My 500 gallon propagation build

[alexgv14]

Finally got a par meter and was able to determine par levels in the frag tank. Looks like the center of the tank is getting about 200-210 and the sides 100-115 and thats having the reefbreeders led lights at 70% intensity at 100% intensity it gets to about 230-250 in the middle and 130-140 on the sides. Keep in mind my lights are 3 feet above the tank.

I have put some corals into the system to test things out and see how they do at 70% intensity. Im glad I rented out the par meter and did the test because I had no clue what the intensity might be. The corals are all frags from my previous system that is still running just great.

 

[CHizer]

Very nice system! I bet your electric bill is thankful for LEDs

 

[dave.m]

I hope you used the PAR meter on your old system for comparison.

Dave.M

 

[alexgv14]

Just added my ricordea to the new tank looks like its doing great! =)

The great think about living in Miami is that sometimes when you need inspiration for your reef tank you just go to Key Biscayne and snorkel.

 

[alexgv14]

Added the majority of my frags and clams from my other reef tank into the new system. Here what is looking like. I really want to learn to take some better pictures of corals.

 

[dave.m]

Looks like you're in full production mode. :thumbsup:

Dave.M

 

[shocker444]

How are the led doing?

 

[alexgv14]

LED are tough to get used I have been using LEDs for about a year now, and before that I had metal halides. With the metal halides it was easy you just turned them on and you were pretty much gunna get the spectrum and intensity you wanted. With LED even with a par meter to get the right spectrum and intensity is very tricky. I have also noticed some my soft corals like LPS and zoas really do well but my SPS corals do maintain color, but do not grow as quickly as when I had them with metal halides. I think the amount of electricity though that I have saved especially in a system like the one I am building here it is well worth it in the long run. Just the heat alone generated from metal halides would have killed me.

As far as the brand that I am using which is reefbreeders LED i actually prefer them over my ecotech radion that are over my other tank.

 

[shocker444]

I really like the reef breeders just wish I could control them with my apex. Thats life you can't have your cake and eat it to lol. I love the setup, when and if you sell some coral I will half to buy some from ya looks good.

 

[alexgv14]

This is still the most peaceful thing in keeping my reef tank. My Haddon carpet anemone worked moved around my new grow tray for awhile until it found a nice spot to host all my clownfish.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZnwKARdfA8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Mpek]

Is that the Botanicare OD Grow Tray inside H5.5"? I got lucky and found your thread. Adding on to my system in my garage and found this tray but wasn't sure if it could be used on a frag system. Luckily it looks like it works perfectly! Great job by the way!

 

[alexgv14]

It has worked well. The only think I would do if using a metal stand is to wrap it or paint it in a noncorrosive material. It has a 7" height this is the one I got.http://hydrobuilder.com/id-black-4ft-x-8ft-grow-tray.html

 

[Marcoss]

Awesome build! So glad I ran across it. Do you have rocks or sand anywhere in your system for filtration?!

I'm curious to know why you went with the three tanks. Are they for frags too?

Thanks!

 

[Mpek]

Nice! How's the humidity in the room with only the wall A/C unit?

 

[alexgv14]

I don't use any sand in my system. I primarily use the berlin method for filtration but, have recently started converting one of the glass tank into a refugium area to help out with filtration.

The humidity in the area averages at around 65%. The plan with the three tanks is to have each one be its own thing. Like one an anemone tank, the other a tank I could keep cool angelfish.

I'll post an update with some pictures when I get some time. I have been growing some stuff in the frag tank pretty rapidly. Light intensity has been my biggest issue thus far. I think in a tank with this depth T5 lighting is the best choice.

 

[Marcoss]

Thank you very much for your reply. I am torn about how much the sand helps. I have a smaller frag tank that is sandless, however, full of live rock, and it seems to perform much better than my display tank with a deep sand bed. Of course, there are tons of other variables, but thats what I see at a glance.

I like your reasoning for multiple tanks. I am in the market for a split tank that I can keep different species in. I would love to have one part of the tank fungias only, the other nems, and the other torches/frog spawns.

Did you build your stand from the slotted metal? Kind of like lego-style, not sure of the name.

Thanks again.

 

[Mpek]

That's pretty cool bud. I just got 4 60 gallon Deep Blue Professional Reef Ready tanks delivered and am ordering one of those Botanicare bins. Still have to plumb my vats and still have to get a portable A/C...Been in the works for over a year now since my 300 gallon ended up all over my floor and caused significant damage. All of this is going in the garage for my propagation system. When it's all done I'll post some pics. I appreciate you posting this thread tho. It helped me with a couple things I was unsure about. I also like seeing fellow reefers succeed in doing something they love.:thumbsup:

 

[Marcoss]

Hey Mpek,

Do you have a build thread going yet? I'd love to see it. I would love to see how you are plumbing it since you seem close to what Alex is using.

Thanks and sorry to ask here.

 

[Mpek]

I guess maybe I should. I don't want to hijack Alex's thread tho. I'll start taking some pictures and let you know.

 

[alexgv14]

Though I would post some updated pic on the status of how the frag system and how its working. I will soon also be expanding it so it will have a total water volume of 1000 gallons. I added some mangrove plants just for fun.