40g Breeder macro/mangrove lagoon build!

kpk

kpk

Been Reefin'
Well like I need another....but I'm doing it anyways.

Built the stand the last few days and picked up a tank a few weeks ago. It has a crack in the silicone so gotta exchange it but no big deal hopefully.

The current plan is to drill the back of the tank about 4-6" from the top and install an overflow box so the water level is 3-4" from the top of the tank and a 3-4" sand bed. This will make an 9-10" was column for a mangrove lagoon style setup and maybe even a little waterfall or something. I'm getting creative on this one....

20g sump
Reef octo or bubble magus skimmer
Eheim 1250 return
Couple cheap power heads
120w Chinese led pendant

What do u think!? Any comments?

 
With a macro type lagoon tank, I see little point to the skimmer and the sump/refugium. Save your money for better lights. On a 4' long 40G breeder tank a 120W Chinese pendent will not adequately spread the light. I happen to like T5 for econominal and dependable lighting that works all the time. With cheap LED, you will find them lacking. Because of heat issues, I removed MH and power compact lighting from my 75G Jaubert Plenum from my 11 year old set up. I opted for several 4' lamp at 12K reef spectrum from BUILDMYLED. On your 40G breeder, you would require one 4' lamp using 90 degree optics to get full coverage over the complete tank.
Patrick
 
I think you may be thinking of a 40g long. The breeder is 36" long 18" wide and 16" tall. The light should have plenty of coverage and I have two on my reef tank with lps, zoas, and sps with success. If you are talking about spectrum then they may lack a little, but its plenty of light to grow macros. I grow macros in my fuge under a 15w cfl bulb....

Can u elaborate on the light? This is my first planted type setup, but have had a few fuges.
 
Subsea said:
With a macro type lagoon tank, I see little point to the skimmer and the sump/refugium. Save your money for better lights. On a 4' long 40G breeder tank a 120W Chinese pendent will not adequately spread the light. I happen to like T5 for econominal and dependable lighting that works all the time. With cheap LED, you will find them lacking. Because of heat issues, I removed MH and power compact lighting from my 75G Jaubert Plenum from my 11 year old set up. I opted for several 4' lamp at 12K reef spectrum from BUILDMYLED. On your 40G breeder, you would require one 4' lamp using 90 degree optics to get full coverage over the complete tank.
Patrick
Click to expand...

I just re-read your post. I think your just talking about coverage only not light adequacy itself. My bad!

Happy, I'm ready to get it going as well! I've never done one, but I went snorkeling down at riviera maya a few weeks ago and it was lagoon type stuff. Really cool!
 
You guys stay tuned. Got the tank traded today and will probably drill this next week. Gotta paint the stand and attach the pendant "arm"/stand.

Will take some pics as it progresses.
 
kpk said:
I think you may be thinking of a 40g long. The breeder is 36" long 18" wide and 16" tall. The light should have plenty of coverage and I have two on my reef tank with lps, zoas, and sps with success. If you are talking about spectrum then they may lack a little, but its plenty of light to grow macros. I grow macros in my fuge under a 15w cfl bulb....

Can u elaborate on the light? This is my first planted type setup, but have had a few fuges.
Click to expand...

I have quite a few different macro lagoon tanks with as many different lighting systems. Do not compare cfl with LED. With some macro, spectrum may not matter, just like with some coral.
If you plan on growing mangroves, be cautioned, they grow into trees. You will need an open topped aquarium. The stream line lamp from Build My LED works well for an open topped aquarium. I used their four foot 12K reef spectrum light on a 40 gallon tank. With your tank, use a 3' lamp and evaluate results. In my opinion it is better to be under illuminated than over illuminated. In a 16" deep tank with a BUILDMYLED over the compete length, I measured PAR values of 100 at the bottom, 150 midway and 370 at water surface.
In 44 years of reef-keeping, I can highly recommend this lamp for your application.
Patrick
 
Thanks for the info! I'll look into that for sure. Here's the light I've got and was going to use.

 
As far as a sump goes I'm still going to have one it'll only be for a top off system, heater, sock, and maybe a skimmer later down the road. But like subsea said I think a skimmer would be Close to pointless. I mean all the plants pull out nutrients, plus they need them to grow and survive. My biggest deal with a sump is top off.....call me lazy lol.
 
I like sumps to allow for auto top off without having to see changing water level surface.

However, the simplicity of a stand alone lagoon tank is very desirable for economy reefing.
Patrick
 
Went ahead with the sump, etc. I had the pump, 20g tank, and all the plumbing so I figured why not.

Did a little drilling and fitting tonight. Need a box now. Coming together......




 
I've looked at that. I think I saw you posting in the mangrove thread and looked at your recent posts. Pretty cool setup!! Need more pics!

What are you going to do for substrate?

What's you guys opinion on that? Coarse aragonite about 1"-2" or something else? DSB?
 
If your goal is to grow macro for nutrient recycling, I see little need for excessive substrate. Use 1" of CaribSea "Florida Crushed Coral. During lights out, bacteria will maintain your reef chemistry.
While I have DSB that is 11 years old, I prefer lagoon style tanks for ease of operation.
Patrick
 
Man Patrick I already added some used sand from a guys 75g. It's probably a year old or so so it's got some life in it. I took some pics this morning with a little clearer waters. I'll post a pic in a few...
 
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