40 gallon breeder build

[ShadowRancher]

Cool build, fellow SW newbie here thinking of doing a 40B reef in the next few months. I have 4 FW 40s on edsal racks currently (2 racks like the pic below) and was thinking of doing another rack next to them (hey you're supposed to design stuff in threes the fiancee cant argue with that right?) with a softie reef up top and a 40 sump/fuge plumbed below. I've never cut/plumbed a tank though so I'm trying to figure out how best to do that with this set up...I'm thinking black flex hose that I can try to run down the legs then I'll paint the utility parts of the sump black and only leave the fuge visible.

Cool build though, I'll keep checking it out

 

[tazdvl]

You might want to look at a plastic versions for the the metal brackets on your PVC Those could be problematic down the road.

 

[scelona]

Here's my aquascape...I don't know if I like though cuz I feel like it's too high. Thoughts?

I like the structure overall but maybe you could try and utilize more high and low points, that would be my only comment.

 

[scelona]

Also, if that sock extends over the back of the tank, it's going to wick water out.

I ended up moving the sock more into the filter so I think it should be good. Currently my water is so clean that Im not getting any bubbling or clogging so we will have to see down the road when I add fish.

 

[scelona]

You might want to look at a plastic versions for the the metal brackets on your PVC Those could be problematic down the road.

What is your worry with the metal, just rust and what not? Thanks for bringing up your concern this is the type of feedback I like to hear.

 

[scelona]

There's a lot of us with 40 Breeder reef tanks.

Here's a link to my 40GBr build thread, if you want to check it out for ideas and such. Welcome and enjoy the process (because it's a long process).

I have two Ocellaris Clownfish, Twin Spot Goby, Lawnmower Blenny, Firefish and two Banghaii Cardinals.

Here's a pic of mine at about 3 months in, just to hopefully keep you inspired as you go along...

Really nice looking tank man, the fish list I am looking at is pretty similar except I am looking at a diamond watchman goby to patrol the sand.

 

[scelona]

Cool build, fellow SW newbie here thinking of doing a 40B reef in the next few months. I have 4 FW 40s on edsal racks currently (2 racks like the pic below) and was thinking of doing another rack next to them (hey you're supposed to design stuff in threes the fiancee cant argue with that right?) with a softie reef up top and a 40 sump/fuge plumbed below. I've never cut/plumbed a tank though so I'm trying to figure out how best to do that with this set up...I'm thinking black flex hose that I can try to run down the legs then I'll paint the utility parts of the sump black and only leave the fuge visible.

Cool build though, I'll keep checking it out

This was my first time plumbing a tank and it really wasn't too bad, just do a lot of measuring and keep it simple in my opinion. I am sure a SW tank would look great with all your freshwater set ups!

 

[scelona]

The live rock I am using (man made live rock) isn't as porous as a lot of the other rocks out there so I decided to add a bunch of porous ruble to my sump. I wanted to make it easy to remove for cleaning so I made a basket out of eggcrate and zip ties.



The basket ended up being a little big so I had to trim it down, final product:

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Really nice looking tank man, the fish list I am looking at is pretty similar except I am looking at a diamond watchman goby to patrol the sand.

Thanks.

Oh definitely go with the DW Goby. That was my plan until I rescued the Twin Spot. DW Gobies are so much easier to care for and eat a variety of foods, yet still keep the sand nice.

Keep up the great work...I always love seeing others' 40G Breeder tanks.

 

[scelona]

...

 

[scelona]

Finally got my lights! They are looking great except that my rock that sticks up highest is being blasted by blue light so I am going to try and adjust the lenses to solve that.

Unboxing and frothing


First test at 30% (channel with just blue lights is off, pictures were looking super blue)

 

[Isaacs55]

Reefbreeders? Or photon?

 

[scelona]

Reefbreeders? Or photon?

It's a reefbreeders photon 24

 

[Isaacs55]

Oh ok cool light man!

 

[scelona]

Thanks I am really happy with the lights so far, they look terrific in person.

So I put my canopy back on, took off the lid, and mounted the lights to the rim on the canopy using the attached legs. The color spread looks a lot better and the light is about 11" from the surface of the water now.

Channel 1 at 30%, still might have to remove a couple of optics as there are some colored spots


Channel 1 and 2 at 30%

 

[scelona]

Got a couple of new pieces of equipment set up.

Stand for my skimmer made of pvc, zip ties, and acrylic.


Reef octopus 110 in action, it is a real tight fit


I was going to build an acrylic ATO reservoir but it looked like supplies alone were going to cost me around $70 so I found a cooler for $10 at pep boys ($40 on amazon) that holds a little over 7 gallons of water and put it in a storage ottoman.


All closed up


I am adding a couple of snails today and hopefully some coral next week as long as my mag, alk, and cal remain stable.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Clever idea on the hidden ATO reservoir.

 

[scelona]

Clever idea on the hidden ATO reservoir.

Thanks, I still need to get the ATO all set up and then its coral time.

 

[kcochran0010]

Subscribed !

 

[scelona]

Been a real long time since I updated my build thread. I had a complicated issue with unstable alk and cal that looks to finally have settled down and I traveled a ton for work the last couple of months. Here are the latest big additions:

I got an apex because I love gadgets and they are awesome:


And a friend of mine gave me two corals, a frogspawn and a kenya tree:



I still have not figured out how to properly photography the tank, I have to turn the blues completely off or the photo looks completely washed out in blue light.