Dragonfish's 40B Build Log

[DragonFish]

Well, I'm far enough along now to start posting my log. I took down my 33 Oceanic cube recently (bought by a local reefer with a build thread in this forum!) and have been slowly working on my 40 Breeder. I don't have a lot of spare wall space and I wanted a shallow tank so the 40B seemed to be the ideal size. Basic specs are below, and I'll keep the chat to a minimum

40 gallon AGA Breeder
DIY stand inspired by several stands in the DIY forum
29 Gallon perma-sump (I'll explain later)
4 x 39w Tek T5HO
Drilled with center DIY Mailbox overflow
Rio Seio powerheads (to be replaced)
Rio HF10 return pump

Step one: Surface prep. Once requirement my wife had for setting up a new tank was to replace the old carpet. This is the result.

This is the basic frame of the stand, built using the DIY Stand Calculator in the DIY section.

And the finished stand. I love the way it turned out, and am especially happy with the access panel handles.

Tank on finished stand.

Last pic for now, holes!

More pics tonight. Thanks for reading!

 

[Shane Hoffman]

The stand is beautiful...you dont often see folks go with white nowadays...I like it..

The floor looks good. Ver classy when combined with the white..your wife has an eye for decor...

 

[E.intheC]

looks great! I am starting a 40 breeder soon as well, so I'll be tagging along for sure

 

[Jeff]

Looks great! Why no hinges on the door?

 

[DragonFish]

I liked the functionality of a large access panel better than doors.

 

[DragonFish]

A few new pictures to add. Sorry for the crappy camera-phone pics, my camera battery died.

This is the perma-sump. Basically a perma-sump is one that is wedged so tightly into the stand that the only way it's coming out is in more than one piece

Next the mailbox overflow. Sorry I didn't get any progress pics of this, but it was pretty easy.
Before:

After:

Next up, the foam/rock wall. I'll get more pics of that, I promise!

 

[Toddrtrex]

Looking good. Glad that you didn't end up selling this tank, though I did think about it, but I already have one of yours.

 

[DragonFish]

Now that you mention it, I have an old Eclipse 6 I could sell you Love the way the 33 turned out, have you had any trouble with that LTA walking? I had an RBTA that took a walk and stung the crap out of my blue candy cane

 

[Toddrtrex]

LOL If I am going to get another tank it is going to be bigger then that.

The other day I turned up the return pump a tiny bit, which caused the LTA to move to the other side of the rock cove -- a move of 3". But, other than that it hasn't moved since it settled into the tank. Though I am thinking about removing the LTA and putting one of my Haddonis in there, to see if the SI percs regain some of their black.

 

[DragonFish]

Got some work done on the rock wall last night, will post some updated pictures tonight.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15242785#post15242785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DragonFish
I had an RBTA that took a walk and stung the crap out of my blue candy cane

My rbta is on the move right now. Thankfully, no corals nearby.

This looks really good so far. Neat idea using the mailbox!

 

[E.intheC]

Do you forsee any chemical reactions with the mailbox? I'd be concerned about the saltwater corrosion.

 

[DragonFish]

Its polypropylene so it should be fine.

 

[DragonFish]

The rock wall is finally done! I used the standard recipe, egg crate, Great Stuff foam, resin and sand. Sorry for the crappy camera-phone pic, still haven't gotten a new battery.

 

[redfishsc]

Can I say "rock on"! Very cool work!

 

[spleify]

Nice job so far. Nice job on that stand.

Keep up the great work

 

[DragonFish]

We have water!

One thing I have to do, I used cheap Lowe's acrylic for the sump baffles and the last one bowed so much that the water on the return side was actually oscillating! So this weekend I'll have some nice 1/4" glass baffles cut, drain the sump and silicone them in.

 

[Snakebyt]

how tall is your stand? Im going to be setting up a 40 breeder soon as well

 

[DragonFish]

Right about 36".

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15462716#post15462716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DragonFish
We have water!

One thing I have to do, I used cheap Lowe's acrylic for the sump baffles and the last one bowed so much that the water on the return side was actually oscillating! So this weekend I'll have some nice 1/4" glass baffles cut, drain the sump and silicone them in.

How think is the acrylic? I used 1/4" (( pretty sure that is the size )) acrylic baffles (( from Home Depot, sure it is very similar to the Lowes stuff )) on all my sumps, and haven't had any issues.