Frag flat help

[legacy2mj]

I have a 7 year old display. SPS dominant and have recently put together a small frag tank next to it. It’s a shallow flat (2’ x 2’ x 12”)
The tank has its own return pump in the main displays sump. This goes to a UV, the. Splits out of the UV, half to the frag flat and half to the main display.
I certainly assumed with the aged system the attached frag tank would have no issues… wrong
What is the trick to getting through this algae phase? My thought at the moment is to keep a light bioload in the frag tank till it seasons up a bit.
I’m open to all tips and tricks, this is my first stab at this. I did it to get the frag racks and such off the glass in my main display and clean it up.

 

[MoshJosh]

I have a "side car" tank as well. It has algae issues off and on despite being attached to my display. I ended up doing a deep clean (Scrubbing everything with a brush, including the plugs, and try to keep nutrients low) this seemed to be effective, but every once and a while I get algae that is not present in the display. The side car seems to be more prone to algae outbreaks, probably because I am running higher light and flow than the display. . . also less clean up crew.

Not sure that helps haha but it's all I can offer.

Also hello to a fellow Colorado reefer!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a 7 year old display. SPS dominant and have recently put together a small frag tank next to it. It’s a shallow flat (2’ x 2’ x 12”)
The tank has its own return pump in the main displays sump. This goes to a UV, the. Splits out of the UV, half to the frag flat and half to the main display.
I certainly assumed with the aged system the attached frag tank would have no issues… wrong
What is the trick to getting through this algae phase? My thought at the moment is to keep a light bioload in the frag tank till it seasons up a bit.
I’m open to all tips and tricks, this is my first stab at this. I did it to get the frag racks and such off the glass in my main display and clean it up.

The frag tank may accumulate phosphate faster than the display tank and also I see different lights over the frag tank and if they have red and green diodes, they may be promoting algae,.

 

[VintageReefer]

It may be the same water but any new surface like those ground frag shelves will need to go through a phase where they build up bacteria and resistance to algae

 

[JGT]

Curious, you mention return pump in sump of DT which returns water to the frag tank. How do you get water from frag tank to DT sump or DT?

 

[legacy2mj]

Curious, you mention return pump in sump of DT which returns water to the frag tank. How do you get water from frag tank to DT sump or DT?

I have 2 return pumps in the sump. 1 goes straight up to the DT. The other goes to UV, then out of the UV I split the line, 1 side goes up to the frag tank and the other side goes up to the DT. That way it’s a full closed loop.
The drain for the overflow on the frag tank I plumbed down and drains in the same place as the DT…
So some reason this is something I havnt taken a picture of apparently, tomorrow I will see if I can capture a few pics of how I put it together. I tried to think of everything. Ball valves, check valves, unions. I think it turned out pretty nice. And it was a good way to incorporate the UV.

 

[JGT]

Thanks. Looking for ideas on plumbing a sidecar frag tank but into my basement sump.

 

[legacy2mj]

Thanks. Looking for ideas on plumbing a sidecar frag tank but into my basement sump.

Ok so here’s the pics of how I put it together.
1st pic, DT sump… the white pvc is coming off a pump, check valve inline for siphon, this goes to UV…. Al in this pic you can see the pvc that drains into the same place my DT drains.
2nd pic, under the sidecar frag tank in its stand. Into the UV from the DT pump, comes out, splits… 1 line goes up to frag tank jet nozzle, other line goes to 3rd pic into DT display. Both lines can be slowed or turned completely off with ball valve.
3rd pic, return coming out of UV into DT display.
4th pic, behind frag tank, drain has a union joint for easy removal if needed, goes to DT overflow drain to sump…. Inlet comes from UV as stated above..
Let me know if you have questions.