looking for answers on a frag tank

[w_hartyjr]

I am getting ready to set up a 40 gallon frag tank and am looking for a few answers.
First it will only be for frags(hopefully),so do i need to add sand or rock on the bottom of tank.
Second,How often do you change water if you have no fish or very little bio-load.
Third,do you run a skimmer or not.

i would eventually like to tie it into the 30 gallon sump that i have for my 75gal displlay tank,would you reccomend that or shy away from it

 

[fidofence]

I would run a skimmer and do weekly water change. If you tie into existing sump it will be more stable but a crash wipes out everything. Sand isn't needed but I would put some rock even if you just put it in the sump

 

[jef4y]

No sand or rock.
Skimmer will help especially if you have soft corals that shed.

Not sure on frequency of water changes.

 

[frantz]

So many ways to set it up... I've actually read that some folks will want to use very white sand to reflect the light back up, but you could also paint the bottom (outside) of the tank white.

Water changes are for more than just dirt, they also replenish all the trace elements that come in our salt. If you cut back on water changes you may have to test more and add the trace elements, likely at a net balance or loss. (it takes longer to test water than it does to change it if nothing else)

Skimmer is an extra source of water movement with the added benefit of aeration and cleaning up dirt if it exist, so why not.

I am a huge fan of tying tanks together, but there are risks:
Pros: more water volume = greater stability
lower energy cost as some items are shared
free food for corals
plumbing looks cool and lets people know you're serious

Cons:all your eggs in one basket
increased weight unless you're really showing off the plumbing
some corals will do better in super clean water, others like the dirt

 

[gmpolan]

I actually like sand in frag tanks, hate the junk build up in the bottom and trying to siphon around racks

 

[w_hartyjr]

Fidofence;809419 wrote: I would run a skimmer and do weekly water change. If you tie into existing sump it will be more stable but a crash wipes out everything. Sand isn't needed but I would put some rock even if you just put it in the sump

as of now i have about 20 lbs of lr in the sump,with a skimmer and do 30 gallon bi-weekly water changes to keep params stable,also dose kalkwasser constantly thru a drip

Edit:

Frantz;809423 wrote: So many ways to set it up... I've actually read that some folks will want to use very white sand to reflect the light back up, but you could also paint the bottom (outside) of the tank white.

Water changes are for more than just dirt, they also replenish all the trace elements that come in our salt. If you cut back on water changes you may have to test more and add the trace elements, likely at a net balance or loss. (it takes longer to test water than it does to change it if nothing else)

Skimmer is an extra source of water movement with the added benefit of aeration and cleaning up dirt if it exist, so why not.

I am a huge fan of tying tanks together, but there are risks:
Pros: more water volume = greater stability
lower energy cost as some items are shared
free food for corals
plumbing looks cool and lets people know you're serious

Cons:all your eggs in one basket
increased weight unless you're really showing off the plumbing
some corals will do better in super clean water, others like the dirt

i agree 100%,thats why i wanted to tie them together,plus when i set it up it wont have to cycle with no sand and/or rocks in it.I THINK?

 

[jimmystephens]

+1 on sand. I alao use alittle live rock and skimmer. Imo most people eventually add a few fish to help with alage, worms etc..

 

[w_hartyjr]

if i add the tank only with no live rock and sand to my system now,i will not have to wait for it to cycle.
but if i add more rock and sand to another sump and then tie them together later,i will have to wait for cycle.

 

[frantz]

Wait, are you saying that you won't have to cycle a tank if not using LR? The tank will start to cycle no matter what. The bioload determines how much bacteria will populate, but you can't just use clean water and think you can not cycle. The sand and LR helps maintain the cycle, it isn't the reason you have to have it.

 

[w_hartyjr]

Frantz;809530 wrote: Wait, are you saying that you won't have to cycle a tank if not using LR? The tank will start to cycle no matter what. The bioload determines how much bacteria will populate, but you can't just use clean water and think you can not cycle. The sand and LR helps maintain the cycle, it isn't the reason you have to have it.

no,i am asking that if i tie into my system(2 year old system) now,will i have to close it(the new frag tank) off and cycle it like a new tank or not.
i really want to add a 40b and a 40b sump to my existing setup and tie all of it together at some point.just trying to do it right the first time

 

[w_hartyjr]

w_hartyjr;809529 wrote: if i add the tank only with no live rock and sand to my system now,i will not have to wait for it to cycle.
but if i add more rock and sand to another sump and then tie them together later,i will have to wait for cycle.

Sorry I did say that,but that was not the way it was meant

Edit:

Frantz;809530 wrote: Wait, are you saying that you won't have to cycle a tank if not using LR? The tank will start to cycle no matter what. The bioload determines how much bacteria will populate, but you can't just use clean water and think you can not cycle. The sand and LR helps maintain the cycle, it isn't the reason you have to have it.

Sorry,I did say it but not what I meant to say exactly

 

[raz0945]

I have 2 40g frag tanks and I put sand in the 1st from one of my other tanks and none in the 2nd one. The first one did really well from the start, the 2nd one I was still having problems at 3 months so I added 10 cups of live sand and could tell a difference in a few weeks. They have the same lights and bulbs. Only my opinion but I believe it makes a difference to have more surfaces for the bacteria and to get it from an established tank makes it a lot quicker. New tank syndrum slows the coral growth down. Holley