50g prop/QT tank finally finished (pics included)

[aquavista99]

I finally finished my SPS QT/grow out tank project.   The tank is a 50 g breeder, stand alone unit (which allows me to add medications, if needed). This system started out as a 30g QT, but figured a larger system would be easier to maintain.

Updates/Specs:
 
Three (3)  Tunze nano stream 6045 pumps totaling 3,567 US gal./h flow;

50 g breeder, bare bottom aquarium (stand alone w/ no sump or fish);

Red Sea Prizm Hang-on Protein Skimmer;

One 400 watt 10k lamp w/ a Lumenarc III reflector and Coralvue electronic ballast;

C-Balance two-part liquid supplement to maintain Calcium and Alk levels;

Upgraded existing RO/DI unit to a 6 chamber system with a new 75 gallon per day/98% rejection membrane.

[micki]

Very Nice Tim!!!

[Secondgen]

Will that prizm skimmer really handle a 50 gallon tank well enough for sps?

[aquavista99]

Will that prizm skimmer really handle a 50 gallon tank well enough for sps?

If you know what you are doing, sure. I do 20 % water changes weekly, and the 50g is SPS frags only (IE, No fish, very little waste). The only thing that is added is Calcium and Alk supplements daily. The water is very clean, and the skimmer does a decent job with whatever little waste remains in the tank. If the system  demands a larger skimmer down the road, I may upgrade to a AquaC Remora hang on protein skimmer or a Tunze DOC skimmer.

[Secondgen]

Well now that you put it that way I could see it taking care of things just fine.

[rmstevensiii]

Very nice Tim...

Are you trying to become the next Just Coral?   

Let me know when you're ready to frag.

Mitch

[aquavista99]

Very nice Tim...

Are you trying to become the next Just Coral?   

Let me know when you're ready to frag.

Mitch

Mitch, my frag tank is more for quarantining my new arrivals than anything else. I have absolutely no desire to leave my day job and go broke trying to sell corals to a bunch of cheap reef club members who want everything for free anyway......Just kidding!!! There is only one Just Coral. I am just an obsessed SPS reef-aholic!!!

[aquavista99]

Well now that you put it that way I could see it taking care of things just fine.

If you use ultra pure water from the source (IE, zero TDS filtered water) and do regular water changes, you can get by without using a skimmer at all, so long as you provide the other essentials (IE, high water flow, intense light, and proper calcium, alkalinity and pH maintenance, etc). Once you start adding fish and other bio loads to a system, skimming becomes necessary in my opinion.

Conversely, if you wanted to convert the above system into a full-blown reef with fish and corals, etc., I would recommend using a much higher rated skimmer and would add a sump as well.