Frag tank on the cheap
 

I plan on setting up a frag tank for LPS and zoas, with either an unused 10 gallon tank or buying something new.
Can I run it without a protein skimmer and just do weekly water changes? I also have an canister filter laying around I could use with it.
Any recommendations on the lighting and water flow?

Where is your sump currently located? If you have an in basement sump, tee of the return line, over flow back into your sump.....controlling flow is as easy as throttling a valve. For lighting I would pick up a LED clamp on for your 10 gal.

Never thought of that, good idea.
I do have a basement sump. You mean tee off the line going from the sump to the display with a new valve to control flow?
The only problem is locating the frag tank someplace above and in close proximity to the sump.

That would be ideal. Then the water is just coming from your system allowing no additional water changes for another tank setup. If you do branch off your display line, install 2 valves on the branch line. 1 to control the flow and 1 to shut-off the tank completely. This way when you do shut off the flow, you don't have to keep adjusting the one valve to get the flow just right. Just set it once and leave it then use the other valve to stop the flow completely.

It only needs to be slightly above the sump elevation....it can be anywhere in the vicinity you want to plumb to.

I just built my frag system into the refugium section of my sump. Works great. Added an inexpensive LED unit, maxijet1200 for extra flow and a piece of eggcrate over my chaeto and some spare live rock pieces.

I was going to do that....but I put all my nasty critters in there to live.

The directions your being told is how I have mine setup. Ive used a cheap external to get the water bak in to the sump. You can also just drill a hole in the top of your frag tank and just let the water gravity drain back to your sump. I used to do it that way for years. I can post some pics if you want.

Pictures would be great.

Thanks!

Tee in to your plumbing like this

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...lumbing001.jpg

Pumps in to your tank

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...lumbing002.jpg

Than just get a cheap external overflow to go back in to your sump

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...lumbing003.jpg

Or you can drill a tank like this and just have it drain back in to your sump. But put a screen so nothing can plug it up. I no longer have this tank online. It's just keeping some liverock alive for me.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...lumbing004.jpg

As you can see it's a cheap easy way to plumb as I just used some odds and ends I had around

Thanks for the photos. Pretty certain I can make this work by putting up a shelf close to the sump.
I also think I will drill the tank and eliminate the risk of overflows.

I was thinking of using my Big Als points and picking up some of this dual T5 HO fixture. Would it be sufficient for LPS, softies and zoas etc?

Aqualight T5-HO Dual Lamp Fixture - 2 x 20 W - 20"

I would do a 4 bulb fixture if you want lps. I had this 2 bulb over a 15 gallon and it did good for softies but my open brain did a lot better when I pumped it up to 4 bulbs