40 Gallon Breeder Setup and Running!

[dustinsterk]

So I finally got everything setup......plumbed and wired. Here is some photos. Let me know if anything looks out of wack.

BEFORE....
--SEE THE BEFORE PHOTOS BELOW IN NEXT POST--


AFTER....
T5 lights from ReefGeek.com:


Sump and stuff (that is the new extremeline octo skimmer):


Water JUST added:


Day Later:


Day after that:


Starting the break in cycle with some Damsels (all levels at zero):


More Photos:










Thanks for lookin....ill keep eveyone posted on updates, etc.

Thanks!

Dustin

 

[dustinsterk]

BEFORE....

 

[a1amap]

Nice setup. Looks setup well from what I can see. You may want to consider dumping the sponge thats on the output of the skimmer. I had one on my ASM and as it filtered the water and clogged a bit the water level in the skimmer rose. Also the sponges need to be cleaned regulary as they can become a nitrate source.

 

[dustinsterk]

Thanks! Ok good suggestion.....there is also a sponge on the pump...should i get rid of that too?

If i remove the sponges on the skimmer how do you quite that splashing? Plumb in a pipe of some sort.....?

 

[dustinsterk]

Any issues without having fans on my lights??....the canopy is not big enough or allow enough room for fans......not causing any issue with temp, but didnt know if it would totally kill the bulbs as some people hint at.

 

[a1amap]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12357588#post12357588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dustinsterk
Thanks! Ok good suggestion.....there is also a sponge on the pump...should i get rid of that too?

If i remove the sponges on the skimmer how do you quite that splashing? Plumb in a pipe of some sort.....?

I would keep the return pump sponge just clean it often. I clean mine every week. It is easier to clean that sponge then to remove the skimmer sponge. As for the skimmer, I have an ASM G4X+ that is built the same as the octopus skimmer. Check this out: http://delreefclub.org/home/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=28&topic=85.0

 

[a1amap]

I don't have fans either some people if they have temp issues put a fan next to the tank and blow air across the water. Clip on fans from wallmart work well too.

 

[logans_daddy]

looking very good.

my only suggestion would be to try and divide your sump with baffles if your going to have it pull double duty as your refugium(which i assume your doing with the LR). Im not sure how productive having only LR will be for you. You may want to consider a SB and macro as well. Either way, with out baffles your going to have a lot of detritus collecting in your sump that will hamper the performance of your skimmer.

As far as sponges go i think their usless. utilizing your baffles as a bubble trap will take care of your bubbles and simply vaccuming out your sump every or every other water change and having a strainer on your intake will be more than sufficient to keep pumps running smoothly.

oh...and on a safety not...you may want to get that powerstrip away from your sump. simply mount it on the side or back of your stand with drip loops and a GFCI for your lights only.

otherwise...looking really good. did you build the stand? or purchase it? i really like the canopy design. very nice.

shawn

 

[Gordonious]

I really like this set up. I like that the rocks are pulled away from the edges, the DIYS overflow looks very clean and nicely done. The lights were done great as well. I had noticed last week that the temp in my main display was up to 84. I kicked on a fan and the temp dropped about a degree every 30 minutes down to 78. Perhaps we should have someone in the club look into demonstrating a DIYS fan with a thermostat.

So how long has the tank been running?(IE when can you start adding the cool animals) Do you have a plan for which fish and what type of corals you want to keep?

 

[dustinsterk]

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments!

I will have to do something similar for the skimmer plumbing. As far as the power goes I have installed this:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/American-DJ-PC-100A-8-Switch-ON-OFF-Power-Center-100313636-i1155517.gc?source=

Works really well and keeps thing tidy and off the ground!

As far as the stand goes it is custom made......with the help of a friend who owns a woodshop. That made things a million times easier. Thanks for the canopy comments....I tried to make it basic enough but if I had to redo it....would allow room for the fans!

I will also rethink the baffels idea. I originally tried to make my sump with them, but could NOT get the glass to cut correctly so I gave up. If you think it will cut maintenance then I may have to give it a go again.


This weekend I was away and when I got home my water temp was at 88 degrees!!! I am without question going to have to install some fans (clip on maybe). I will update the pics once completed.

The tank has been running for about a week now. Things are going well so far (as far as levels go that is). I am not sure what corals/fish I want to add. Any suggestions for the 40 gallon size? This is my first salt water tank so I dont want anything too crazy, but has to be colorful enough to impress the girlfriend.

--Dustin

 

[logans_daddy]

The DJ strips are awesome...its exactly what i use. Wow...really good job on the tank and canopy....very impressed.

Clip on fan should work fine but maybe noisy.

My suggestion would be two PC fans mounted on each side of the canopy. Have one pull air out and one push air in. A clip on fan in the stand will just circulate hot air and make noise.

If you want to get really fancy you can get an adjustable rpm fan with temp probe that will only kick on when needed.

looks like your off to a very good start...keep up the good work~

shawn

 

[dustinsterk]

Thanks Shawn......those are good ideas....I just have to check if I have the room for the fans. I will let you know how I make out. Any other suggestions on corals a fish?

 

[logans_daddy]

I will let other people pipe in about coral selection since im just starting to add corals to my tank(long time FOWL).

As far as fish goes my best advice would be to just take your time and plan ahead. Try not to be impulsive and just buy whats in stock and never buy anything that you dont know anything about.

After your tank cycles i think blue/green chromis are your best bet. very cheap, readily available, and very hard. unlike damsels, they are very peaceful and you can leave them in your tank longterm.

ill make a couple of suggestions taht should be good for your tank.

royal gramma
clownfish
firefish
chromis
kaudern's or pajama cardinal

and maybe a nice wrasse or dwarf angel as your centerpiece

keep in mind that the firefish and wrasse are jumpers and the dwarf angel may nip at some corals.

I have or have had all of these fish. They are all beautiful, the appropriate size for your tank, hardy, peaceful, cheap(relatively), and readily availble.

there are many more options that would work in your tank and hundreds of combinations. just do your homework and make sure you can provide proper conditions for the fish.

the biggest and most common mistake i think new hobbyist make aare buying fish with special needs, fish that grow too large for their tank(i.e, not tangs for you!), or buying aggressive fish that they have to later remove.

maybe you can start a new thread for stocking advice and other members can give their two cents.

shawn

 

[icy1155]

With those lights you should be able to keep most any corals. What type of corals do you like... softies, shrooms, zoas, lps, sps? You should also be ok with keeping a clam in there, just be warned that some of them grow BIG quick.

For fish, I agree with Logans-daddy. Most of the fish mentioned would be great in there. For a wrasse, a sixline might be a nice addition. I would also include some interesting inverts such as a couple cleaner shrimp... they are interesting and like to play on your hands when your in the tank for something.

 

[dustinsterk]

Cool thanks guys....maybe I will spawn another thread for more advice! I will keep things updated once i start my planning and purchase my fishies. I am getting excited! As far as corals I like them all......I am an active SCUBA diver so the more colorful the better! I will have to take a look around for the easiest and most colorful corals.....I guess maybe those would be sps or softies.

 

[Gordonious]

I'd agree with most of the above. Stay clear of damsels and be very careful not to impulse buy. Trust me when I say 99% of what you see in an LFS will be there again and won't be impossible to find. Start to think about what you would like to keep now. Maybe do a search for.. "fish for a 40breeder" or something like that.

As far as corals I would say find some cool mushrooms you like now and throw them in as they are hardy as anything.(as long as your temp isn't still creeping up like that) Like Icy said, any idea if your going to work towards softies, lps, or sps? If your not sure the difference I would read up on it a bit and perhaps start with softies. You can always trade away things if you don't think you want them in the future.

 

[icy1155]

If you want colorful interesting corals, I would definatly go with a mix of softies and LPS. Both move a bit and come in a wide variety of colors and shapes.

 

[dustinsterk]

Great info....will do! Gordonious by the way I am the guy who bought those bulkheads from you a few Sundays ago.......you saved me from big trouble.......Thanks again!

 

[FBNitro]

I'm curious, did you drill the tank yourself, or did you find a manufacturer that does a pre-drilled 40 gallon breeder?

 

[Gordonious]

I thought it was you Dustin. Glad I could help you out. Have you come over to the DRC website yet?

FBNitro I believe he drilled himself. If you're looking for a drilled tank though talk with your LFSs and see if they can ask there wholesalers if they can order in a 40 breeder drilled. The shop I work at can order tanks drilled anyway you want and another shop near us drills tanks for coustmers.(cost a lot though) I personally have drilled tons of tanks myself.