55 gallon Frag Tank

[Dastank]

OK, The 90 gallon isn't done, but my new 55-gallon frag special is ready to roll. I need to buy one piece of flexible piping for the pump, and attach my new acrylic center brace and it's a GO! I'm going to keep it in my storage room, it's not a show tank. I just purchased the lights today and they should be here in a couple of weeks. I'm putting 36" T5s over the tray, 3 actinic and one-day light. I ordered extra bulbs so I can play and see what works best.

I took a 55 gal tank, had a 8mm glass tray 39" X 10" X 5" deep cut and put together. Used some 1" acrylic that Jeff had found somewhere to build the legs and distribute the weight of the tray/frags across the bottom of the tank. (That tray is kind of heavy!) I'll have 800 gallons per hour flowing via a spray bar through the tray. Basically a sump and frag tray all in one package!

How deep do you think I should make the sand bed in the sump part of the tank? 4" - 6” Should I keep the tray bare bottom, or put some small rubble in like PPM has? Let me know what you guys think!

On to the picks :eek1:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank009.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank005.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank003.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank008.jpg

[vest0830]

Mike, I was going to PM you but since you made this, I dont have any larger tubing left over. All I have is small stuff. Makeman has it, if you want the high pressure stuff, its like 450y a meter.

This weekend shouldn't be a problem to get some water! I cant see the pics at work....so I gotta be teased, I will see it when I get home.

[jeffb3t]

Gee, that's a pretty nice looking frag tray! Oh yeah, add one more support to it. It will be heavy when filled and it will need the extra support.

[vest0830]

So did you fill it with water today :)

[jeffb3t]

Don't use any sand. Just water in this thing. Lighting is all you will need if you are just growing frags. simple is better unless you are using the sand to support the frag tank supports.

[vest0830]

I think he was using the sand to support the nitrates and provide some biological filtration. Especially since this isnt 'tied' into any other system...

[jeffb3t]

True, but if it is only holding coral the bioload is so small it shouldn't make any difference.

[vest0830]

Aside from the fact that we can get the best sand in the world for free, I personally don't think there are any cons to putting a 4-6" sandbed in the frag tank. Worse case sanario, it takes a bit to get the sand just right so it doesnt want to wonder into the pump. Mike, have you got that figured out yet? Time is getting short...we are down to hours before filling it up!

[Dastank]

OK, it's full and ready. Frank and I got enough water from the Fish Lady, I emptied all the rock that would fit out of my cooked rock bucket, and ran to the beach and grabbed wet sand. It's actually nicer than I thought it would be. I borrowed some ghetto lights from Frank incase mine don't get here until after Monday and filled it with some new coral frag disks I've been working on, no spikes from concrete.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank002.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank004.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/pine99/55FragTank006.jpg


***Just my thinking, not necessarily the plan***
After the stuff arrives we should take inventory, give it a day to see if everything survived the trip and start dealing it out later in the week. My new frag tank should be good enough to hold it for a week. I'll keep close tabs on it!

[teto_78]

I have a T-5 retro w/out bulbs if needed for the time being as well. let me know.

[Dastank]

I think these will do for now. I ordered the new lights two weeks ago and they're being sent Priority Mail. I wouldn't be surprised if they show up this week. Thanks for the offer!

[vest0830]

What the heck, I know for a fact I posted in here last night. No posts showing. Weird.

But yeah, shes filled.