My New Homemade Coral Grow Out System

[funman1]

Well I've been wanting to do this for a while now, so I finally got off my duff and did it..

It's a 20G main tank, with a 10G sump, and a mag 5 as a return pump.
Nothing too extravagant but it should work...

Looking to put my 250 MH light over the top,
Anyone have a MH reflector they'd like to sell?

I used eggcrate from HD, it was about $6.00 for all this and some zipties...
Anyways here's the pics..

 

[kevin95695]

Nice. Very nice. I want to make one now.

 

[FishGuy5]

That is NICE!! Good job, Steve!

 

[Justin74]

Very nice Steve. Ive been thinking of doing the same thing with the 110 in my garage. But instead of defeating the purpose Ive been really considering using NO T8's and overdriving them. Came across an old thread a few years back that did this with great results for his display and an excellent way to save some money especially on replacement bulbs and using cheap electronic advance ballasts. This DIY came about when people were forced to buy a 660 IC ballast if they wanted good intense overdriving on a NO bulb.

The only reason I mention this is they do make 20" that you could use, and overdrive them for a good intense light I woulda mentioned it when I was over last and we were pondering but never dawned on me that you can overdrive NO with good results. I think it vamped up a NO 40w to somewhere around 60-80w. Just a thought, cuz Im cheap like that

-Justin

 

[bored4long]

Awesome. I'd love to do this. I wonder how much this will cost to run in the garage during the winter months.

Justin, can you post a link to that thread? I'm very interested in doing that. I have 3 4x32 T8 fixtures collecting dust in my garage I could put to use.

 

[KMP]

ok, fair job at best. lots that i would have done different; but what the heck - it's yours.






j/k - that is cool! makes me want to do the same. maybe when my ap contents get transferred to the bigger tank. hmmm...i could put a modded maxijet in the rear chambers, open up all the gates and flow baby flow

 

[pbetito]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11136173#post11136173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bored4long
Awesome. I'd love to do this. I wonder how much this will cost to run in the garage during the winter months.

Justin, can you post a link to that thread? I'm very interested in doing that. I have 3 4x32 T8 fixtures collecting dust in my garage I could put to use.

Mark, Most people get a main tank going before they try a prop tank!!! :lol:

 

[mpoletti]

Steve- you might want to mod your rack with a small back, maybe two squares up along each row. It is a pain if a snail, crab, or fish knocks one of your frags to the bottom. I speak from experience

 

[bored4long]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137039#post11137039 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pbetito
Mark, Most people get a main tank going before they try a prop tank!!! :lol:

So true! I really am doing this backwards! I already have a growout tank setup and running in my garage for all the LR I've purchased. I didn't realize it would take me so long to get my display tank and stand setup. Might as well add a prop tank to that so I can enjoy corals, too!

 

[funman1]

Ahh thanks Mark.. I may do that..
Though I was not planning on having much of a clean up crew in there..

It's not the cost of running this in the winter that worries me, it's the cost of running this in the summer!!!
That garage gets up to like 130+ on a HOT summer day!

 

[Justin74]

Another reason to consider flourescents over MH
I'll try and find that link guys.

-Justin

 

[Justin74]

Here ya go DIY'rs

Here ya go DIY'rs

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=48133

-Justin

 

[funman1]

Well I have a MH that's one main reason I was going MH.
The only thing I need for it is a reflector and that's it..

Here's the updated pics since I just added that back racking..

 

[P.Kelly]

Now get yourself a wrasse and some bug infested frags!

 

[funman1]

Well I'm adding a strawberry dottyback into there does that count?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Hi Steve, I have a mogel base/reflector you can have if you need it. I will bring it to the meeting just let me know.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

Really good work!

 

[Mikey Donuts]

Funman, I've got a question about your frag rack. Most of the racks I've seen use the same stair-step design. Why is this? Different light requirements for corals? Better flow? The reason I ask is that I want to put a small frag area in my sump and I'd like to know if I should use a similar design or just go with a single piece of eggcrate.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[funman1]

I did it so SPS can go high for lots of light, and zoas can be lower for less light.
AND
I think it easier to see each frag when they are teired,
if it was all on one level, the ones in the back would be hard to see with the others in front of them.
Much like staduim seating is better than chairs on a level plain
And it does not waste any extra surface space to do this...

 

[tfp]

wow steve! that is sweet . you just gave me some great ideas.