40 Breeder FTS Thread

[username in use]

I think a mag 5 is sufficient, but you need powerheads. I like to shoot for less than 10x turnover through my sump, and with head loss Im looking at around 350gph I think. I also run it through a 1/2" sea swirl, so the flow gets to every area of the tank, coupled with some powerheads on my sps side, and I get some nice random currents kicking around. Also, as far as sump, always go longer rather than taller, the benefits are two-fold. First, it gives you more time to clear micro bubbles, and Two it gives you more room for equipment when (not if) you add more things.

 

[Mordoff]

I think a mag 5 is sufficient, but you need powerheads. I like to shoot for less than 10x turnover through my sump, and with head loss Im looking at around 350gph I think. I also run it through a 1/2" sea swirl, so the flow gets to every area of the tank, coupled with some powerheads on my sps side, and I get some nice random currents kicking around. Also, as far as sump, always go longer rather than taller, the benefits are two-fold. First, it gives you more time to clear micro bubbles, and Two it gives you more room for equipment when (not if) you add more things.

I have two powerheads in my tank and a skimmer. I thinks theres plenty enough flow. My acros polyps gently move around which I heard is what they're supposed to do. If anything, I thought I had too much flow but I guess not haha. Also I wanna get an idea of how much Im going to spend on this project. Say I buy the Mag5 for 30, I already have the 20 long, my LFS has overflow boxes for $50, what else do I need and how much will it cost me?

 

[krazysvede]

I think a mag 5 is sufficient, but you need powerheads. I like to shoot for less than 10x turnover through my sump, and with head loss Im looking at around 350gph I think. I also run it through a 1/2" sea swirl, so the flow gets to every area of the tank, coupled with some powerheads on my sps side, and I get some nice random currents kicking around. Also, as far as sump, always go longer rather than taller, the benefits are two-fold. First, it gives you more time to clear micro bubbles, and Two it gives you more room for equipment when (not if) you add more things.

The Mag 5 is great and should serve you well as it has me and username above. For flw for the tank I have the Mag 5 as my return that is split into 2 3/4" locline nozzles once in the tank and Im also using 2 Koralia 2's. I do have a bit of a deadspot in the front left of my tank that I have to be careful with or I get masses of beautiful black algea :fun2:

^^ You beat me to posting. Theres not much else you need besides misc plumbing stuff and maybe a mesh lid to keep any jumpers in. I would be careful with an overflow box. Ive had good luck with the ones with pumps built-in to keep the siphon going. I didnt orignally drill my tank and had an overflow box without the air pump when watertesting my setup. Went to work with the tank running, came home to an empty tank. Thank god it was in the garage or Id be dead!

username in use; How do you like the seaswirl? Ive been thinking about adjusting and adding one to help my dead spot.

 

[Mordoff]

The Mag 5 is great and should serve you well as it has me and username above. For flw for the tank I have the Mag 5 as my return that is split into 2 3/4" locline nozzles once in the tank and Im also using 2 Koralia 2's. I do have a bit of a deadspot in the front left of my tank that I have to be careful with or I get masses of beautiful black algea :fun2:

^^ You beat me to posting. Theres not much else you need besides misc plumbing stuff and maybe a mesh lid to keep any jumpers in. I would be careful with an overflow box. Ive had good luck with the ones with pumps built-in to keep the siphon going. I didnt orignally drill my tank and had an overflow box without the air pump when watertesting my setup. Went to work with the tank running, came home to an empty tank. Thank god it was in the garage or Id be dead!

username in use; How do you like the seaswirl? Ive been thinking about adjusting and adding one to help my dead spot.

How much did the locline nozzels cost you? And should I use pvc or just clear tubing?

 

[krazysvede]

I think I spent about $15 for all 4 locline parts i needed. I have 2 3" flare nozzles, 1 3/4" y fitting and 1 3/4" NPT Connector.

I used 1 1/4" PVC for a durso, and the rest of my plumbing it 1". I made a connector to go 1/2" to 1" for the Mag5 cuz I couldnt get a brushing that would seal well and I bought a 1'' slip to 3/4'' threaded reducer to go from the 1'' PVC to the 3/4'' locline adapter.

 

[username in use]

AS far as tubing goes, if you can get the black flexible, it wont grow algae the way the clear does, and there is a little known fact about the mag pumps, even though the mag5 has a 1/2" outlet, the flow rating is for 3/4" hose. it makes a big difference, I originaly had 1/2 and switched to 3/4 and saw a big improvement. All you need to do is get a 1/2" threaded to 3/4" slip and then get the 3/4" black vinyl tubing and your set.

 

[jer77]

I love breeder tanks. So versatile! I have had many and use a 40b as a fuge currently where I grow out lps and softie frags. I'm thinking of getting another 40b and plumbing it in before the fuge to use for more frags, mostly sps. But the tank would also be good for a gigantea carpet species tank which I would love to have too.

I wouldn't worry about drilling the tank for overflows and returns. I think the breeders are made with non-tempered glass. If you do use an overflow box, don't get a CPR.

A thought on wavemakers instead of a sea swirl, which are great IMO but pricey, SQWD's could be used on the returns cause of the smaller return pumps being used for the breeders.

Nice tanks everyone! Is everyone pretty much using T5's for lighting?

 

[username in use]

The reason I like the sea swirl over the SQWD is that it doesnt reduce flow, and it works without any real maintenance forever. I looked at the SQWD's but then I started looking at public aquarium setups and you dont see SQWD's you see sea-swirls, from then I was sold. And a sea-swirl delivers water at many more angles than a SQWD can because it rotates with constant flow.

 

[Mordoff]

AS far as tubing goes, if you can get the black flexible, it wont grow algae the way the clear does, and there is a little known fact about the mag pumps, even though the mag5 has a 1/2" outlet, the flow rating is for 3/4" hose. it makes a big difference, I originaly had 1/2 and switched to 3/4 and saw a big improvement. All you need to do is get a 1/2" threaded to 3/4" slip and then get the 3/4" black vinyl tubing and your set.

Alright sounds good. Ill try and find some black tubing. Do you know of any websites online where I can just buy all the plumbing stuff I need at once?

 

[username in use]

Marine Depot has all your plumbing needs.

 

[Mordoff]

Marine Depot has all your plumbing needs.

Do you have a link to the 3/4" slip you were talking about? And a link to the black tubing? I cant seem to find it.

 

[krazysvede]

Do you have a link to the 3/4" slip you were talking about? And a link to the black tubing? I cant seem to find it.

That one you'll probably have to get at a hardware store. I got mine at a lowes. Ill try and find a link so you have a picture.

 

[username in use]

Yeah I got the threaded to slip at my local hardware store. check the section with sprinkler supplies.

 

[DBarsotti]

wow i need to get a updated pic of mine in so i can play as well. Great looking tanks eveyone!

For those who have tangs in theirs how do you feel they do in the tank and would you have any suggestions for keeping them in these tanks. Im not tang police, but i want to know your experiences with them.

i keep a very small purple tang, a coral beauty angel and a few chromis.. i feel if you don't have many fish in the tank and and you keep them well fed they do fine. mines been in there for about a year and hes happy as can be.

Oh I see haha. What is the blue covering the rocks? Clove polyps?

yeah the blue is cloves polyps gone wild.. they grow like weeds but the sps dont seem to mind them so, oh well ha

 

[Mordoff]

i keep a very small purple tang, a coral beauty angel and a few chromis.. i feel if you don't have many fish in the tank and and you keep them well fed they do fine. mines been in there for about a year and hes happy as can be.


yeah the blue is cloves polyps gone wild.. they grow like weeds but the sps dont seem to mind them so, oh well ha

haha very cool. do you ever sell any blue cloves? In on socal.

 

[DBarsotti]

haha very cool. do you ever sell any blue cloves? In on socal.

i've sold them to my LFS, never shipped any, guess i could altho i don't have any mounted on plugs

 

[DBarsotti]

heres a better one i thought i'd throw in

 

[greech]

^^ Greech I love that rockwork!

Thank you, I like yours a lot too. Wish I could have found a few pieces like yours.

Beautiful tank as well DBarsotti!

 

[DBarsotti]

Thank you, I like yours a lot too. Wish I could have found a few pieces like yours.

Beautiful tank as well DBarsotti!

thanks!

 

[asl4me76]

Ok, so -- I thought I'd show some photos of my 40gal Breeder. This is photo intensive, so I apologize in advance .. but you'll get the idea.

I also have some growth pictures of one of the acans I got in a group buy from ReefKingdom this past spring. This photo is shortly after I got it.

This is Lenny -- he's a new edition to the tank as of today. As you can see I am going through an algae bloom, but here he is just chilling!

When I was out shopping, I couldn't help but pick this guy up! Tell me whatcha think about him!!!! He's a black and purple looking tube worm.

My duncan and another SPS (the duncan started out as a single head, now has close to 20 on it)

Some Japanese Deep Sea Zoa's (top right) and some other Zoa's:

Another Aussie Acan (believe it is Slithering Snake Eyes) and some Zoo's:

Some new Zoa's from Dallas CFM: