 24g Frag tanks I decided I wanted to set up a small coral prop system in my basement. The greenhouse was just a bit too large scale for me so I decided to start small. My goal is to grow a selection of easy to keep, desirable corals quickly for trades and/or selling.
I did read Calfo's Book of Coral Propagation (several time over) and have spent an excessive amount of time researching the what, how and why of coral propagation. I recently got a good deal on 3 drilled aquariums.
I think these aquariums will make great prop tanks.  Custom drilled 24 gallon aquarium These are custom Oceanic tanks that are 24x18x12 and drilled. Now I just need everthing else:
- Stand(s)
- Plumbing
- Sump
- Heater
- Return Pump
- Skimmer
- Lighting (T5's ?)
- Flow pumps
- Utility sink (in basement)
- Dedicated RO/DI
- Monitoring/testing equipment
- Frag plugs
- Frag racks
- and Corals to grow!
SpeciesHere is my choice for corals for this prop system. These are all basically fast growers, easy to frag and fairly easy to care for. I will try to get stock specimens of the more colorful varieties of greens, blues and reds as they seem to grow just as well as the yellows and browns. Medium Light - Medium-High Flow (Tank 1)
- Colored Zoanthid - Zoanthus sp.
- Ricordea - Ricordea florida
- Green Star Polyps - Pachyclavularia sp.
Medium High Light - High Flow (Tank 2) Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral, Green Polyp - Sarcophyton sp. Spaghetti Finger Leather Coral, Neon Green - Sinularia flexibis
Medium Light - Medium Flow (Tank 3) - Super Color Mushrooms – Actinodiscus sp.
- Pom-Pom Pumping - Xenia sp.
- Pulse Coral - Xenia elongate
Coral | Light | Flow | Feeding | Supplements | | Tank 1 | | | | | | Zoanthus sp | Medium | Medium-High | Sub-particulate | Trace | | Ricordea florida | Medium | Medium-High | Particulate | Trace, Iodine | | Pachyclavularia sp. | Medium | Medium-High | Sub-particulate | Trace | | Tank 2 | | | | | | Sarcophyton sp. | Medium-High | High | Sub-particulate | Trace | | Sinularia flexibis | Medium-High | High | Sub-Particulate | Trace | | Tank 3 | | | | | | Actinodiscus sp. | Medium | Medium | Particulate | Trace, Iodine | | Xenia sp. | Medium | Medium | Sub-particulate | Trace, Iodine | | Xenia elongate | Medium | Medium | Sub-particulate | Trace, Iodine |
You will notice from the chart that all of these corals have similar requirements for light, flow, feeding and supplements with minimal variables. LightThe medium to medium-high light requirements of these corals will place a smaller demand on energy. I would like to explore using T5’s as the lighting for this system as most of these corals do well under fluorescent lighting and do not require intense halide lights. A two light 24” T5 HO system (48w) would likely work for tanks 1 & 3 and a three of four light 24” T5 HO system (72w to 96w) would likely work for tank 2. FlowThe moderate flow requirements of these species may also present a savings in energy. I have also considered using airlifts (like some of the greenhouse growers) to add the additional flow in tanks 1 and 2. Each tank will have approx 10 times per hour (240 GPH) of flow with tanks 1 & 2 requiring 15-20 times per hour (360 GPH to 480 GPH) flow. FeedingMost of these corals feed on a sub-particulate level meaning there food comes from micro plankton and the majority of them feed on there own symbiotic algae – zooxanthellate. The particulate feeders will benefit from larger zooplankton. The feeding of this system will be a bit on the high side to promote accelerated growth. SupplementsAgain these corals carry a common thread when it comes to supplementation with all benefiting from standard trace elements and some with iodine additions. Note that Green Star Polyps - Pachyclavularia sp. might be the exception as I have heard reports of this coral not appreciating the addition of iodine. No excessive calcium, alkalinity or kalkwasser additions will be required with this group of corals. Next thing is a drawing for the layout of the system.
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