Breeders...show your setups!
- Thread starter mcegelsk
- Start date
Fishboy42
Premium Member
This question was asked and discussed in an older thread that you may want to check out (and perhaps why people aren't responding here, maybe bump this one and see if anyone else will contribute?...some consider their setup information proprietary and won't be willing to share):
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=110075
This one talks about using 10g tanks:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=746860&highligh
HTH
Matt
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=110075
This one talks about using 10g tanks:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=746860&highligh
HTH
Matt
ONEMANBAND
New member
Its gonna depend on what you want to breed, I used to use a bunch of 2.5gallon tanks with box filters, all drilled and connected to a large sump, UV and fed properly for the species. Never seen round tanks for anything except cephalopods thats a news to me.
David M
New member
It's a pretty broad subject, that one thread is about the best we have on it I think. Basically most people plumb a buch of tanks together and use a common sump/ central filtration. How you do it depends on the space you have, the configuration of that space, the system size, your budget, and what species you wanna raise. I'll bet most people's systems are like mine, a mix of designs because you are always improving every time you expand 
If I were starting over I'd try to pick a design that can be expanded in a repetative way without redoing what you start with. What I mean by that is let's say you have 12' of wall space and are just starting out with 6 tanks. You might tend to set them end to end and use the whole wall... don't. Build a rack starting from one corner and set them short side out, 2 or 3 tanks high. IOW use as little space as possible, you may want to make that into 30 tanks before your'e done 
Round tanks are not very space efficient but if had the room thats the way I'd go for larvae and growout.
I have a room 9' X 20' and already have 850 gals total water volume in there. I have plans to expand to 1200+, if that gets too small I'll be rich enough to build an addition
Probably the best improvement I've made since I started was putting a sink & counter in there along with a deep freeze & small fridge right outside the door. Incredible time saver and keeps me from fighting with Mrs. M over the kitchen sink :smokin:
If I were starting over I'd try to pick a design that can be expanded in a repetative way without redoing what you start with. What I mean by that is let's say you have 12' of wall space and are just starting out with 6 tanks. You might tend to set them end to end and use the whole wall... don't. Build a rack starting from one corner and set them short side out, 2 or 3 tanks high. IOW use as little space as possible, you may want to make that into 30 tanks before your'e done Round tanks are not very space efficient but if had the room thats the way I'd go for larvae and growout.
I have a room 9' X 20' and already have 850 gals total water volume in there. I have plans to expand to 1200+, if that gets too small I'll be rich enough to build an addition
Probably the best improvement I've made since I started was putting a sink & counter in there along with a deep freeze & small fridge right outside the door. Incredible time saver and keeps me from fighting with Mrs. M over the kitchen sink :smokin:
mcegelsk
New member
David M- Thanks, great insight.
Still my major question remains has anyone noticed from EXPERIENCE the difference between a cylinder vs. square tank setup. Supposedly the round is better since there aren't abrupt stops for circulation (dead/cold spots). Any experience with this out there?
Still my major question remains has anyone noticed from EXPERIENCE the difference between a cylinder vs. square tank setup. Supposedly the round is better since there aren't abrupt stops for circulation (dead/cold spots). Any experience with this out there?
David M
New member
Here's a few thoughts on equipment:
Pumps- look carefully at pump specs before you choose. More often than not multiple smaller pumps are less expensive and more efficient than one big one. That seems to be the case with most I've looked at. Also if one fails the replacement cost is low and it's quick fix, especially if you keep a spare around. I keep wanting to use this commercial RK-2 pump I picked up to replace all my small submeribles but every time I do the math it doesn't make sense. Uses 3X the electrity to pump the same volume, the plumbing would be costly (2" fittings & valves are not cheap) and if it failed the whole system would go down and repacement cost would be crippling.
Lights- I'm switching over from standard fluorescent "shoplights" with GE Chroma 50 lamps to NO 10K T-5's. Inexpensive to buy and waaaay more efficient.
Heat- I get a lot of arguement on this one but for me insulating and heating the room has saved about $150 a month over having seperate in-tank heaters.
Pumps- look carefully at pump specs before you choose. More often than not multiple smaller pumps are less expensive and more efficient than one big one. That seems to be the case with most I've looked at. Also if one fails the replacement cost is low and it's quick fix, especially if you keep a spare around. I keep wanting to use this commercial RK-2 pump I picked up to replace all my small submeribles but every time I do the math it doesn't make sense. Uses 3X the electrity to pump the same volume, the plumbing would be costly (2" fittings & valves are not cheap) and if it failed the whole system would go down and repacement cost would be crippling.
Lights- I'm switching over from standard fluorescent "shoplights" with GE Chroma 50 lamps to NO 10K T-5's. Inexpensive to buy and waaaay more efficient.
Heat- I get a lot of arguement on this one but for me insulating and heating the room has saved about $150 a month over having seperate in-tank heaters.
David M
New member
Now you are not asking about systems anymore Let me be the first to give you the standard answer- you need a copy of Joyce Wilkersons book Clownfishes 
Read that and then come back with your questions Nobody will talk to you until you do, it's "the unwritten law" here at FBF :lol:
BTW it doesn't matter what species you want to breed, you still need that book, as well as Martin Moe's Breeding the Orchid Dottyback This is Fish Breeding 101 and those are the prerequisits :smokin:
Let me be the first to give you the standard answer- you need a copy of Joyce Wilkersons book Clownfishes Read that and then come back with your questions Nobody will talk to you until you do, it's "the unwritten law" here at FBF :lol: BTW it doesn't matter what species you want to breed, you still need that book, as well as Martin Moe's Breeding the Orchid Dottyback This is Fish Breeding 101 and those are the prerequisits :smokin:
clownfish75
New member
I have never had a chance to try cyclindrical tanks yet, at lests not for clownfish. I am yet to find an animal that really needs them, maybe the shrimps will.
I agree with david, insulate the environement works wonders, as does having a decent reverse cycle chiller to heat and cool the water, control of water temp gives you greater control of spawning.
personally i use one bigger pump, rather than smaller pumps, first of less power points (im running out) and my biggest pump is the one with the best service life so far, it has done 2 years straight whilst the smaller ones die every 6months to a year. Not to mention having some pressure helps heaps.
I would also add frank hoffs book on rearing of clownfish as a good one.
Good luck
Christian
I agree with david, insulate the environement works wonders, as does having a decent reverse cycle chiller to heat and cool the water, control of water temp gives you greater control of spawning.
personally i use one bigger pump, rather than smaller pumps, first of less power points (im running out) and my biggest pump is the one with the best service life so far, it has done 2 years straight whilst the smaller ones die every 6months to a year. Not to mention having some pressure helps heaps.
I would also add frank hoffs book on rearing of clownfish as a good one.
Good luck
Christian
clownfish75
New member
Thanks David your a gem!!! how much does that make each one worth?
