First Frag tank. can someone look over my shoulder

lagerheadmike · 01/28/2014, 10:54 PM

Im going to have to move several times over the next year and first move is in a month! Im shutting down display tank and going to a DIY all in one frag tank for the time being. I need something easy to move and occupy as little space as possible for now. I've been wanting to re-aquascape and do away with the pile of rocks in the 125g anyway. Good opportunity to start over on display.

My plan is to just keep a few soft corals I already have and take a shot at learning SPS. Currently have a 40g breeder that I divided into a 25g tank and 15g sump. coast to coat overflow into a 3" wide channel I'll fill with my live rock that I'll bust into rubble. then under the second glass wall into the skimmer section. basic sump from there. havemag 12 pump, reef octopus skimmer. ordering brs dosing pumps and starter kit this week. will use my 50ml dosing pump as a top off for now. I have to save for a apex.

Is this going to be enough water volume?
I realize I'll have to stay on top of it but all the frag tanks I'm seeing online tend to be plumbed in....
should I go ahead and drill and cap just in case I have to add volume?
I haven't had any phosphate issues in a long time but should I add GFO and Carbon reactors? or is good enough to just keep hanging it in the sump?
are there any major issues you see with the tank design?

sorry, didnt mean for post to be this long lol
thanks

lagerheadmike · 02/21/2014, 08:33 PM

LED's are done and finally got the tank wet! just some rock and a few 'tough as nails' softies to test for a bit. waiting on UPS to bring the next round of hardware. I have some wicked fast growing macro algae (I think its algae) growing on the live rock. it grows faster than I can get it out. Installing GFO reactor this weekend. hopefully it slows it down at least.

01/28/2014, 10:54 PM	#1
lagerheadmike Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 4	First Frag tank. can someone look over my shoulder Im going to have to move several times over the next year and first move is in a month! Im shutting down display tank and going to a DIY all in one frag tank for the time being. I need something easy to move and occupy as little space as possible for now. I've been wanting to re-aquascape and do away with the pile of rocks in the 125g anyway. Good opportunity to start over on display. My plan is to just keep a few soft corals I already have and take a shot at learning SPS. Currently have a 40g breeder that I divided into a 25g tank and 15g sump. coast to coat overflow into a 3" wide channel I'll fill with my live rock that I'll bust into rubble. then under the second glass wall into the skimmer section. basic sump from there. havemag 12 pump, reef octopus skimmer. ordering brs dosing pumps and starter kit this week. will use my 50ml dosing pump as a top off for now. I have to save for a apex. Is this going to be enough water volume? I realize I'll have to stay on top of it but all the frag tanks I'm seeing online tend to be plumbed in.... should I go ahead and drill and cap just in case I have to add volume? I haven't had any phosphate issues in a long time but should I add GFO and Carbon reactors? or is good enough to just keep hanging it in the sump? are there any major issues you see with the tank design? sorry, didnt mean for post to be this long lol thanks

02/21/2014, 08:33 PM	#2
lagerheadmike Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 4	update LED's are done and finally got the tank wet! just some rock and a few 'tough as nails' softies to test for a bit. waiting on UPS to bring the next round of hardware. I have some wicked fast growing macro algae (I think its algae) growing on the live rock. it grows faster than I can get it out. Installing GFO reactor this weekend. hopefully it slows it down at least.