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New frag tank set up and questions.


ScubaJ

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So I want to set up a frag tank. Never set one up before.

 

Equipment...

20L AGA Tank

Pengquin 350 Biowheel HOB Filter

(2) ReefLED Par38's

150W Heater

Purigen

Powerhead hasn't been selected yet.

ATO hasn't been selected yet.

Skimmer hasn't been selected yet.

 

No fish, no rock, no sand. Just the above and weekly water changes for filtration.

  1. As there is nothing to cycle, can coral go in there immediately? (I will be using water from my DT to "seed" it.)
  2. Since there is no fish, do I feed daily with coral food? I don't have a limit to what type of coral will be in it.
  3. Is a skimmer necessary? I would imagine if I am feeding daily coral food, it would be a big help.

 

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Water carries next to no bacteria in the tank so adding display water will do you no good. Corals still produce waste so you need some sort of filtration and that would include bacterial filtration so you need some sort of media for bacteria.

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Solid plan you're thinking is right on. No need to cycle, just fill it up place corals and away you go. Just think how the trade show vendors set up their displays. Throw some live rock in there to aid with filtration, unless you've been running you're hob filter in display for a while.

 

I would run a skimmer. As far as feeding depends on what you're feeding. I feed bi weekly in my display, but I've always overfed.

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Solid plan you're thinking is right on. No need to cycle, just fill it up place corals and away you go. Just think how the trade show vendors set up their displays. Throw some live rock in there to aid with filtration, unless you've been running you're hob filter in display for a while.

 

I would run a skimmer. As far as feeding depends on what you're feeding. I feed bi weekly in my display, but I've always overfed.

No cycling means he can't feed the tank without risking an ammonia spike. Especially if he isn't running any live rock.

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If there is no rock or sand, there is no media for the bacteria. I could throw some rock in HOB filter but it wouldn't be much. I understand needing to export the nutrients in one way or another... and via water changes, purigen, and whatever bacteria forms in the tank would be suitable. I mean, as long as I monitor and make sure it's stable... there isn't really much else to do?

 

I mean, I understand the nitrogen cycle, and understand corals and food gives off nutrients and require exportation... and really, new or old salt water... I can't see why something couldn't be set up instantly.

 

Solid plan you're thinking is right on. No need to cycle, just fill it up place corals and away you go. Just think how the trade show vendors set up their displays. Throw some live rock in there to aid with filtration, unless you've been running you're hob filter in display for a while.

I would run a skimmer. As far as feeding depends on what you're feeding. I feed bi weekly in my display, but I've always overfed.

 

That is exactly my thought.

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A tank can be set up instantly but you still need to have some place for the bacteria. Those trade vendors do set up their tanks instantly but they typically run a sump that will have live rock and a refugium. Regardless, they still have some sort of cycled rock for the bacterial filtration. Your original post said no rock and no sand and that's where I think the problem lies. You can have something as simple as a couple bags of ceramic rings in mesh bags. The good things about these is that you can take them out and rinse them in order to get any detritus build up out of them. Putting them in after some sort of mechanical filtration (filter floss would work fine) would dramatically help them stay clean. A quick shake in old tank water during a water change and you're good to go.

 

Keeping stuff stable is very important. I would still recommend getting a skimmer and carbon/gfo reactor in order to take care of the food for the corals (especially true if you're going to be keeping LPS that can be fed frozen blends). I think a simple way to get all of this would be a HOB skimmer and then an AquaClear 110 with a media basket. In the media basket you can have your carbon, GFO, and ceramic rings and all of that after mechanical filtration to keep the media clean.

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Gotcha. Thanks. Since I have the penguin 350 already, I will keep half with rocks and half with purigen/carbon. I do get that having rock at least has really no issues but does at benefit.

 

I'm still looking for a small and effective skimmer. Quite a few more "nano" ones than I remember a few years ago.

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Yeah in my original post I should have been more clear about you're hob filter. Run it in you're display for a while and let the the live rock rubble or other media get seeded with bacteria then transfer it to the frag tank.

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You're going to want a fish or two plus some live rock. I've had a frag tank or two set up for 4 years. I've noticed slower growth in tanks with no LR and no fish even with target feeding.

 

My current frag tank is a 40b all rock and sand is in the sump. I do run a sca 302 as the 301 I felt wasn't good enough. Also I have a carbon gfo reactor.

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You're going to want a fish or two plus some live rock. I've had a frag tank or two set up for 4 years. I've noticed slower growth in tanks with no LR and no fish even with target feeding.

 

My current frag tank is a 40b all rock and sand is in the sump. I do run a sca 302 as the 301 I felt wasn't good enough. Also I have a carbon gfo reactor.

 

I have heard this before as well. I will see how it goes for a bit. I figure a six line wrasse would be my go to fish if I were to add one. Hardy, cheap, and also kills pests. That or a rescue fish from people getting rid of some.

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