Frag Tank Question

[Kenmx10]

I set up a 20 gallon frag tank as a Quarantine/Observation tank and am planning on keeping new corals in it for 3 months to monitor them before adding to the display tank. I have about 20 LBS of live rock that's been in my sump for about a year. And a hang on back filter for filtration along with a power head. Im not planning on adding any fish to the system. What would be the best way to provide nutrients to the tank for the corals and to maintain the bacteria? I was debating on adding a small Yellow Canary Wrasse but was afraid that if I feed it a couple times a day , it may add more nutrients than the 20 gallon system could handle without doing a lot of water changes. Thanks for your help.

 

[Jipolley]

If you are not planning on adding fish I would not get coral. If you don't add fish you'd need to dose nutrients. The issues with this is you run a chance of overdosing, it is expensive, and the liquid could be harmful in the long run to water quality. With fish they have a slow and predictable nutrient production and you can buy fish that help keep pests at bay helping your corals live. Having a couple of turbo snails would be important as well to keep algae down. I would start with two small fish and see how your nutrients change. Then go from there.

 

[SliceGolfer]

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[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dosing is cheap and easy. Dosing coral foods might also be a good choice. I don’t see a reason to need fish.

 

[Kenmx10]

Dosing is cheap and easy. Dosing coral foods might also be a good choice. I don’t see a reason to need fish.

Thx Randy. Do you have any recommendations on what to dose? Thank you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thx Randy. Do you have any recommendations on what to dose? Thank you.

Ammonium bicarbonate
Sodium phosphate
A trace element mix

Depending on the main tank situation, water changes from it to the frag tank can also be useful and might replace some of these.

 

[Kenmx10]

Good idea with the water change. I'll try that 1st on a weekly basis and go from there. Thank you.