salty Cracker]

I hate mine. And they hate each other as well it seems

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You might have asian damsels.  They never get along even though they all look alike. 

You need to get the Canadian damsels.  They don't speak the same language, don't look alike, but all get along for some reason.  Very highly prized. 

 

[theyangman]

Oh Glen....

 

[Salty Cracker]

Oh Glen....

It's true...you can even throw the generally offensive asian damsels in the tank, and eventually they'll get along too.