My frag system build
- Thread starter MantisBrad
- Start date
MantisBrad
New member
Update, not really but kinda... Ran into a bit of money troubles (new semester tuition + books set me back quite a bit). I ended up buying a 1/3hp chiller for the system and I have a pump that should run this whole thing.. All I need now is new bulk heads and plumbing it in! Then comes the bulbs i have to buy =[. Anyone know where I can get some good bulkheads at? Help me out and I'll help you out!! 
Gordonious
Active member
Sure you will need the chiller?
Understand tuition and books and such, I just graduated this spring.
For both bulbs and bulks heads try posting in your local clubs and see if you can get any ideas there. That pet place and Dr. Foster and Smith typically have bulk heads, but I don't know if they still have the best prices.
Good luck.
Understand tuition and books and such, I just graduated this spring.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14195775#post14195775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MantisBrad
Then comes the bulbs i have to buy =[. Anyone know where I can get some good bulkheads at? Help me out and I'll help you out!!
For both bulbs and bulks heads try posting in your local clubs and see if you can get any ideas there. That pet place and Dr. Foster and Smith typically have bulk heads, but I don't know if they still have the best prices.
Good luck.
MantisBrad
New member
Alright guys, here are some pics. I ordered some bulkheads and I just bought another tank (75 gallon drilled in all 4 corners) I should have water moving by next weekend if things go as planned.
PICS: (please excuse the mess!!
Shelving for one of the tanks. Also, the white zipties are temporary
I'll keep you guys posted!
PICS: (please excuse the mess!!
Shelving for one of the tanks. Also, the white zipties are temporary
I'll keep you guys posted!
93292_FishGuy
New member
So what is your plan for lighting? How many tanks are going to be running how many are going to be lit? What do u suppose the total water volume is?
MantisBrad
New member
building my ballast castle lol
Alright, Lighting available for use now is:
4-250w metal halides (one of which can be used with track lighting it has a motor to move)
1-175W metal halide
2-48" 4x65w coralife PC fixtures
1-workhorse that powers 4x55w
3-icecap 660 ballasts
1-icecap 430 ballast
1-URI A4 ballast
Not sure what I want to do yet lighting wise. I'm thinking about using the 48" fixtures for my two 33 gallon ricordia tanks. With all these 660s I kinda want to put T-5s over the the tanks. I'm not quite sure yet on what I'm going to do. Water should be running this weekend if my bulkheads ever get here
93292_FishGuy, At the moment, the tanks I have for use are:
2-33 gallon long tanks
1-33 gallon tall tank
1- 96"Lx14"Wx10"H tank
1- 40 gallon breeder
1-60 gallon long tank
1-40 gallon sump
I'm looking into getting some 96"Lx24"Wx12"H inch tanks made, but for the time being, my water volume is just shy of 300 gallons. If I get the acrylic tanks made, I will be looking at around 500 gallons or more. Thanks everyone for the kind words!
Sneak peak =D
Alright, Lighting available for use now is:
4-250w metal halides (one of which can be used with track lighting it has a motor to move)
1-175W metal halide
2-48" 4x65w coralife PC fixtures
1-workhorse that powers 4x55w
3-icecap 660 ballasts
1-icecap 430 ballast
1-URI A4 ballast
Not sure what I want to do yet lighting wise. I'm thinking about using the 48" fixtures for my two 33 gallon ricordia tanks. With all these 660s I kinda want to put T-5s over the the tanks. I'm not quite sure yet on what I'm going to do. Water should be running this weekend if my bulkheads ever get here
93292_FishGuy, At the moment, the tanks I have for use are:
2-33 gallon long tanks
1-33 gallon tall tank
1- 96"Lx14"Wx10"H tank
1- 40 gallon breeder
1-60 gallon long tank
1-40 gallon sump
I'm looking into getting some 96"Lx24"Wx12"H inch tanks made, but for the time being, my water volume is just shy of 300 gallons. If I get the acrylic tanks made, I will be looking at around 500 gallons or more. Thanks everyone for the kind words!
Sneak peak =D
FiSHy sAy HeY
New member
Looking good
magnoliarichj
New member
you should not stick the ballasts on top of each other like that. heat will kill them prematurly.
MantisBrad
New member
They aren't actually hooked up like that. i was just making a castle for fun.
Mr.Exclusive
New member
It is looking good so far!
Any updates?
Any updates?
MantisBrad
New member
Well, I currently rethought the plumbing and decided I needed to go with a seperate sump for the rics and zoas. I read that the slime they put off stunts the growth of the SPS so, I'm going to have the Iwaki 1500gph pump running the 40 gallon, the 60 gallon, and the 8 foot tank along with the chiller on this system.
For lighting on this sytem, I currently have a 175w 20,000k halide to put on the 40 gallon but I might be going with a 10,000k for growth.
For the 60 gallon I will have four 110w VHOs with a 250w trac-light 20,000k halide. If this doesn't work out, I will eventually put another 250w over this tank.
For the 8 foot acrylic I am thinking of putting VHOs over it, I should be able to do SPS in this tank seeing as it is 10" tall.
The other system which will house my rics and zoas will have probably a 55 gallon tank as a sump with a refugium in it. The pump will just be a mag 7 for the time being running the water to the two 33 gallon tanks. Lighting on these systems for the time being will be 4x65w compact florescent lights. I could go VHO or t-5 on this system. I eventually want to get everything switched over to t-5 but I do not currently have the money to do that.
I hope this was a good update for you guys, I should have a couple tanks running soon. I should have already had this thing running but due to school, money, and me getting sick the other day I haven't got much done on it other than painting the tank backs and sides.
For lighting on this sytem, I currently have a 175w 20,000k halide to put on the 40 gallon but I might be going with a 10,000k for growth.
For the 60 gallon I will have four 110w VHOs with a 250w trac-light 20,000k halide. If this doesn't work out, I will eventually put another 250w over this tank.
For the 8 foot acrylic I am thinking of putting VHOs over it, I should be able to do SPS in this tank seeing as it is 10" tall.
The other system which will house my rics and zoas will have probably a 55 gallon tank as a sump with a refugium in it. The pump will just be a mag 7 for the time being running the water to the two 33 gallon tanks. Lighting on these systems for the time being will be 4x65w compact florescent lights. I could go VHO or t-5 on this system. I eventually want to get everything switched over to t-5 but I do not currently have the money to do that.
I hope this was a good update for you guys, I should have a couple tanks running soon. I should have already had this thing running but due to school, money, and me getting sick the other day I haven't got much done on it other than painting the tank backs and sides.
induetime79
New member
i was wanting to know where you got your black eggcrate. Was it in Fl. somewhere? I was wanting to get some. But I can not find it other than online in 2x2 pieces. I want a sheet like you have.
aquaman49504
New member
Wow looks great. Looks like you will be busy
sgtmajorcrash
New member
Check this out i just came across this web site this afternoon looking for some myself.
http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Lighting_Diffusers/B-EGG-375X2X4
http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Lighting_Diffusers/B-EGG-375X2X4
AJSTITAN14
New member
MOAR PICS! 
