Advice for setting up my first reef tank

Supposedly bigger is better for nutrient export some say like 1/3 the tank volume even. IMO microfauna is kinda overrated unless you have a mandarin, it's just more poop and can drive down your alk. You can also put macro right in the display since your tanks too small for any seriously herbivoracious fish. I've had shaving brushes and red stuff in my dt that looked really cool.

When I started my tank I though a fuge was necessary, cause it seemed like everyone has them, and biodiversity or whatever. But I think they don't really help that much, and if it turns into another place for detritus to collect and decay, your nitrate increase can outweigh the benefits. So I set my sump up to be easily cleaned, I think catching poop there and removing it is a better way to achieve the good water quality my tank thrives on.
 
CStrickland said:
Supposedly bigger is better for nutrient export some say like 1/3 the tank volume even. IMO microfauna is kinda overrated unless you have a mandarin, it's just more poop and can drive down your alk. You can also put macro right in the display since your tanks too small for any seriously herbivoracious fish. I've had shaving brushes and red stuff in my dt that looked really cool.

When I started my tank I though a fuge was necessary, cause it seemed like everyone has them, and biodiversity or whatever. But I think they don't really help that much, and if it turns into another place for detritus to collect and decay, your nitrate increase can outweigh the benefits. So I set my sump up to be easily cleaned, I think catching poop there and removing it is a better way to achieve the good water quality my tank thrives on.
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A lot of interesting info there. I've got plenty of time. I'll have to give it all a lot of thought.
 
I just built my 40 and it seems like you have made mostly good choices on equipment. My 40 is drilled for 3/4 return, 1.5 street drain ( you want bigger than a 1" or u get slurping noises ). I bought a single mp40 which is more than enough, 1 Kessil 360we on a Kessil controller but if you are getting an apex then you don't need it, aquac ev 120 skimmer on a mag5 pump, mag 9.5 return pump, and a gravity fed top off. After I get some corals in the tank I'll add the dosing pumps and some other goodies. Just don't skimp on equipment. Quality stuff lasts. My whole setup is just under 3k but I'll be able to grow anything in the tank once everything is settled.
 
WaReefer458 said:
I just built my 40 and it seems like you have made mostly good choices on equipment. My 40 is drilled for 3/4 return, 1.5 street drain ( you want bigger than a 1" or u get slurping noises ). I bought a single mp40 which is more than enough, 1 Kessil 360we on a Kessil controller but if you are getting an apex then you don't need it, aquac ev 120 skimmer on a mag5 pump, mag 9.5 return pump, and a gravity fed top off. After I get some corals in the tank I'll add the dosing pumps and some other goodies. Just don't skimp on equipment. Quality stuff lasts. My whole setup is just under 3k but I'll be able to grow anything in the tank once everything is settled.
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Thanks for your input. I'm already subscribed to your build. Love the look of your setup.

I like the look of the kessils, bit I absolutely need a hood over the tank. You have a 10 month old that pulls cables, I have a 2 year old that would want to climb in and swim.
 
BeachBum2012 said:
Thanks for your input. I'm already subscribed to your build. Love the look of your setup.

I like the look of the kessils, bit I absolutely need a hood over the tank. You have a 10 month old that pulls cables, I have a 2 year old that would want to climb in and swim.
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That's why I had the stand built 40" high. She won't be able to reach the top of the tank for a long time.
 
WaReefer458 said:
That's why I had the stand built 40" high. She won't be able to reach the top of the tank for a long time.
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I'm thinking about a stand at about that height too. You'd be surprised though. Walked into the kitchen to find her sitting on the counter with her hand in the cookie jar a few weeks ago. She stacked toys to climb on.
 
BeachBum2012 said:
I'm thinking about a stand at about that height too. You'd be surprised though. Walked into the kitchen to find her sitting on the counter with her hand in the cookie jar a few weeks ago. She stacked toys to climb on.
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Lol. Don't remind me what's coming. Yeah, so far everything is looking good with mine but a couple things I would have changed is mainly with the stand. I'm fighting condensation inside the stand and under the tank. I'm probably going to be building a new stand as I'm not all that thrilled with it. It's just temporary but it still sucks knowing I spent 220 bucks on something that is not going to work for the long haul.
 
WaReefer458 said:
Lol. Don't remind me what's coming. Yeah, so far everything is looking good with mine but a couple things I would have changed is mainly with the stand. I'm fighting condensation inside the stand and under the tank. I'm probably going to be building a new stand as I'm not all that thrilled with it. It's just temporary but it still sucks knowing I spent 220 bucks on something that is not going to work for the long haul.
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I'm going back and forth between building a steel stand and skinning it or going with a 2x4 build. Either way I've thought about adding some quiet PC fans to help with heat and humidity in the stand.
 
BeachBum2012 said:
I'm going back and forth between building a steel stand and skinning it or going with a 2x4 build. Either way I've thought about adding some quiet PC fans to help with heat and humidity in the stand.
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That's what I was thinking but I just can't find any that have a standard 110 plug on it. All the ones I can find plug into a computer power supply
 
WaReefer458 said:
That's what I was thinking but I just can't find any that have a standard 110 plug on it. All the ones I can find plug into a computer power supply
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Look up AC Infinity 115v cooling fans on Amazon. They were the first I found in my limited search for a solution a while back.
 
Another quick idea...
4802dd71b5989ea13a0830845e68ed3e.jpg
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Definitely going to weld a stand at 40" tall. Thinking about a shelf part way down to hold equipment and a section for the Apex stuff.
 
Picked up my filter.
0281edb8aa9756c36d4c77f871ff8883.jpg

Just kidding. My RODI is here though. Need to pick up a couple of rain barrels or Brutes, a pump and some plumbing and I'll have a mixing station going.

My overflow showed up too.
17352df82891d2f118887d0dbb0459ed.jpg
a42c3c515765b1045e80c5289813429e.jpg

I wanted to build my own, but with young kids, I don't get much garage time. I'll spend it welding a stand and building a sump instead. It has 3 inch and a half bulkheads that I'll reduce to 1 inch for a BeanAnimal drain.
 
Might I suggest that the 3rd (safety) bulkhead remain at 1.5" , and possibly the 2nd as well. You want the safety to be able to handle the maximum output of your return pump. Also BRS is doing their 52 weeks of reefing series on YouTube, I love their vids and that series has been chalk full of great info.
 
tennesseebob said:
Might I suggest that the 3rd (safety) bulkhead remain at 1.5" , and possibly the 2nd as well. You want the safety to be able to handle the maximum output of your return pump. Also BRS is doing their 52 weeks of reefing series on YouTube, I love their vids and that series has been chalk full of great info.
Click to expand...
That series, and BRS in general has been an amazing help. I can't possibly say enough great things about them.

I like your suggestion. Definitely the 3rd line at least. Judging by the calculators, I think 1 inch at a fully siphon might be overkill for a 40 gallon. I'll crunch the numbers again, but I don't see a problem with the secondary also being larger.
 
Here is a list that I've made. I already have the equipment in yellow, and all of the plumbing taken care of. Can you folds help me fill in the blanks? Thanks a ton.
21716450e5f4983cbabb21a115c4b051.jpg
 
I don't have a controller yet, but apex gold seems overkill, may not be, you might think about the apex cable for your jebao powerheads, I def would with an apex
 
tennesseebob said:
I don't have a controller yet, but apex gold seems overkill, may not be, you might think about the apex cable for your jebao powerheads, I def would with an apex
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Good call on cables. I want the Gold now, because I know myself well enough to realize this tank is just the beginning. Thanks.
 
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