My SPS propagation setup, in progress

[Phishy]

JB NY,
That is exactly what I would do. Run the XM on the opposite schedule. Should defiantly help! I have my lights a good 15" inches from the surface of the water. My tanks are two feet wide so I have to make sure I get a good light spread out to the side of the tanks. When running three 250s in a row there is no problem with intensity. Just adjust your light to where you get the proper spread of light out to the sides. Since the water is very shallow you do not have to worry too much about getting the intensity you want.
Phishy

 

[JB NY]

Very nice Joe. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Would you mind detailing the water flow coming into the raceway then back out? Also, you have that much flow going through your refugium? Seems high.

Bulkheads are not installed in these pictures, hopefully tomorrow I'll have one's with the bulkheads.
I don't have access to photo editing software so here's a description.

On the first pic the water will enter the bottom right, go up through the baffles on the left and go through the channels. Eventually going into the overflow (you can see the teeth of the overflow) back on the bottom of the pic, where it will dump back into the sump.

I'm running about 1000 GPH through two 20 gal refugia now. I don't think the flow makes a difference as the caulerpa still grows like mad.

 

[o2manyfish]

JBNY,

The Raceway idea works great. The one thing you should start planning for though is collecting frag plugs (sprinkler filter plugs). With good flow the frags will tumble along the raceway and start snowballing together.

The frag plugs work great... Just getting enough of them for all the frags you want is the tough part.

But Crazy glue and hot glue work well in them.

Dave B

 

[saltyseaman]

You can give these a try too since you are going with the Eggcrate

http://www.ram4x4.com/coralfragplugs/Coral_Frag_Plugs.htm

But you gotta be carefull. I got some eggcrate that these plugs are BARELY too small for .... BARELY!! If the plugs get in just the right position they fall through the holes in the eggcrate. I have some other eggcrate that they fot perfectly in. If you plan on getting these plugs then I can take some measurements so you can make sure you get the right eggcrate. The only problem is I have to find a piece of that eggcrate lying around somewhere.

Awesome colors Phishy!! do you have a closeup pic of the blue/purple one in the top center of the tank?

 

[Phishy]

saltyseaman,
Those are just M. digitata. Grow too fast and are out of control. Sorry no close up at this time.
Phishy

 

[saltyseaman]

That's one crazy color for a Digi!!

 

[JB NY]

Here are pictures with the 1 1/2" bulkheads installed and being water tested.

click for larger image

 

[Ocean Image]

JB NY,
As mentioned before, you are going to love your prop tank. It's a great place to try new things without having to worry about how it looks. Raceway is cool.

Phishy,
What are you using for circulation/water motion in your vats? Are those relatively large diameter PVC pipes acting as standpipes?

Saltyseaman,
I bought some of those plugs and they fall through the HD bought eggcrate. Do you know how to get the smaller square eggcrate?

 

[schanz]

JBNY: I don't quite understand all the baffles on the flow coming into the growout tank. Am I seeing it wrong?

 

[saltyseaman]

Creeper

I got both the good and the bad eggcrate at Menards. I thought that was kinda strange since they both came from the same shelf at the same store. The eggcrate that works has 1/2 inch holes. The eggcrate that doesn't work has 9/16 inch holes. That 1/16 of an inch is the cause of our demise.

 

[o2manyfish]

Guys,

As long as you stay away from my neck of the woods... If you go to your local Large Hardware store, in the sprinkler section you can find lots of the sprinker filters that have been abandoned in the bulk boxes.

My local stores are very good about me collecting them for no charge -- Yes I ask and get permission everytime.

One day they had a table of close out sprinkler parts and I got a couple of hundred for - Zip Zero NADA "FREEBIE"

Dave B

 

[JB NY]

JBNY: I don't quite understand all the baffles on the flow coming into the growout tank. Am I seeing it wrong?

Your not seeing it wrong. I am not using any pumps on this system, it is gravity fed. It sits in between the tank and the sump. So the raceway is not filled with bubbles from the overflow, the baffles were installed.

 

[saltyseaman]

Interesting Dave B. Do they look the same ... or ... are they the same thing as those fragging plugs? I'll have to look into that. I wonder if the guy on that site is doing the same thing you are?

 

[kevinn]

JB NY,
Great idea. I think the baffle on both sides might block the light for the frag, because the light spread in an angle. Especially after algae grow it. the one in the center is OK.

 

[pi]

Wow, that thing looks great! This is why I hate/love this hobby. Always something new to want.

But for some strange reason everytime I look at the images, I keep thinking I need to see a hamster running around the alleys trying to find a carrot at the end.

 

[Wade2185]

Wow, that thing looks great! This is why I hate/love this hobby. Always something new to want.

I agree! I just finished telling my wife that the last equipment needed was a good MH setup and a calcium reactor. I am getting both for Christmas. I cant wait to see her face when I tell her that now I want a Prop setup!

JB NY - awesome idea! I cant wait to see the final setup!

 

[justletmein]

LOL pi, gerbils are faster!

 

[pi]

:eek2:

 

[justletmein]

Ouch!

JB, do you think the raceway will have a large benefit over just leaving the entire area open and having the small overflow in the corner?

 

[JB NY]

Definitely. The reason I wanted to do this was to maximize the flow going through the tank. The whole raceway, all the channels, will have the same flow going through it, say 600-700GPH. In a large or small tank you end up using multiple powerheads to try and give all the corals real good waterflow around them. But the corals closest to the powerhead/pump get the strongest flow and the corals farthest away the weakest. Here all should get the same strong flow, no dead spots.

Of course I haven't used it yet, but that's my thinking.