A sneak peek to my frag system

compulou · #1 06/29/2007, 09:13 AM

How's it going RC? Here's a little peek to my own little frag system. The actual tank is a used tank I purchased locally from a guy that was downsizing his system. It's 5x3 and has two usable seperate sections. On the right it's about 3x3 and on the left about 3'x18". The previous owner had hundreds of frags setup in this thing. I'll be using this for pretty much everything, Zoos, (I have some pink zoos that grow like mad) softies and SPS. Here's a pic:

Equipment list:

5x3x12 Custom made tank 1/2" glass
Berlin 250gal Venturi Skimmer (temp)
Gen-X PCX-40 1200gph Return Pump (temp)
Two Koralias4 for extra flow
Two 50gal Rubbermaid Stock Tanks for Sump1 and Sump2
PFO Lighting Dual 14k 250w SE (will most likely change bulbs to 10k)
15W UV Light

Let me know what you guys think, any comments/questions welcomed.

More to come...

lvpd186 · #2 06/29/2007, 10:34 AM

That looks like it will be a sweet setup.

Kentanner11 · #3 06/29/2007, 01:17 PM

Lookin Good!

digeetech · #4 06/29/2007, 04:00 PM

I would love to work for hours in that tank

!

ChuckNorris · #5 07/01/2007, 12:03 PM

How are you going about plumbing the sumps? I am doing this and I needed a few ideas. It looks like one is higher than the other so does it just overflow into the first sump, and then overflow into the second sump?

Thanks
Sean

compulou · #6 07/01/2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ChuckNorris
How are you going about plumbing the sumps? I am doing this and I needed a few ideas. It looks like one is higher than the other so does it just overflow into the first sump, and then overflow into the second sump?

Thanks
Sean

Thanks for the comments, it's been fun putting this thing together.

Yup, simple as that. I actually opened two holes for two 1"1/2" bulkheads on each right side of the higher sump. One drains onto LR and the other drains onto a basket of cheato.

ChuckNorris · #7 07/01/2007, 08:25 PM

Alright sounds good. Thanks for the info.

compulou · #8 07/04/2007, 07:35 AM

bump for more comments.....

THanks

lvpd186 · #9 07/04/2007, 09:22 AM

Bump for more photo updates...

Ed Ricketts · #10 07/07/2007, 05:20 AM

compulou,

Looks great! I just slugged through 8 pages of RRodrigues' thread on a frag tank or two propogating softies with one sump, and the relative merits of using a separate system for SPS propogation. If allelopathy is not a concern, then theoretically it's no concern. But if what the experts write is true, your hard corals might be a bit stymied by the presence of the softies. Just a thought. Getting started is exciting, no?

ThePhytoMan · #11 07/08/2007, 05:09 PM

Post more photos - especially with corals in it!

compulou · #12 07/08/2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lvpd186
Bump for more photo updates...

Well here's some updated pics. I FINALLY got water in this thing!!! Even if it's tap water it's running and I'm glad to say NO leaks so far. Still have a ton to do, Electrical, ATO, Lights ,Skimmer and some fine tuning. Any ways thanks to (ESC), Justin for giving me a hand.

Main Tank w/water (finally)

Right Side, most of the startup coral will be here

Right Side Lower (Man that tap water is green!)

Sump 1 Skimmer and U/V Light will go here, also need to lower those drains so there not tilted

Sump2, lower basket will have live rock and upper basket will have cheato

Return Pump

Had to insulate the garage door due to the heat created in the afternoon by direct sunlight, also replaced all rubber seals around the door for the A/C. Can't find any cold air leaks. Also I think the insulation actually lowered the room temp in the afternoon by at least 10 degrees.

Ed,

I've read about the pros and cons to propagating softies and SPS apart but not really concerned with that now. But yeah I'm super excited to at least get water in this thing.

I'm surprised that all (6) 1/2" Loc-line w/2 1/2" wide nozzles push plenty of water for what I was expecting, I'm using a 1200gph pump. The Koralia does help a-lot and I think I have more than enough flow, even for SPS. Like I said still have lots to do and I'll update soon...

Brandan · #13 07/09/2007, 08:24 PM

Looks like an awesome setup. I wish I had more room in my house to do something like this and make some extra $$$$$.

lvpd186 · #14 07/09/2007, 11:09 PM

Looks good. I really like the way the overflow divides two areas.

jessp · #15 07/10/2007, 11:41 AM

looks great lou, awesome setup

compulou · #16 07/10/2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jessp
looks great lou, awesome setup

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Jess you should stop by and check it out dude, in fact some Pink Zoos I bought from you are some of the Zoos I'll be propagating in here. I think they're called "The Pink Death" cause they grow so damned fast!!!

jessp · #17 07/10/2007, 04:33 PM

pink death or pink plague. they do grow super fast. i have a green version now but im not selling any.

lmorejon · #18 07/10/2007, 07:38 PM

I quess in all the excitement Jr has forgotten to mention his
"silent partner" in his venture, his dad............

sps_addict · #19 07/13/2007, 02:21 PM

Sweet setup. Curious to see what you used to insulate the garage. It kind of looks like foil?

compulou · #20 07/13/2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sps_addict
Sweet setup. Curious to see what you used to insulate the garage. It kind of looks like foil?

Yeah no problem, it's a 3/4" thick insulation sheet. I just cut it to fit the squares in my garage and sealed the edges with A/C metal/silver tape.

Insulation:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...355&lpage=none

Tape:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...5LW&lpage=none

The sheets of insulation come in 8'x4' foot sheets. I needed two sheets to complete my garage door.

This has caused a HUGE difference in temps in my garage. It dropped the temp in there by at least 10 degrees.

compulou · #21 07/13/2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lmorejon
I quess in all the excitement Jr has forgotten to mention his
"silent partner" in his venture, his dad............

Sorry pops, you know your the brains of the operation! hehe

It was his idea to insulate the garage that way and I can't even begin to tell you how much it's helped with the heat in the afternoon.

sps_addict · #22 07/13/2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by compulou
Yeah no problem, it's a 3/4" thick insulation sheet. I just cut it to fit the squares in my garage and sealed the edges with A/C metal/silver tape.

Insulation:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...355&lpage=none

Tape:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...5LW&lpage=none

The sheets of insulation come in 8'x4' foot sheets. I needed two sheets to complete my garage door.

This has caused a HUGE difference in temps in my garage. It dropped the temp in there by at least 10 degrees.

Good deal, thanks! I think this will be my next project

compulou · #23 07/14/2007, 10:14 AM

I'm really not kidding on how much insulating the garage door has helped. Since the tank has only tap water in it now I did a little experiment. I let the tank run in my garage without turning on my Split system A/C for 3 days and the tank never got over 80 degrees!!! No chillers, no heaters. Before I insulated the garage door ambient temp in my garage would exceed 90 degrees!!!

compulou · #24 07/14/2007, 06:50 PM

Wow finally got the light up. It's a 250w SE 14k PFO Light, sooner than later I'll change out the bulb for a 10k, it's too blue for what I need. I'm only lighting up one side for now. I had a stupid idea thinking I could use one of those pulley systems they have for the bikes that go up and down so why can't I use one for a light rack, and wala it worked. My dad built the frame we used to attach the reflector using 1" standoffs and it weighs less then 5lbs with bulb. So I can adjust it up and down which helps for many reasons. All materials used are either powdercoated or stainless. I don't anticipate much humidity any ways with the A/C.

With light up and away to allow me to work in tank

Light lowered depending on the corals lighting needs

Got the light right where I need it

The pulley system that I used for the light rack. It was $20.00 bux at my local Lowes

Still have a ton to do but I can at least scratch this off the list.

bradford · #25 07/16/2007, 05:53 PM

looking clean and organized