DIY 20 long frag tank build thread!!

[Texasfan010]

Okay so I recently set up a reef tank at my office at work and while it is cycling I started a frag tank build. This build is going to take some time because my main focus is the reef tank. The frag tank is a 20 long with a Corian false wall dividing the tank depth wise, which I think I'm going to paint black. Look at the pictures to see what I mean. I chose to do it this way because unlike a reef tank I'm not going for surface area. The tank was designed in autocad and the wall was cut on a CNC by myself. I will be getting the aqualticlife internal mini skimmer 115 due to its small footprint. I got a good deal on a used 400 gph return pump with the perfect footprint at my LFS. 2 returns that will be divided into 4 seperate locline returns, so i can randomize the flow however i see fit. A refugium will be incorporated. The tank won't have a huge bioload but I want some snails and a fish of some kind to help control algae. I considered a lawnmower blenny but I fear it will quickly out grow the roughly 12-13 gallon display. This is a budget build and I believe I can have everything done for less than $300. I ordered some gu10 bulbs and I'm going to retrofit them into some old mr16 track lighting fixtures that have. The only thing I have left to pay for is the skimmer (about $50-$60) a heater, and a few plumbing pieces. I currently have only $180 into this build. I think I should be able to keep most corals in this tank. Hopefully the gu10s show up soon. I love DIY aquarium stuff. Also, the media basket that I will be using was one that I bought for my oceanic biocube that I never ended up using. The top section will have some filter floss and below that I will be using chemi-pure elite. I have a few questions that hopefully someone can answer:

1. The return pump will be T'd off and be directed towards the refugium. I'm aware that a refugium should not have a lot of flow. So if the return pump pushes 400 gph, roughly how much of that should be directed into the refugium? Maybe roughly 50-100gph?

2. My LFS has an amazing frag tank and uses live rock rubble in the refugium instead of a sand bed. Should I go with rubble or a sand bed?

3. I was thinking about adding a small UV sterilizer inline with the plumbing to the refugium, is this a good idea?

If anyone can help me out on those questions it would be greatly appreciated. Also, feel free to give me your opinions on the frag tank. Thanks!

 

[r1racer]

Like the design and love the wall...nice. I will definitely be taking notes.

 

[AdamPLawrence]

i literally had to google that material. i expect most people in the hobby wouldnt even think to use anything other than glass and acrylic. i like this thread already. looks awesome.

 

[stinkyreef]

When you have the machines to do it, its great to put them to use. Looks great and can't wait to see more progress

 

[mkj]

can't see a space for the heater in the AIO chamber

 

[Texasfan010]

The heater(s) will most likely go in the fuge section as this section will have the most water volume. I won't need a large heater. In fact I will most likely go with two smaller 50-75w heaters. No need for a large/long heater when the entire system will probably only be about 16-17 gallons. I took a few dimensions of a few different heater options and I implemented them into my autocad design.

 

[Curtjakson]

Wow that looks great texasfan. I will definitely be following this build thread. Can't wait to see the finished product!!

 

[CuzzA]

DIY 20 long frag tank build thread!!

Looks good.

To answer your questions...

1) I would think 50 gph would be good through the small refugium.

2) Definitely rock rubble. More surface area for bacteria.

3) I would just have it available in the event you have a nasty algae or bacteria bloom. Some bad bacteria can wipe out a tank. Just saw a thread recently on here where a member lost his whole tank.

Just a suggestion, but I would shorten the locline substantially for 2 reasons. A) It appears it may block some light from the already smaller area due to the AIO and B) It looks as though it may be cumbersome trying to position/place frags in the center.

 

[Texasfan010]

I can't really shorten the locline. The only pieces of locline my LFS had was 1/2" so i had to use a reducer from 3/4" to 1/2". The reducer actually takes up a lot of space when it comes to a tank this depth. I'm using leds so I'm not really too worried about the locline being in the way. I'm going to be able to angle each gu10 bulb in whatever direction I want so i will be able to target mid-high light corals and also create some lower light areas for the low light corals. This tank may be small, but it should be pretty advanced for the tank size and budget.

 

[rwb500]

looks really good! if it were me I would have all of the flow go through the refugium and instead of a classic fuge I would just run chaeto. i've never seen a classic fuge in a tank that small and I wonder how effective it would be.