Frag tank and QT
Brisbane, QLD
Introduction
The frag tank I built from used equipment i have replaced on the display tank and the purchase of 4 old tanks for $50. the main reason was to frag corals that were growing quite well. It took me a couple of months to build and to cycle but was interesting building your own sump.
Background
The frag tank was 10 months in the making and including emptying the rear shed. I wanted to ensure that the corals in the display tank can be fragged and grown in case of replacement in the display tank or to swap with another enthusiast in the future.
Filtration
Filtration on the frag tank is by a tunze pump that pumps to the top tiered tank then gravity feed back down to the sump. a tunze wave maker and two smaller wave makers are included in the system.
Lighting
lighting includes 2 x primes. a small fluorescent light is over the refugium.
Flow
the filtration system is quite simplistic and includes a filter mat, about 120mm thick, 300 long and 200 wide. once filtered it goes through a skimmer, then through coral rubble, then into the refugium.
Calcium
Magnesium
Alkalinity
Nitrate
Phosphate
Ammonia
pH
Temperature
Salinity
Nitrite
Iodine
Strontium
livestock at this stage is limited to some recovered fish and a couple of corals including:
hippo tang
red coris wrasse
banana wrasse
red spot blenny
green chromis
6 line wrasse
chocolate tang
foxface
coral beauty
capnella
torch
zoas
hippo tang
red coris wrasse
banana wrasse
red spot blenny
green chromis
6 line wrasse
chocolate tang
foxface
coral beauty
capnella
torch
zoas
13 Fish
copperband butterfly
sp sp
5 Corals
5 Invertebrate
Equipment
Lighting
Heater
Aquarium
48" X 18" X 18" glass tank with top lids
Quarantine Tank
Skimmer
Powerhead
fuval SEA wave maker
Pump
Chiller
TestKit
Additive
Other
water parameters on the frag tank is more relaxed and include:
temp - 26 deg
salinity - 1.025
ph - 8.2
nitrate - <20
phosphate - <0.05
magnesium - 1400
calcium - 470
alkalinity - 10
temp - 26 deg
salinity - 1.025
ph - 8.2
nitrate - <20
phosphate - <0.05
magnesium - 1400
calcium - 470
alkalinity - 10
Additives
Dosing process is manual and includes magnesium, calcium and alkalinity. to a lesser point pH is also included.
Feeding See more
Ocean Nutrition - Lobster eggs · Nutris - Artemia Brine Shrimp · Fish fuel Co. - Marine Green · Nutris - Mysis · Ocean Nutrition - Microplankton · Live Blackworms · Zoo/phyto/fuel/reef mix coral
fish are fed twice a day. generally at first light (in the tank) at about 7.30am and then an evening feed around 6pm. Generally fish are fed frozen food including mysis and brine. Just starting to look at dry food with mixed success.
Once a week a sheet of nori is placed around a pipe and placed into the tank for the herbivores.
Once a week a sheet of nori is placed around a pipe and placed into the tank for the herbivores.
Maintenance
Maintenance on the frag tank is not as often as the display tank. Generally a water change fortnightly which will include the skimmer, filter, glass and pumps.
a daily visual assessment occurs as well.
a daily visual assessment occurs as well.
On average you perform a 57.4% water change every 12 days.
0% total water change in February.
Diary Entries View all Diary Entries
Cleaned the sump out since it has been over 15 months took out 100 litres of water and washed coral rubble
The mandarin fish was struggling severely and would not eat. There was discolouration around the head and was struggling to breathe. Placed it in the lower frag tank with lower lighting but struggling…
Changed some of the biofilter from plastic to coral sand and bio balls, initially did not leave in enough bio balls and start a mini crash, put plastic balls back in sump and water change. Ammonia sta…
Inspiration & Goals
Inspiration was certainly 2 tanks that i can recall one was a tropical tank and the other was a marine tank that was bursting with vibrant colours and exotic ornamental marine fish.
The goal was to establish a spare operational tank essentially used for fragging and as a quarantine tank.
The goal was to establish a spare operational tank essentially used for fragging and as a quarantine tank.
Words of Wisdom
Lessons learnt have been from trial and error but the biggest lesson is never assume anything. never assume that the pH is right, never assume that it is not too hot in the tank, never assume that the rabbit fish wont eat very expensive acans.
Also, maintenance regularly and you will be on the right track.
Also, maintenance regularly and you will be on the right track.
Disasters & Regrets
the biggest disaster was in OCt 2015 with the turn of the season, a spike in temperature in late spring saw an increase in temperature. this wasn't caught in time and with the smaller water body the fish were under stress and stressed out the tank. Lost 3 ggof fish due to the spike in water temp.
the remainder of the tank was saved by dosing with medic
the remainder of the tank was saved by dosing with medic
