Frag tank

[digital-audiophile]

More Par becuase of the extra two bulbs, although there will be a great amount of light spill over the tank from the last two bulbs.

[Palmer]

I have been doing some reading on RC and I am leaning more towards the ATI sumpower 4 x 39 W. Even though this is only 4 bulbs I should be able to get decent growth with this footprint and the right bulbs correct?

[lastlight]

Since it's connected to the main tank I don't think you need a dedicated carbon. It's all the same water I'd guess.

MP10 would be pretty fancy for a frag tank. All the bigtime fraggers I've been to actually keep their frag systems very simple and their wares are incredible. Save a few bucks and have a couple smaller powerheads on opposite ends and have them blow to make a whirlpool. One on right hand front, other on left hand rear?

[phi delt reefer]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Since it's connected to the main tank I don't think you need a dedicated carbon. It's all the same water I'd guess.

MP10 would be pretty fancy for a frag tank. All the bigtime fraggers I've been to actually keep their frag systems very simple and their wares are incredible. Save a few bucks and have a couple smaller powerheads on opposite ends and have them blow to make a whirlpool. One on right hand front, other on left hand rear?

get the sunpower (i just ordered a 8x39 unit after selling my tek) They have good resale value too

last light is right;

save you money and get two koriala evo 750gph units. that 1500gphs = to vortech - yeah its not the same flow pattern but frag tanks are open with little to no rock so water movement will be pretty high with those two powerheads.

have the sump of my main tank do all the water polishing/filtering - no need to duplicate efforts in the frag tank. just keep good flow so "crap" makes its way into the overflow eventually and into the sump

[Palmer]

Thanks Phi so you like the ATI fixture. Think 4 bulbs is sufficient for growth on this small tank?

Originally Posted by phi delt reefer

get the sunpower (i just ordered a 8x39 unit after selling my tek) They have good resale value too

last light is right;

save you money and get two koriala evo 750gph units. that 1500gphs = to vortech - yeah its not the same flow pattern but frag tanks are open with little to no rock so water movement will be pretty high with those two powerheads.

have the sump of my main tank do all the water polishing/filtering - no need to duplicate efforts in the frag tank. just keep good flow so "crap" makes its way into the overflow eventually and into the sump

[phi delt reefer]

sunpowers are the bomb - 4 bulb is fine - coral placement will optimize the smaller light. So SPS directly under the light, and low light stuff closer to the glass. You dont want a ALL HIGH light tank or you wont be able to grow other corals.

get a BRS reactor - it mounts outside of the sump and all that sits in your sump is the mj1200 pump that powers it. You can put the mj1200 in the frag tank if you want so the carbon filtration step occurs once the water cycles through the frag tank.

as for bulb combo - depends on what you want. Are u looking to setup a true frag tank (ie. optimize growth above all else) or do you want it as a "display frag tank"? If its the first than all you want is high par bulbs, if the latter, than you want to mix up the bulbs a bit to get some good colors.

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by phi delt reefer

sunpowers are the bomb - 4 bulb is fine - coral placement will optimize the smaller light. So SPS directly under the light, and low light stuff closer to the glass. You dont want a ALL HIGH light tank or you wont be able to grow other corals.

get a BRS reactor - it mounts outside of the sump and all that sits in your sump is the mj1200 pump that powers it. You can put the mj1200 in the frag tank if you want so the carbon filtration step occurs once the water cycles through the frag tank.

as for bulb combo - depends on what you want. Are u looking to setup a true frag tank (ie. optimize growth above all else) or do you want it as a "display frag tank"? If its the first than all you want is high par bulbs, if the latter, than you want to mix up the bulbs a bit to get some good colors.

Yeah thats a great question... I dont want to sacrifice growth too much but would still like to have some great visible color for photography. Looking at Grimms thread on RC I was thinking of the following-

ATI blue +
UVL actinic white
ATI aquablue
ATI blue +

[Palmer]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Since it's connected to the main tank I don't think you need a dedicated carbon. It's all the same water I'd guess.

MP10 would be pretty fancy for a frag tank. All the bigtime fraggers I've been to actually keep their frag systems very simple and their wares are incredible. Save a few bucks and have a couple smaller powerheads on opposite ends and have them blow to make a whirlpool. One on right hand front, other on left hand rear?

Thanks I will take that advise and spend it on lighting instead of the MP10.

I think my carbon is a little low for my size system (only have one small bag.) I am thinking of running a reactor on the frag tank simply because I have no more room in my sump under the main display but point well taken. What do you think about the choice in light Brett?