Custom sump

[5380]

I have been growing my montiporas closer and closer to my euphyllia. I think I was evesdropping at the frag swap someone commented how a single sting just wipes out monti colonies. With my husbandry, it is inevitable that the torches are going to sting something. I am also considering moving my acans into spaces near the monti colonies. So to make sure I am able to continue propagating and coating my rock. I'm considering springing for a custom sump with a section for a frags.

I have never seen this done, anyone know why?

 

[pascal32]

Ive seen that done...can't find a picture though... good if you don't have too many frags

 

[acdraindrps]

Probably not done so much because a sump is not ideal conditions for corals.. (light, flow..etc)

Set up a frag tank, and leave the sump for filtration.

 

[Jacwil]

I don't recall your setup but there are several members that have used the larger stock tanks to accommodate areas for skimmer/return/refugium as well as frag area.

ConesusKid, (Scott) does/did this IIRC.

 

[jacksonpt]

I'm sure it could be done and work pretty well if you have the room to do it right (i.e. a basement sump or fish room separate from display tank). I can't imagine trying to cram in all that under a stand, in a cubby/closet, etc.

But then again, if you've got the room, why wouldn't you run a separate frag tank? You could probably plumb it into the same system if you wanted to, but having it separated out seems like it would be significantly easier to setup and maintain in the long run.

 

[5380]

I hear what you're saying about setting up a frag tank. I simply have an aversion to clogging my house with tanks.

Probably not done so much because a sump is not ideal conditions for corals.. (light, flow..etc) .

These are just design flaws of the typical sump. I think i'm getting more behind this idea the more I think about it. I believe as few as 6 cree leds could cover a 12"x6" area. I don't know if I would isolate the frag area and feed the flow with an independent powerhead or if I would use a gate valve to force a fraction of the flow through a small channel.

The flow is a bit more difficult to determine. I am thinking the space would be about 12x6x6 is just under 2 gallons. I could T off the return line with a gate or needle valve to control the flow.

 

[Tonynlo]

If it were my design, I wouldn't split the main flow with a valve. I wouldn't want to lose any GPH turnover. Unless of course your current return pump has power to spare.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

a single sting just wipes out monti colonies.

:lolspin:

 

[5380]

:lolspin:

I imagine it's an exaggeration too, I don't know if the tissue necrosis will spread across the coral or not. I put a small frag next to the torch the other night to test this out. During feeding time the return stops for 40 minutes, so I don't just siphon crap into my sump, or fill my skimmer with water. Circulation during this time is managed by the a vortech in reefcrest random. When it cycles down the torch lays all over the surrounding rock. The test frag is dead, the torch stuck to it like glue.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

your original post stated that you heard a single sting just wipes out monti colonies and that's what made me laugh.

it doesn't take much of anything to wipe out a frag.