Magnetic frag racks should not exist. Change my mind...

[cilyjr]

I recently stopped by a person's house that would have had an otherwise beautiful aquarium with the exception of these magnetic frag racks all over the glass.

In my mind, a display aquarium should be exactly that, your display. Mucking it up with tiny pieces of coral on grow out magnetic frag racks, in my opinion, completely defeats the purpose of having an area to grow out Coral before adding it to your system.

Every time I have built an aquarium I have added space to have a connected frag system. I will Grant you that I have more opportunity than most to do that as I have always created a dedicated space for aquarium equipment. Still, I have got to say what's the point if you're not making your display exactly that, a display!

Please by all means change my mind. I want to hear the opposing argument!

 

[saltytanked]

 

[EricR]

I like 'em ... but they're a TEMPORARY visual distraction when introducing new corals,,, so it doesn't bother me much (for very long).

 

[VintageReefer]

Sounds very elitist to me

Not everyone has the time, space or money to have a second frag system.

Plus, they can be worked in to fill in space

I have some obvious ones that stand out. But I have ones that blend in. All these corals are attached to magnetic frag shelves / platforms

 

[VintageReefer]

This is…ummm…someone else’s tank with my the same frag branch shelves

 

[exnisstech]

Not everyone has the time, space or money to have a second frag system.

^This ^
Plus I think it helps to grow the frags out in the same parameters they will be permanently mounted in. I haven't kept count of the frags I've added from other systems that died. I've not lost one yet that I grew out and mounted in the same tank tho I'm sure I will.
I agree they are not visually appealing so I keep two display tanks that don't have them

 

[Jmp998]

I recently stopped by a person's house that would have had an otherwise beautiful aquarium with the exception of these magnetic frag racks all over the glass.

In my mind, a display aquarium should be exactly that, your display. Mucking it up with tiny pieces of coral on grow out magnetic frag racks, in my opinion, completely defeats the purpose of having an area to grow out Coral before adding it to your system.

Every time I have built an aquarium I have added space to have a connected frag system. I will Grant you that I have more opportunity than most to do that as I have always created a dedicated space for aquarium equipment. Still, I have got to say what's the point if you're not making your display exactly that, a display!

Please by all means change my mind. I want to hear the opposing argument!

Not everyone has the time/space for a separate frag system. Maybe some temporary grow out space was more important to them than trying to meet your aesthetic of a perfect tank.

 

[Mschmidt]

There be a lot of unused real estate without them.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Agreed. I can’t stand the sight of them.

 

[flashsmith]

Did you work for that person's money? If not be quiet. This has to be the most petty thread I've ever seen here. And there's been a few... This is just as bad as the tank hate threads.

 

[Reefing102]

While I don’t like the look of them, I have 3 in my tank currently. For me, it’s mostly pure laziness of not spending the time to mount the frags to the rock.

 

[PeterC99]

I recently stopped by a person's house that would have had an otherwise beautiful aquarium with the exception of these magnetic frag racks all over the glass.

In my mind, a display aquarium should be exactly that, your display. Mucking it up with tiny pieces of coral on grow out magnetic frag racks, in my opinion, completely defeats the purpose of having an area to grow out Coral before adding it to your system.

Every time I have built an aquarium I have added space to have a connected frag system. I will Grant you that I have more opportunity than most to do that as I have always created a dedicated space for aquarium equipment. Still, I have got to say what's the point if you're not making your display exactly that, a display!

Please by all means change my mind. I want to hear the opposing argument!

Good Topic!

Like the way you presented your argument - Someone had a great display aquarium but you thought the frag racks detracted from the beauty of the presentation. You politely asked other reefers to help you understand.

Enjoy the discussion and the responses!

Myself, I have a frag rack in my aquarium because my corals are over growing and I need someplace to put them while I offer them to other reefers.

 

[MoshJosh]

Nah reef keeping is ALL about clout. . . assert your dominance by filling every inch with frags!

 

[kevgib67]

I only use them temporarily to mount frags after fragging I like to leave the frags there for a week or two to make sure they are healthy before they go into another reefer’s tank or to my lfs for credit. I hate the way they look and can’t wait for them to come down.

 

[cilyjr]

Ok not convinced. Yet.

For those just saying it's elitist, I don't see that. The discussion is about visual distraction.

Sure, there is something to be said that money makes it easier but a well-designed system doesn't necessarily require a ton of money. It does require a certain amount of forethought to have places designed for growing out. When I was in my twenties I did not have the money or means that I have now. Yet I still found frag racks on the glass visually distracting. As a result, I have never had them.

 

[cilyjr]

Nah reef keeping is ALL about clout. . . assert your dominance by filling every inch with frags!

this is one of the more compelling arguments.

I have always seen reef keeping as building an ecosystem and display.

For others, it is about collecting particular pieces and the joy for them is getting those and displaying them more like one might showcase collectibles and a cabinet.

 

[cilyjr]

^This ^
Plus I think it helps to grow the frags out in the same parameters they will be permanently mounted in. I haven't kept count of the frags I've added from other systems that died. I've not lost one yet that I grew out and mounted in the same tank tho I'm sure I will.
I agree they are not visually appealing so I keep two display tanks that don't have them

I understand that not everyone has the space or money. I still assert that time and planning however can overcome those obstacles. That is, if the end goal is A public aquarium style display.

If, however, the end goal is something vastly different. I'm interested in hearing it. See above where mosh Josh suggested that some people are doing this for the love of collecting.

I am not trying to tell people what they should or shouldn't do. I'm asking the question, why?

 

[MoshJosh]

What are you wanting to be convinced of? That frag racks are "beautiful" or that frag racks should be included in a "display" tank. . .

what do you think is beautiful and what are you trying to display?

These are very subjective and if your mind is made up in regards to what is beautiful and what should go in a display tank I am not sure you will be convinced to change your mind. . . that said. . .

I think rapid and healthy coral growth among many different specimens and species is beautiful and I can't think of any better way to display that than with frag racks (not to mention the practicality haha!!!)

 

[cilyjr]

What are you wanting to be convinced of? That frag racks are "beautiful" or that frag racks should be included in a "display" tank. . .

what do you think is beautiful and what are you trying to display?

These are very subjective and if your mind is made up in regards to what is beautiful and what should go in a display tank I am not sure you will be convinced to change your mind. . . that said. . .

I think rapid and healthy coral growth among many different specimens and species is beautiful and I can't think of any better way to display that than with frag racks (not to mention the practicality haha!!!)

That right there is the most compelling argument for why they should be used!
Kudos!

 

[exnisstech]

I still assert that time and planning however can overcome those obstacles.

Na money is also needed and time and planning doesn't alway bring that with it.
I have no desire to have a public aquarium type display. For me fish are pets and coral are my under water garden. Different strokes for different folks I guess.