Martys 4ft Fragger

[old_mr2]

Introduction: Hi, this is tank number 3 for me. A laundry housed frag tank that will temporarily (up to 1 year) hold my livestock during loungeroom renovations. My current 4x2x2 will be pulled down and restarted at a later date.

System Objectives: Clean, sterile and stable frag nursery

System Type: SPS and LPS frag

Display Tank: 4' x 15" x 18" Bare bottom.

Display Lighting: Phase 1 2 x 150W MH,
Phase 2 Custom CREE LED unit

Stand: Timber DIY
Hood: N/A
Sump: 2 x 50L Storage containers

Refugium: Rock rubble and DSB

Support systems: FBF with Rowacarb and Rowaphos

System Water: NSW

Display Water circulation: 2 x Tunze 6105 + 7091
Return Pump: Aquamedic OR3500

Skimmer: Bubble Magus BM150

Evaporation Top Up: Williamsons Peri pump on Guppies float trigger

Chemical Support: TBA

Calcium Addition: Damprid

Alkilinity Addition: Bi Carb

Other Chemical Maintenance: Epson Salts, Amino Acids. Any additions to this tank will be dipped in Tropic Marin Pro coral cure.

Desired Water Chemistry (TBA):
Nitrates: o
Phosphates: 0.03
Alkalinity: 9
Calcium: 440
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.026
PH: 8.2
Magnesuim: 1500


Pics will be posted this afternoon.

[old_mr2]

[old_mr2]

[peekandboo]

good luck Marty .
Let me know if you need a hand. My new tank will be up and going in about 3 months

[old_mr2]

Thanks Clayton, I will be keen to swap some sps with you soon!

[peekandboo]

O Marty your a dal , pm me when your ready

[old_mr2]

Ok Tank is now officially cycling, wont bother testing parameters for a while though, Just water change weekly for a couple of months. In the pics above it was just tap water.


Filled with NSW from Cowrie Hole Newcastle about 240L.
Grabbed some live rock from Hunter pets, only 2kg so far, broke it up, dipped and hosed before added to tank.
Rock added to sump 2 inside a slotted plastic container. Can be easily removed for sump cleanup, without disturbing the rock.

To be added (short term):
Clip on lamp for sump 2
a heater (weather has turned a little cold again)
more live rock
frag rack to be completed

[old_mr2]

Added some more live rock (4kg so far) and some Macro. Tha Macro will be removed if it starts to perish as its possibly a bit early for it. Heater is underperforming and tank is at 20 degrees, will bump this up to 24. Not testing parameters just yet, I mighyt add some food to get things going a bit more. Skimmer is not producing foam yet due to no waste in the tank.

[Sin]

Looking good Marty, Can't wait to see it stocked full of frags.

Sin

[old_mr2]

Cheers mate. Im also working on a diy frag rack, its still under construction.

[old_mr2]

Well my rack is ready, I call it the Ranger Rack. Cost $40, built from 15mm pvc pipe and connectors. I reckon it came up sweet. Anyway on with the pics! Cant wait to fill it with sps frags when the tank has matured some more.

[old_mr2]

Tank is 5 weeks old tomorrow. Added 4 blue/green chromis the other day, nice fish. One passed away though, he had some damage to his side, not sure what happened there. The other ones are cautious, but otherwise healthy and eating dried foods. Skimmer is not pulling anything much, just some green tea...

Going to set up the 150W halides soon and try some zoas to start with.

[imf]

Looks like fun Marty.

Ghetto sumps are the best! Be careful of the one with the skimmer though. My guess would be that the plastic will eventually fail and you'll have a mess to clean up. Perhaps put some form of wooden collar on it to help keep its form.

[old_mr2]

Thanks for the tip, one I had already considered. The plastic is bowed from when the water level was higher, water level has since been lowered but the bow remains. I am not too concerned about it at this stage.

[old_mr2]

Halides are now in place and in tank illumination looks great. Got another 2 small chromis and they are schooling beautifully and great mates. Going to add some corals soon to see how they do, maybe even a sps frag although I reckon its too soon.

2 x 150W Halides in 20000k (The yellow rope is not part of this system, its part of another dodgy DIY job)


I like blue tanks


Re-did the centre brace as I wasnt happy with it and didnt trust it. Originally I clamped it too hard and squeezed all the adhesive out. Lots of worrying.


State of the art hanging equipment right there.


Cute little Chromis family. The smallest ones are only 3 cm


Current Sump Shot

[spwa]

Halides are now in place and in tank illumination looks great. Got another 2 small chromis and they are schooling beautifully and great mates.


State of the art hanging equipment right there.



Current Sump Shot

Lovely best I have seen yet reminds me of things I have done like the clothes line at them moment.

[old_mr2]

Here are some new pics. Got some nog for christmas!



LPS going great guns, plus a poor little acro frag browning along nicely. Tank is too immature for sps at this stage. It is showing polyps however...

[old_mr2]

fts, coralline algae spotting on the bottom and on pipe work pvc. 5 chromis can be messy!

[old_mr2]

Time for an update. SPS frgs are in, growing and maintaining colour! Yay! Skimmer is working well too, but sometimes overflows at random which can be annoying. Without warning too, oh well, otherwise ok.

Found a great fan over at Byunnings, which blows onto sump compartment number 2, drops the tank by about 2 degrees. Chiller will be hooked up when main tank is pulled down.

Chromis are doing well and are ravenous at feed time and I feed 2-3 times per day. Tank gets zooton and 100% reef AA's every other day. Rowaphos and Rowacarb in a mesh bag.

Kalk dripping is going realy well for me keeping a steady 9dkh and Ca at 450ppm. P04 tested at 0.07 last night so time to swap out the rowa within the week.

[old_mr2]

I picked up a huge piece of echinata yesterday for only $30. Super Stoked!

[old_mr2]

[old_mr2]

Frags are growing well and colouring up ok.

[Byronredsea]

your acans are really nice

[old_mr2]

Thanks Mate. I never target feed either, just powdered foods dumped in after dark.

Lighting has changed also, now running Geismann Actinic plus and aquapink tubes in 54w. As well has MH DE 150w x 2 (cheap ones)

[ACRO AL]

nice echinata - cheap!

i know you dont need knobs pointing stuff like this out, but that lamp hangin over is dangerous man

[Jono912]

nice echinata - cheap!

i know you dont need knobs pointing stuff like this out, but that lamp hangin over is dangerous man

,also feel like a knob for saying this but i picked up the exact same one from bunnings and it was quite flimsy, just felt like it was going to fall in to the water

[old_mr2]

Yeah the lamp is overdue for a better solution. This area is off limits to the kids, I just brought Hugh down for a look at the "fishies".

[peekandboo]

Gday Marty
Got some sps frags for you mate if you want some

[MeLLeR]

Oooh! Nice Echinata!!! Can I put my name down fir a frag one day

[old_mr2]

Gday Marty
Got some sps frags for you mate if you want some

Hi, That would be awesome. Trade or cash?