Mad_Reefer
New member
I'm probably rushing too fast and causing myself issues. But most everything seems happy, except two monti that the bicolor blenny is snacking on. It's all about two months old.
My 40 breeder
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Mad_Reefer
New member
I thought maybe I should describe what I did.
I started with a Petco sale 40b, and I tried to drill the bottom, but it was tempered. So I had to buy another, same brand, and it wasn't tempered. I built an overflow and the drain goes straight down to the corner of the 29gallon sump fuge. A few baffles just to give me options, but for now I have no skimmer. Old Mag 7 return pump with a valve turning it down a little. I put the tank on a cheap metal stand. One of my goals is to keep all costs down. Another is to keep it simple.
20 pounds of live sand
40 pounds of dry sand
15 pounds of oolite sand
40 pounds of fiji rock
20 pounds tukani rock
3 small powerheads in dt
1 tiny pump in fuge to add flow
Float valve for top off
RO/DI
Black box LED with wifi
Home made LED for fuge
Two ocellaris
Bicolor blenny
Cleaner shrimp
RBTA
Hermits and snails
Two types birds nest
Pocillopora
Two types of montipora (currently a snack for blenny)
War coral
Chalice
Duncan
4 type zoa/paly
Caulerpa and chaeto (chaeto grew at first but at one point didn't look good and has been mostly removed)
The picture in the post above shows some of the algae issues. I haven't done a water change in about a month or more, so I'm mixing some water. Nitrates went up to almost 20 but are dropping now and about 10. RBTA stayed right where I put it and seems happy. All corals that are not being eaten seem happy, except the zoas don't all open all the time. Fish and shrimp look happy. One of the clowns jumped out of the tank a few weeks back. I don't know how long it was on the carpet, but I got lucky and managed to revive it. That's it so far.
I started with a Petco sale 40b, and I tried to drill the bottom, but it was tempered. So I had to buy another, same brand, and it wasn't tempered. I built an overflow and the drain goes straight down to the corner of the 29gallon sump fuge. A few baffles just to give me options, but for now I have no skimmer. Old Mag 7 return pump with a valve turning it down a little. I put the tank on a cheap metal stand. One of my goals is to keep all costs down. Another is to keep it simple.
20 pounds of live sand
40 pounds of dry sand
15 pounds of oolite sand
40 pounds of fiji rock
20 pounds tukani rock
3 small powerheads in dt
1 tiny pump in fuge to add flow
Float valve for top off
RO/DI
Black box LED with wifi
Home made LED for fuge
Two ocellaris
Bicolor blenny
Cleaner shrimp
RBTA
Hermits and snails
Two types birds nest
Pocillopora
Two types of montipora (currently a snack for blenny)
War coral
Chalice
Duncan
4 type zoa/paly
Caulerpa and chaeto (chaeto grew at first but at one point didn't look good and has been mostly removed)
The picture in the post above shows some of the algae issues. I haven't done a water change in about a month or more, so I'm mixing some water. Nitrates went up to almost 20 but are dropping now and about 10. RBTA stayed right where I put it and seems happy. All corals that are not being eaten seem happy, except the zoas don't all open all the time. Fish and shrimp look happy. One of the clowns jumped out of the tank a few weeks back. I don't know how long it was on the carpet, but I got lucky and managed to revive it. That's it so far.
Mad_Reefer
New member
I forgot to mention I have a plate coral ( one of my favorites).
After a water change o the 27th, I tested zero Nitrates today, and maybe zero phosphate.My caulerpa is growing well. Maybe I can feed more?
Cal 420
Mag 1230
KH 8
After a water change o the 27th, I tested zero Nitrates today, and maybe zero phosphate.My caulerpa is growing well. Maybe I can feed more?
Cal 420
Mag 1230
KH 8
Mad_Reefer
New member
I have been thinking about adding another fish (or three chromis), but part of me wants to keep it as is.
Mad_Reefer
New member
I like how things are going. Except the blenny eating corals.
Mad_Reefer
New member
I cleaned the glass. It freaked out the fish. But the cool thing about that is that one of the clowns ended up in the anemone. It left the anemone a minute later, but it's a start. Maybe I'll try putting a picture up on the glass to teach them.
Clarkii3
New member
Looking good man. I almost picked up a 40B for my new build but just got a 29 instead. Definitely do not want to rush anything in this hobby that's for sure. Interesting rockwork. Keep an eye on that Caulerpa especially since its in your display, if that stuff goes asexual you'll have a huge mess on your hands. If i were you, id stick that crap back in the sump.
Mad_Reefer
New member
Thanks!
I bought too much rock but made it work, I think.
My plan is to remove the caulerpa before it grows onto the rocks, and it is just a temporary solution until the tank ages a bit more. I haven't had a problem it in the display.
I bought too much rock but made it work, I think.
My plan is to remove the caulerpa before it grows onto the rocks, and it is just a temporary solution until the tank ages a bit more. I haven't had a problem it in the display.
Mad_Reefer
New member
I removed a lot of caulerpa today. The second time I've removed a large amount. This time it had grown to the point it had no more room to grow in the center fuge.
I'm seeing I tiny bit of nitrate and phosphate still close to zero, but some tiny color difference in today's tests. It's probably a good thing considering many of my corals will like a little and the new tank algae has disappeared.
Nitrate 0-5
Phosphate 0-.25
KH 7
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1290
I added some calcium and alk from BRS after testing. I made sure to do it hours apart and the alk shortly after lights out. I should probably measure how much I put in and start a regular schedule of dosing.
I'm seeing I tiny bit of nitrate and phosphate still close to zero, but some tiny color difference in today's tests. It's probably a good thing considering many of my corals will like a little and the new tank algae has disappeared.
Nitrate 0-5
Phosphate 0-.25
KH 7
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1290
I added some calcium and alk from BRS after testing. I made sure to do it hours apart and the alk shortly after lights out. I should probably measure how much I put in and start a regular schedule of dosing.
SantaMonica
Well-known member
How bout a sand sifting goby or similar, to keeps the sand clean.
Mad_Reefer
New member
What do you think?
SantaMonica
Well-known member
Caves/arches are always nice. And for fish I wish I could have jumpers like those.
Mad_Reefer
New member
I have a glass top, and all still seems okay.
reef thief
New member
This is a great 40B. Thanks for sharing.
Mad_Reefer
New member
Thanks. But I'm not seeing it as too great at this point. Although, I like its simplicity and overall cost so far.
Mad_Reefer
New member
Thanks.
I hope it fills in. I might add a clam, but I think I'm mostly done adding stuff. Now I just want stuff to grow for a while.
I did not epoxy the rock down. I might change my mind and move everything around. I think it is stable enough. The arch would hopefully settle downward before rolling off towards the glass.
I hope it fills in. I might add a clam, but I think I'm mostly done adding stuff. Now I just want stuff to grow for a while.
I did not epoxy the rock down. I might change my mind and move everything around. I think it is stable enough. The arch would hopefully settle downward before rolling off towards the glass.
Mad_Reefer
New member
Even with a glass top, my wrasse jumped out. lt was dried out on the glass top. But everything else is doing well. Coraline is starting to grow well on snails and powerheads. I've seen bristleworms, pineapple sponges, and flatworms too. I hope they are the harmless, early cycle type of flatworm. Things seem good. I don't do a lot and I think that helps.
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