3 kinds of frag rack turn up again and again when reef keepers compare notes. They solve the same problem in different ways, and the right one depends mostly on your glass and your floor space.
Which rack suits which tank, in short
Start with the glass. A magnetic rack only works if the glass is thin enough for the magnets to hold through it, so measure first. If the glass is within the rating, a magnetic rack is the most flexible. If it is not, a standing rack is the answer, because it needs no glass at all.
Egg crate sits outside that choice. It is a grid panel you cut and prop up, so there is no mounting to fit and nothing to rate. That is its strength, and also the reason it rarely looks as tidy as a made-to-fit rack.
The rest of this guide goes through each one, with an honest note on where it falls short.
None of them is a bad buy. They are different tools, and the best one is the one that fits the tank you actually own, not the tank you might have in a year.
Comparison table
| Magnetic rack | Standing rack | Egg crate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it mounts | Held by magnets through the glass | Stands at the bottom of the tank | Cut to size and propped in place |
| Glass needed | Within the magnet rating, 13mm to 20mm by size and strength | None | None |
| Moving it | Slide it along the glass at any time | Pick it up and set it down | Lift and reposition by hand |
| Tank space | Uses glass, not floor. 38mm high | Uses floor space. 51mm high | Depends on how you cut it |
| Cost | Priced by size and magnet strength, see the product page | Priced by size, see the product page | Often the cheaper option, and you supply the panel |
| Suits | Tanks with glass inside the rating | Corals settling in low in the tank | Simple set ups and quick fixes |
Egg crate figures are general descriptions, because we do not make it. The magnetic and standing rows use our own measurements and the ratings on the product pages. We have left out prices on purpose, because they change and the product pages hold the current ones.
Magnetic racks: where they win and where they do not
Our magnetic frag rack is mounted by magnet, so the rack can sit where you want and be repositioned as corals grow. It comes in 3 sizes: Mini at 103mm long, Slim at 151mm and Standard at 175mm. All 3 are 38mm high.
Where it wins: you can put it at a good viewing height and move it without touching the rockwork. Where it does not: it needs glass, and the glass has to be within the rating. Ratings run from 13mm to 20mm depending on size and magnet strength, and our guide on which magnet strength suits your glass has the full table.
It also needs access to the outside of the glass for the outer magnet, and that magnet must stay dry. A tank pushed hard against a wall may rule this one out.
One more point in its favour: because the rack moves on the glass, it grows with your plans.
A rack that you can shift a few centimetres in a minute is easier to live with than one you have to lift out of the water.
Standing racks: where they win
Our standing frag rack V2 is placed at the bottom of your aquarium to help new corals acclimate to their environment. It comes in Mini at 103mm long and Standard at 175mm long, both 51mm high.
Where it wins: no glass rating, no magnets, nothing to fit. It suits any tank, including one where the glass is too thick for a magnet. It is also the simple choice if you want new frags settling low in the tank.
It comes in 5 colours, the same as the magnetic rack, so you can match it to the rest of your equipment. The Standard size is the larger of the 2 at 72mm wide, against 58mm for Mini.
Where it does not: it takes up floor space, and you cannot slide it up the glass.
If you want frags at eye level, a standing rack is not the one. It also sits where you may want to work, so think about how you will reach it for feeding and water changes. Our guide on frag rack placement helps you pick a spot.
Egg crate: what it is and when it still makes sense
Egg crate is a grid panel with square openings, usually cut to size with snips. It is often the cheaper and simpler choice, and for a temporary frag tank, or for someone who wants to try fragging before spending money, it still makes sense. It also suits a quick fix, when a coral needs somewhere to go today and you do not have a rack yet.
Its limits are practical. You cut and prop it yourself, so how well it sits depends on your skill. The edges can be rough, and it will not match the rest of your tank.
We do not sell it, and we would rather you chose it for good reasons than bought a rack you do not need.
If egg crate does the job for you, use it, and come back when you want something tidier.
How to choose by tank
- Measure your glass. If it is within a magnet rating, a magnetic rack is open to you.
- Check the outside of the glass. You need room for the outer magnet, and it must stay dry.
- Think about where the frags need to be. At eye level on the glass, choose magnetic. Low in the tank, choose standing.
- Decide how often you will move things. Often, choose magnetic. Rarely, a standing rack or egg crate will do.
- If none of these fits your tank, ask about a custom rack on our custom 3D printing page.
If you are still undecided, think about the next 6 months rather than today. A tank that will change, with new corals coming in and old ones outgrowing their spots, favours a rack you can move. A tank you plan to leave alone favours the cheapest set up that works.
New to all this? Our guide to what a frag rack is and how to use one covers the basics, and the frag racks collection shows every size.
Buying a magnetic frag rack as a gift?
Our magnetic racks and feeders are each rated for a maximum glass thickness, so the right one depends on the tank. If you can't check the glass without spoiling the surprise, there are three easy ways round it:
- Look up the glass thickness in the tank maker's specification, if you know the make and model, then compare it with the ratings in our magnet strength guide. That guide also explains how to measure.
- Choose the standing frag rack V2. It sits on the tank floor, with no magnet and no glass rating, so there is nothing to check.
- Message Harry with the tank make and model, through our contact page.
If you do go magnetic, remember the outer magnet needs room on the outside of the glass, and it must stay dry.
Not sure? Pick the standing rack · Know the glass? Choose your size
