CCREEF | The Frag Tank That Separated Success from Struggle

This is the start of my build thread. I’ve been working on this system for years, learning through trial and error, and slowly upgrading over time. It’s a low-budget setup that evolved into something functional and flexible. I’m sharing it now to help others who are building with what they’ve got.

System Overview

I started with one low boy aquarium and now run three 50-gallon low boys with a total system volume of 180 gallons. Each tank has its own sump configuration, allowing me to isolate or unify the systems as needed. This photo was taken in 2021 and shows the full setup.

Full system: three lowboys with individual sumps. Picture taken 2021.

What Led to This Build

This wasn’t my first frag tank. I had tried numerous setups over the years, each one ending in frustration. I ran into problem after problem including poor coloration, slow growth, and persistent pests. No matter what I tweaked, something always felt off.

Eventually, I hit a wall. I was ready to give up and started selling off parts of my system. That’s when I met someone who changed everything. A fellow reefer named Rich came by to buy some corals. After looking around, he said, “Chris, you’ve got a lot of potential. Why don’t you come out to my place and take a look?”

I did that same day. And I was blown away. His setup was everything mine wasn’t: clean, efficient, thriving. I learned more in that one visit than I had in years of trial and error. Honestly, I felt sick thinking about all the time and energy I had spent chasing results with systems that just weren’t built right.

Rich didn’t just inspire me. He saved me. That visit reignited my passion and gave me a blueprint for success. The design I’m sharing here is modeled after his system, and it finally worked for me. It’s the reason I’m still in the hobby today, and why CCREEF exists.

System Update: Modular Control and Isolation

Since starting this build, I’ve made a few changes that give me more control over the system. While all three low boys can run as one unified system, I’ve designed them to operate independently when needed.

• The 50-gallon low boy by the window runs on its own individual sump
• The two low boys on the right share a separate sump system

This modular approach lets me control or isolate each section of the system. It's perfect for testing, quarantining, or troubleshooting without affecting the whole setup.

Coral Zoning: Why I Run Separate Systems

One of the main reasons I’ve split my tanks into separate systems is coral compatibility. Anyone who’s kept mixed reefs knows how tricky it can be to balance aggression, lighting, and flow needs across different coral types.

• SPS and torches go in the low boy by the window, which runs on its own sump. It gives me tighter control over parameters like flow, nutrients, and lighting. This is crucial for keeping SPS happy and torches thriving
• Mushrooms and zoanthids are housed in the two low boys on the right, which share a separate sump. They’re more forgiving and benefit from a slightly dirtier, nutrient-rich environment

This separation lets me fine-tune conditions for each coral group without compromise. If something goes wrong in one system, the others stay unaffected.

Zoanthid Frag Collection

Here’s an overview of my zoanthid frag collection. These are random frags, each with a name and unique coloration. I’ve built this collection slowly over time and continue to grow it.

Zoanthid frag overview - part 1.	Zoanthid frag overview - part 2.
Zoanthid frag overview - part 3.

Some of My Favorites

These are close-up shots of some of my favorite zoanthid colonies. They’ve been growing steadily and are starting to form beautiful clusters. I’ll continue to post updates as they develop.

Small colony forming - favorite zoanthids.	Close-up of growing zoanthid cluster.
Colorful and healthy zoanthid growth.	Another favorite colony in progress.

Final Thoughts

This is just the beginning of my build thread. I’ll be sharing more updates, including gear upgrades, coral growth progress, and the story behind my old 150-gallon teardown. That tank taught me a lot, mostly through frustration, and ultimately led me to this setup — the one that finally worked.

Whether you’re just starting out or rebuilding after setbacks, I hope this post gives you something useful to take away. Reefing isn’t always easy, but when things start clicking, it’s worth every bit of effort.

Conclusion

This blog was written by Christopher Coomer, owner and operator of CCREEF. CCREEF is dedicated to providing high-quality aqua-cultured corals, fish, and invertebrates, while promoting responsible reef-keeping practices. For more insights and updates, visit the official CCREEF website.

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© 2025 Christopher Coomer, CCREEF. All rights reserved.