11 replies to this topic

[gauz]

looking to set up a tank to grow frags from my zoas and plates etc. and I'm looking for suggestions on the best way to do this on a stricter budget. 

 

Given my close proximity to the ocean (about 100m) allowing me to get nice clean NSW whenever I want for water changes, is there a decent low-tech set-up I can go with that will be effective?

 

I don't really want to put the frags in my display tank as I have a nice natural reef look going. 

[malawiman85]

Do you have a sump?

Edited by malawiman85, 27 November 2014 - 07:30 AM.

[Dazzab]

Depends what size tank you want to set up I'm setting up a 60x60x35 and the tank alone cost me 450 all up its gonna cost me about $1000

[Riggers]

Egg crate is a good one for frag tanks, similar setup to ocean reefs shallow coral tanks

[gauz]

since I'm not going for fancy or attractive as I have a display tank I was thinking like a square shallow fiberglass pond and keep it low tech and make up for it with more frequent water changes. If I'm keeping the water fresh, what equipment is still a MUST in a frag tank (probably won't be doing much SPS).

[Dazzab]

Power heads live rock for filtration and I'd still run a skimmer

[Riggers]

Yeah agreed, power heads or wavemakers, and even live rock pebbles that's under an egg crate base.

You could get away without a skimmer if you were changing water daily or every other day and depending on the tank size. Fibreglass or plastic ponds work fine you can even cut out a viewing window if you wanted

[malawiman85]

Maybe a dumb question then but why cant it be done in the sump... assuming there is one. 

[gauz]

there isn't a sump in the main reef tank, regular water changes have the reef thriving fine without one.

[Riggers]

I used to run my cube low budget style, weekly 50% water changes and a skimmer with a couple wave makers.. The light was a small MH from memory 75w but it did the job for the little tank, plenty of morphs and sof corals grew really well

[oceanarium]

With zoa's and plates ?? (Chalice etc) you can go pretty low tech. You do need to consider; water movement, lighting, temperature control and nutrient control. 

 

A shallow pond will do fine, no sump required. You can get them around $200

 

A round tank allows for a single water mover pump the Jeboa are so seriously cheap and effective. Not much more than $100

 

Temp is the one to consider when expense comes in via power consumption and equipment, depending on how you locate the tank your going to need a heat / cool chiller unless it is in a very stable environment. That is the killer at $1000 but you can pick up second hand units for a few hundred $ if you keep an eye out. 

 

Skimmer not essential but can make life easier, you can feed the corals more and do less water changes. So you can spend a few more hundred here.

 

As for lighting personally I like LED for heat and electrical efficy  zoa's and plates can do well on relatively low lighting if fed adequately. on Ebay you can pick up some serious lights for under 200.

[gauz]

Thanks for the feedback people. I've decided to save and upgrade my main aquarium to a 6x2x2 or maybe 2.5 high. going to do the full set up, so I'll have a sump and a spare tank for frags etc.