Plans for my new 40 breeder

[cpreefguy]

Well, the Nano Cube is overstocked, so Im upgrading to a 40g breeder. I really like the dimensions of the tank, it should make for excellent light penetration. The tank is 36"x18"x16" and will be lit by a Hamilton Fixture containing 1x400w 10k HQI and 2x96w Actinic VHOs.
I havnt quite figured out the filtration yet, since Im going to be moving the tank to college after this summer is over, Im leaning towards a sumpless design.
Right now Im planning to put a CPR hang-on-back refugium and a remora skimmer.
Im either going bare bottom, or putting 1/2" sand for aesthetics.
Any suggestions?
Im picking the light and tank up on Friday, so Ill post some pictures then.

[cpreefguy]

and the tank that inspired me...
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/totm/index.php

[LoneStar]

Take photos as you go in setting it up!!! And post them!!!

[matt]

I love this size tank. Mine had 2 175W ushios which was fantastic light for the tank; you might consider using 2 bulbs instead of 1 if you want an even light spread. There was a coral grower here in San Antonio a few years back named John Moffet who now owns Arizona Corals; he used 40 breeders for his grow out tanks with single 400W bulbs over each one. It was super bright in the middle but a little shaded on the ends. If that's the effect you're looking for, you'll do great with one bulb. If your light fixture is going to sit on the tank you'll have some heat issues; I would consider a sump, if you have an enclosed stand it's no problem and will help immensely with filtration/supplementation. Even a small sump that can hold a decent skimmer would be far superior to a remora IMO. Mine started out with a remora (urchin; in sump model) but it soon became apparent that it was not enough skimming, so I borrowed a friend's EV120 which was better, but still not really performing like I wanted so I started building skimmers. You could plunk a small euroreef right in the sump, or maybe one of my new beckett/needlewheel hybrids if I ever get the time to build one. Sorry for the shameless plug!

Have fun; aquascaping this size tank is really easy. When I did mine, I just moved everything from my 29 gallon into the 40 breeder and it looked much better.

[cpreefguy]

Thanks for the advice Matt. I considered the light spread of just one halide, but I got an amazing deal on this fixture, and I dont like the idea of having to replace 2 bulbs every year instead of one...
I think if I hang it high enough over the tank I should get a pretty even spread. I may go with a small sump, but then Im going to want to drill my tank, put in a Calfo shelf, etc... Which will take me longer to setup and it may cost more than I can spend...
Does anybody have any experience with the Coralife needle/wheel skimmers?

[LoneStar]

I wouldn't settle for a Coralife skimmer. You learn one thing in this hobby, do it right and get the correct piece of equipment the first time. ASM or Euroreef would work alot better.

[cpreefguy]

Im gonna email Euro-Reef and see if they have any blems...

[chrismikea]

good choice of tanks sean i have a 40 breeder and i love it. i also use the corallife skimmer and it works great, its is easy to use and easy to clean. i only have 1 250 watt on it and it gets pretty good lighting but i think i want to add another 250 on it. keep us posted on the tank

[gjuarez]

Sean, if going BB make sure you get a skimmer that can overskim your tank. Without a sandbed there will be very little denitrifying bacteria. I know this is a whole different thread but just wanted to mention that. Good luck finding a skimmer.

[Brett Wilson]

Add another vote for dual lights, I had dual lights on my 45 breeder because one just wasn't enough. I was running 400W SE radiums.
I hear you on the maintenance though (not to mention the up-front cost of two units). That's why I went with a 30gcube this time around... well one of the reasons. :)

If you look on the right side of this pic you can see that some (though fairly little) light overshot the edge of the tank... they were some pretty large pendants. If I did it again I would run dual 250W DE mini pendants. probably a 14000K bulb or maybe some of the 20000Ks

Here is a pic: http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/MVC-328X.jpg
another (lights higher up because of heat issues. got too hot in that tiny fish room I had) http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/full_tank/MVC-608F.JPG

[Alamo]

why are they refered to as breeder tanks?

[gjuarez]

Brett, do you still have that tank? THat is a very nice tank. A 40g has the perfect dimensions for a small reef. I am looking for one.

[cpreefguy]

Sweet setup Brett! Do you have any more pics? What kind of overflow is that?
Instead of drilling I may go with an overflow..

[cpreefguy]

When I bought the tank, it had a blue background. i decided to scrape it and paint it black:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3384.jpg

[Brett Wilson]

Thanks for the compliments. No I do not still have the tank (but I sure do miss it at times)
It used a standard plain old overflow. no idea what the name of it was but just about anyone could make it out of acrylic.
I like the look of the tidepool overflows personally, though i've never used one myself.

They are referred to as breeder tanks because they are significantly designed wide and deeper than they are tall.
The industry considers tall tanks more for show, and short/wide/deep tanks for breeding.
It really is a lot easier to put your hands in a short/wide/deep breeder tank...

[Brett Wilson]

More pics:
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/full_tank/MVC-137X.JPG
(with one light on the left side) http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1250.jpg, http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1251.jpg

Critters/corals:
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1504.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN6932.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN6955.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1288.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1293.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1493.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1189.jpg
http://www.brett-wilson.com/images/reef/linked/DSCN1203.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Well, I ordered a lifereef 700gph overflow in black with the aquasliencer today, hopefully Ill get it this week.
Ace is building me a sump (thanks!) which will also be ready this week. So far, every component of this
tank was scored off of MAAST :) (except for the overflow)
Maybe "The MAAST 40 Breeder" :lol

[cpreefguy]

Ohh purdy
http://www.lifereef.com/lg_pre.gif

[cpreefguy]

Here is a pic in my room with the light sitting on top of it. Since the pic, I cleaned the glass and
went to home depot and bought some black chain and hung the light from existing shelf brackets that
I had put up when I had my 58g. My sump will be done this weekend, so hopefully it will be up and running
by Sunday :)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3432.jpg

[TexasTodd]

I used a Remora Pro with Mag upgrade on my 92 corner and it skimmed the Heck out of it. ;)

TT

[cpreefguy]

I thought about a Remora, but I think Im gonna spend the extra cash and go for an ASM G3 or Euro Reef.

[cpreefguy]

I got my sump from Ace, and wow. Saved me a nice chunk of change, professional job (eurobraced even)
and it fit in my stand perfectly. A few new pics:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3443.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3442.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Newest pic. Threw about 25lbs of LR in there. Ace did a 30g waterchange for me and put it in buckets
so the tank will be full tonight and I shouldnt go through a cycle of any kind.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3506.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Also picked up a mag7 from Aquatic warehouse. Called them around closing time on tuesday but they didnt have it in stock, so they had the
pump for me by noon on wednesday! (Thanks Louis!) Got that plumbed with 1/2" PVC, the return will be two 1/2" LocLine pieces

[cpreefguy]

I re plumbed the return today with flexible tubing instead of PVC. I also switched from Loc-Line
to one of the penductors I have and man! The flow is alot more widespread and stronger.
I also redid the drain with some helpful suggestions from my fellow MAASTards and the bubbles
have been reduced by at least half.

[longhorn_20m]

What will you be using for flow? Is the Mag 7 used for the return?

[cpreefguy]

Yeah, the mag 7 is the return pump. Right now I have a MJ1200 in there, but as soon as I
get my Tunze-Jet kits, Ill run 2 of those, each at ~1500gph, or I may opt for a Tunze/Vortech

[cpreefguy]

I also just ordered an ASM G3. It wouldnt fit under my current stand, so Ace built me a custom stand that is 36" tall
instead of 24" tall. Im going to paint the stand tomorrow and put my tank on it tomorrow night. Im going to get sand
tomorrow also, after that settles out Ill be transerring the contents on my cube to the 40. I cant wait!

[cpreefguy]

Here is a pic of the skimmer. Its rated for up to a 250g tank, but since Im only going to have 1/4" of sand,
I think that it will be fine.
http://www.asmskimmer.com/catalog/images/WG3.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Its been a while. Its all set up now and has been problem free. In order to fit the G3, Ace (hobogato) built me an taller stand. Here are a few pics:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3662.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3664.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3665.jpg

[cpreefguy]

I also picked up some more LR from gcantu (thanks!) so Its all aquascaped now

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3757.jpg

[hammondegge]

hey sean, whatever happened to those maxi/stream mods that you bought?

[cpreefguy]

Well, the ones I was sent were noisey (defective shafts), so I gave them away to my fellow MAASTards.
He is producing more hopefully by the end of this week and will send them to me then.

[villjr]

Looks good sean any plans for fish.

[cpreefguy]

Im not too sure what fish I want. So far there is a green clown goby in there,
and I will be transferring a sixline wrasse from my GF's 10g. But other than that Im not sure. Ill be moving the
tank in a few months so I may wait until then to add fish

[Louie3]

Like the way the rocks are set up :w00t

[gjuarez]

Looking good Sean. Nice aquascaping too.

[cpreefguy]

Added a fuge light finally and a clean up crew- 1 red leg and 1 astrea snail :)