View Full Version : setting up a frag tank
3djedi
03/23/2008, 04:55 PM
I was thinking of building a tank out of 1/4" acrylic that would be 48x16x12" (12" high) does this sound like a decent size to start with? I want to loop it off of my main display tank which is a 75g with bout 45g sump. Is looping off of another set-up a good idea? I am just playing around with this coral propogation stuff and I really don't know what works and doesn't! Hope you guys can give me some ideas! Thanks!
TIMMYE
03/23/2008, 09:00 PM
I would go with 3/8".
tunicata
03/25/2008, 09:43 AM
Hm, aside from questioning thickness of aquarium (mine is glass, already manufactured), mine is essentially like yours.
Near same dimensions (48x12x12, 33g L), and I will most likely plumb mine into my 65g display and 45g sump.
If I do this it would be to increase overall volume and benefit from the biological processes that happen in the sump/display I already have.
Another option I may try:
I have an extra 30g acrylic sump and return pump (and plumbing) I could use to make an independent system. That would give me about 33 g to work with. I could spend an extra 2months in a cycle or I can just take 1-3wks and take the 10-15g every week from my main tank as well as established rock, sand, and macroalgae for the new sump.
The great thing about this idea is that I can dose specific to the inhabitants of my frag tank. My frag tank is to be mostly LPS whereas my display would mainly be softies and LPS. It could be nice for my frags to get special treatment instead of 'wasting' special chemicals on over 130g worth of volume (I'd be dosing less to just use it on the 60g total volume of an independent frag system).
I've seen both set ups work very well for folks. In the end I will probably just keep it an independent system because I have the extra sump on hand, and it would be cool.
Was this helpful at all?
3djedi
03/29/2008, 07:32 PM
hey thanks for the help guys. Yes, tunicata, your info was really helpful! I'm going to go with looping it off my main tank. Seems like it would work out nicely!
sahnee
03/31/2008, 01:21 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12160850#post12160850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 3djedi
I was thinking of building a tank out of 1/4" acrylic that would be 48x16x12" (12" high) does this sound like a decent size to start with? I want to loop it off of my main display tank which is a 75g with bout 45g sump. Is looping off of another set-up a good idea? I am just playing around with this coral propogation stuff and I really don't know what works and doesn't! Hope you guys can give me some ideas! Thanks!
When you state loop it off does that mean drop into the frag tank via gravity?
3djedi
03/31/2008, 11:51 AM
sahnee, yes I was contemplating the idea of running the display tank drain to the frag tank and then down into the sump...all via gravity. But after thinking some more about it I think I will have water pumped to the frag tank and then drained back down to the sump.
wetone
04/04/2008, 09:12 PM
Hey 3D
I just built my own acrylic frag tank (24 x 18 x 10) and have it sharing a pump from the sump that feeds my fuge and now my frag tank...both use gravity to head back to the sump.......just got it filled and started stocking with frags, need to get anothe rpick...but check it oour
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc12/carbone65/reefpix032308030.jpg
Ding2daDong
04/04/2008, 09:22 PM
I would just buy a 33g aga long. It is 48"x12"x12". They usually go for $70 retail if that could save you time and money.
hth
-Matthew
3djedi
04/04/2008, 10:08 PM
Looks great wetone!! I ended up building mine out of 3/8" acrylic measuring 48x16x12. I tee'd off the main pump to the tank and it drains back to the sump.
Dingdong, you are right buying that 33g long would have been cheaper but I like the look of acrylic and it was a great experience building it myself. It is nice to have it a little bit wider to! (16" instead of 12") : )
3djedi
04/04/2008, 10:09 PM
Wetone, after looking at your tank again is that made out of glass? I noticed the silicone all around it.....
tunicata
04/05/2008, 02:53 PM
I tried to get a 33g L, but to no avail (wanted a used one to exchange for my old 45g). I'm using a 20g L now, glued frag rack to 2 LR, have an mj1200 on the bottom and a whisper 10 filter.
I need to redo the pvc plumbing (too tall for what I have/I cannot take a part how it is already set up) in order to loop it or set it up as a stand alone system. I'm getting more plumbing parts tonight so I'll see what I can scrape together
I agree 3dj, I'd make a project any day just to have the fun/experience (as long as it's not tooooo costly). I like what wetone has set up though.
-edit, btw the sump I'm using is acrylic put together with silicone.
The person who made it didn't do too bad of a job. Just 1 leak on 3 inches up from a corner, and the first baffle let's water through on the bottom 3 inches. I guess they had issues with that.
But he did use silicone (it's possible he could have used weldon? then taped it up a bit more with silicone...)
3djedi
04/05/2008, 07:18 PM
Here's my set up:http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm319/3djedi/20080404_0416.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm319/3djedi/20080404_0415.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm319/3djedi/20080404_0417.jpg
3djedi
04/05/2008, 07:20 PM
Kind of a mess right now......Just got it all set up. Frag tank isn't yet looped into the main tank yet. It's just filling with water....
tunicata
04/05/2008, 07:34 PM
How did you build it? Just hold it together, add some weldon?
(btw, is that the only thing that melds/bonds acrylic?)
If it was weldon, which number did you use?
3djedi
04/05/2008, 07:46 PM
I built with weldon #4. I don't know what other solvents there are that work with acrylic. I use #3, #4, and #16. I rarely use #3 because #4 is a lot stronger. #16 has the consistency of syrup and I use that when a seam has to many air bubbles in it. I built the frag tank and the sump under it.
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