40 breeder restart: Reef to FOWLR

[Kayadad]

While building my own house about a decade ago, my 40 breeder reef fell into into some issues and I simply did not have time to take care of it. My 4x39w HO T5 lighting went down (I believe it was just a bulb) and I lost everything. I ended up taking it down. I put the 50+ lbs of live rock in a covered tub with heater and pump where it has been sitting for the last 10 years in my basement. I kept most of the equipment but have used some of it for other projects (ACjr runs my chicken coop!)

We are finally getting to a place in life where I want to start going again. I have a nice spot that will be using a basement sump. My wife says if I am successful with the 40B, I can upgrade to a much larger tank.

Budget is a small concern, as in I can't go crazy but can get what I need. Electricity rates are also a concern.

I am pretty sure my euro-reef skimmer will be good to go for now. I have filter socks, heaters, a tunze powerhead and controller, another few maxijet (diy maxiprop) powerheads, buckets of salt, a medusa heater controller, and some test equiplement. From there I have some questions.

I have an Icecap 660 4x39w HO T5 setup with individual reflectors. I am sure this is going to more light than I want or need. I am also unsure why it stopped working, but at the time suspected a bad bulb. I think 2 of the 39w T5's would be plenty. Can my IC 660 do this? Or should I go purchase another ballast ($25) that will fire 2 39w T5s? Which T5 lights would be good for my setup?

Since I will be doing a basement sump, I will need a new return pump. I live in the Mtns and besides a few weeks a year, our weather is cool. The sump will be a custom built for the size using wood framing and pond liner (I have some laying around). I will use tubs within the sump for bubble and water level control. I was thinking of going with something like a cheap mag drive pump which will help heat the water. Would this be wise?

I have no clue what I want for stocking, but definitely looking for suggestions on stocking a 40B.

 

[Kayadad]

I do hav ea few extra tanks and will be doing a quarantine tank. I also plan on doing a dsb in my sump. I am not sure if I will be going with sand in the tank. My reef was bb.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I would go to the lighting forum here and ask about your lights. As for stocking what fish interest you? You could do a really cool flasher wrasse only tank and put 6-8 male flasher wrasses of different species, this would be really beautiful. You can also add a few LPS corals that would give the tank extra movement. There are many things you can do and fish you can get, just use your imagination. Go to Live Aquaria and look at the marine fish in this link. They are by species. Each fish has the requirements for water and also tank size. Start with the nano fish and then look around from there.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15

 

[Kayadad]

I got the lights rewired and working with 2 bulbs. One of the bulbs was bad and the 660 wouldn't run with that bulb in.

 

[Kayadad]

I would go to the lighting forum here and ask about your lights. As for stocking what fish interest you? You could do a really cool flasher wrasse only tank and put 6-8 male flasher wrasses of different species, this would be really beautiful. You can also add a few LPS corals that would give the tank extra movement. There are many things you can do and fish you can get, just use your imagination. Go to Live Aquaria and look at the marine fish in this link. They are by species. Each fish has the requirements for water and also tank size. Start with the nano fish and then look around from there.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15

Thank you! Sorry for the delay. I have been looking into the flasher and fairy wrasses. I like the idea of having a few, not sure if I would do the whole tank.