sps propagation tank setup

[lkung]

For those of you that have a dedicated SPS propagation tank, what equipment do you have and what are the tank's vitals? I was thinking: no rock, no fish, those light diffuser/egg crate thingies (to hold the frags), 6ish inch sand bed to help with buffering, MH + VHO, mega-skimmer, calcium reactor, powerheads on a wave maker (or sea swirls or a surge setup), and macro algae in a refugium/sump.

How often (if ever) do you do water changes? What additional nutrients do you use? Do you keep any livestock (snails, crabs, fish, cleaners, etc) in the tank at all?

Thanks in advance for the info!

[Rick O]

Hi lkung and Welcome to the Atlanta Reef Club.

I have a 60 gallon acrylic measuring 48"x 24"x 12". It houses mostly SPS but there are some softies.

Lighting is (2) 175 watt 10,000K Hamilton and (2) 40 watt actinic URI. I use a 20 gallon glass tank for a sump. In the sump is a Berlin skimmer (not recommended but if you already have one or can get one free I can tell you how to modify it to kick arse). I have a 3" sand bed which is somewhat of a problem. Since the tank is so shallow if I step up the circulation too much it stirs up the sand quite a bit. I do keep two fish, a sailfin tang to keep algae at bay and a six line wrasse to eat any pests that may try to invade. I also have a peppermint shrimp but he's just serving a sentance in there. He serves no useful purpose. I also have an assortment of snails.

The biggest problem I have is maintaining alk and ca in the tank. At this time I'm using Kent buffer and turbo calcium. It works but I seem to always be dosing and checking. I have a Myreef ca reactor on order and it will make things much easier.

I religously change 10% water every other week.

I live in Marietta if you ever want to come take a look.

[lkung]

Thanks for the info, Rick. A couple more questions ... Do you have any macroalgae growing in your sump/refugium (or anything similar)? Also, what are your tank's levels (nitrates, phosphates, calcium, etc etc). I'm wondering if I can get by without any fish or inverts on the theory that less waste would be produced, which should lead to less stuff going through the nitrogen cycle. Lastly, what do you have for circulation?

Thanks,
-leon.

[Rick O]

Originally posted by lkung
Do you have any macroalgae growing in your sump/refugium (or anything similar)?

Nope, nothing is in the sump except a Mag 3 and a skimmer.

Also, what are your tank's levels (nitrates, phosphates, calcium, etc etc).

I don't check nitrates or phosphates. DKh is around 8.5, calcium is around 400. Both are lower then I would like. The calcium reactor should take care of this situation.

I'm wondering if I can get by without any fish or inverts on the theory that less waste would be produced, which should lead to less stuff going through the nitrogen cycle.

I don't directly feed my corals so leftover fish food and fish waste is the only food they get. The tang serves a useful purpose by eating any algae that grows in the tank.

Lastly, what do you have for circulation?

A Mag 3 in the sump plumbed to two return lines which have ball valves so that I can alternate the flow, a closed loop powered by a Little Giant 2-MDGX-SC, and one MaxiJet 1200.

Thanks,
-leon.

You're welcome

[rick and jan]

I've seen Rick's prop tank--a thing of beauty with everything growing and looking healthy!!

[Joel]

Rick O you said you modified your skimmer? Any ideas for a CPR Bak-Pak2R? It has a Rio 600 on it and I'd like it to work a little harder. I recently bought a surface skimmer box that fits around the powerhead and it seems to keep the top of the water cleaner.

[Rick O]

Originally posted by Joelb
Rick O you said you modified your skimmer? Any ideas for a CPR Bak-Pak2R? It has a Rio 600 on it and I'd like it to work a little harder. I recently bought a surface skimmer box that fits around the powerhead and it seems to keep the top of the water cleaner.

The modification to the Berlin involved changing out the factory venturi for a Kent Venturi and installing a larger pump. The Berlin is quite different from a BakPak so I don't know if you could do the same modification. Post the question on the General Reef Discussion forum and see if anyone has any suggestions.

[sally]

Joelb: Try the maxi jet 1200 with the venturi attachment for your CPR bak pak. Works much better than the rio....you just can't trust them.

[BLFuller123]

Rick,

Where in Marietta do you live?

[Rick O]

Originally posted by BLFuller123
Rick,

Where in Marietta do you live?

Near Sprayberry High School. Let me know when you'll be in the area and I'll PM you a map.

[BLFuller123]

I am up that way everyday, I work for Lockheed.