My 40g breeder mixed reef.

[glennr1978]

I know I don't post on here very often, but I figured I would post some pics showing how much my tank has evolved since I set it up almost 10 months ago.

It started when I transfered from this (24g Aquapod).

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/lotsofpics167.jpg

to my current tank (40 breeder).

This right after I transfered everything.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/lotsofpics183.jpg

Here's the tank at about 2 months.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/FISHTANKPICS044.jpg

about 3 months.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/P7222277.jpg

Here's my tank at about 4 months. This is when i first caught the SPS bug. I was very unsuccessful at first.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/P8292535.jpg

This at about 5 months I guess, right after I upgraded from a 150w mh to a 250w mh.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/FISHTANKPICS150.jpg

6 months, added some more rock.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/FISHTANKPICS059.jpg

Sorry, I didn't take too many pics for a couple months, I was having some issues with my SPS and almost gave up on them completely. Here's my tank right around 8 months old maybe.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/FISHTANKPICS190.jpg

Here are a few pics that are pretty current.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/FISHTANKPICS254.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSCF3318.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSCF3315.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSCF3319.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSCF3313.jpg

As of right now my tank consists of about 20 SPS frags, and about 20 other various frags and colonies. Only have 4 fish, 2 true perc's, 1 purpleback pseudochromis (I hate him), and a juvenile yellow tang (will be moved to a 90ish gallon tank in about a year). The current equipment I'm using is: 250w hqi w/ pheonix 14k, 2x24w T-5's, QO4000 on a CL, 2x modded Tunze nanostream 6025's (supposed to be pumping at about 1100gph each after the mod), QO2200 return from sump, CSS65 (works great), 20g sump/fuge full of about 40-50 lbs of LR rubble and a big ball of Chaeto.

[glennr1978]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention (although you can see them in the pics!!) I have 2 clams, one blue rimmed derasa, and a crocea.

[aquasport24]

looking real nice , looks like you going to need a calcium reactor real soon as your SPS are growing big..

[glennr1978]

I hope not, those things are pretty pricey!! Not to mention I have absolutely no idea how they work or how to set them up. Once I upgrade to a larger tank I will look into them more. Currently I'm dosing about 20ml a day of B ionic 2 part, and add kalk to my ATO reservoir. Ca is stable at 460, Dkh at 9 to 10 depending on time of day, and ph stays rock solid at 8.3 day or night. All tested with API test kits. The mg level is at 1200 right now ( I need to raise it a bit), tested with an Elos test kit.

[tony]

gorgeous, i love 40 breeders

[emilbus]

great looking tank!

[thesponge]

Where did you get the tank?

[glennr1978]

I bought it at Petco.

[JeffCo]

Nice Job! Looks like you have some good flow in there.

[D_and_A_Custom]

great tank

[Iplantz]

Nice Tank! I like how you had the starting and finishing pictures. It helps us all appreciate your hard work and effort that you have put in to the tank (and cash). Got any good shots of that Crocea? Im addicted to clams.

[SKNR]

I really like the tank, I can not wait till I have my first live inhabitant in my tank

[RayAllen]

Great job. Love how it evolved.

[glennr1978]

Great job. Love how it evolved.

Thanks! I realy need to update this thread. Looking at the pics I have posted here, alot has changed/ grown since I posted them. I'll be back home tomorrow and maaaybe I will have time to get a few pics up before I go to work.

[RayAllen]

Thanks! I realy need to update this thread. Looking at the pics I have posted here, alot has changed/ grown since I posted them. I'll be back home tomorrow and maaaybe I will have time to get a few pics up before I go to work.

I didnt even notice the date of March. Im sure a lot has changed from then.

[apedroza]

Awesome looking tank any updates??

[ErikH]

I think the majority is stumped on how we missed this post. Your tank looks fantastic!

[SoLiD]

Yeah Glenn, How did you sneak this one by us? :confused: ...... Real nice! :thumbs_up:

[glennr1978]

Thanks for the kind words guys!! I just got home from Houston and have to leave for work in about 30 minutes. So I won't be able to get any pics up today. I'm still looking for about 5 or so nice SPS frags to mount up on the top of the rockwork in my tank. It's currently lit by a 250w phoenix 14k that sits about 6 inches above the surface of the water, and there's plenty of water moving up there too. So I'm pretty sure acro's would be in order. If any of you have any frags for sale send me a PM.

[glennr1978]

Here's my most recent FTS (forgot I already had this one!!) from about a week and a half ago.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSCF3641.jpg

Btw, I really, really want a blue milli frag if any of you guys have one LMK.

[Bbristow]

Very nice

[nanoty]

It's alright I suppose........


























:ph34r:

[glennr1978]

It's alright I suppose........


























:ph34r:

troll!!! I'm reporting you to the mods....lol.

[nanoty]

troll!!! I'm reporting you to the mods....lol.



LOL, mods smods, what are they going to do? I already have 2 posts.:cry_smile:

I wantz my tunze!!!!!!!!!!!1111!!1!11!!

[glennr1978]

you're in big trouble now mister!!

[SoLiD]

What the heck??? Troll??? Smods??? :confused:

[glennr1978]

What the heck??? Troll??? Smods??? :confused:

It's all a joke. NanoTy is a member from another forum I'm on quite a bit. He recently bought a powerhead from a member here, paid him, and has basically only heard back from the guy once or twice. If I'm not mistaken it's been almost 2 weeks since the deal was done. He created an account here to try to get in touch with the seller, but hasn't had much luck since he isn't allowed to post in the "for sale" forums. I think he did contact the seller via PM however.

Is there any way you guys can give him posting privilidges in the "for sale" forums to help him get this thing squared away? This is the second time I've lead him to a deal that has gone south and I feel bad for it. Nanoty is a good guy, and I assure you isn't here to cause problems. He just wants his freakin' powerhead already!

[nanoty]

^^^^^^

What he said......:angry:

[hcsceo]

HAHA nice tank. I'm looking around for groups close to me and low and behold a tank I've been watching from another forum. Great work glenn.

[glennr1978]

Pic update...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00183.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00059.jpg

These pics are from probably a week and a half ago. I've been having issues with a few of my SPS fading, or browning out, but I think I've got it under control now and things are stating to look better everyday. I recently bought some frags from Bigbird and they all arrived in great shape with 2 exceptions. My Cali tort wasn't looking to hot, and 99% of it RTN'd within 24 hours. It's weird though, there's one teeny tiny little 3mm piece of it that still has flesh, it even extends it's one little polyp!! I'm going to go ahead and leave it in the tank to see if it recovers. If it does it would be amazing. The other "bonus" frag I got didn't even make it out of the bag it was shipped in. Not that it wasn't packaged very well, it really was actually. Sometimes there are just going to be casualties when shipping live animals I suppose. Everything else i recieved is doing very well, and looks great.

Hopefully I will be able to post some pics in the coming weeks that will show all of my corals displaying their true colors, and not the faded, or brown version they are now!!

Btw, I dremelled off most of that hideous looking chunk of epoxy putty on the frag in the upper right of the second pic.

[Captain Jack]

Nice tank, interesting sps arrangements

[glennr1978]

update.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00488-1.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00486-1.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00551.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00550.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00552.jpg

[texasfootball21]

Stunning. I love your rock work.

[glennr1978]

Stunning. I love your rock work.

Thank you!! I'm pretty fond of it myself. I'm moving the tank in about 2 weeks and I'm really hoping I can get all of the rocks atleast close to where they are. I highly doubt I can get them exactly where they are at now.

[DrMark]

Looking fantastic Glenn. We need to do a tank tour of each others houses.
mark

[glennr1978]

Looking fantastic Glenn. We need to do a tank tour of each others houses.
mark

Thank you! I'm afraid mine would be a bit short though. As of right now the 40g is about it for me!

[DrMark]

Thank you! I'm afraid mine would be a bit short though. As of right now the 40g is about it for me!

Quality, not quantity............looks great, I would like to see it.
mark

[aquasport24]

WOW, that is so sweet. How do you keep your tank so CLEAN ?

[SoLiD]

Probably elbow grease. :D

[glennr1978]

Quality, not quantity............looks great, I would like to see it.
mark

I'm sure we could arrange something after the move. Things are pretty hectic around here right now!

[glennr1978]

Probably elbow grease. :D


yep!

[wwarriner]

All I can say is WOW!!! I also have a 40g breeder but mine doesn't look anything like that!!! Who drilled your tank and what do you dose other than calcium and kalk? I have a few sps frags that just aren't growing right now and I'm wondering if there's something else I'm not doing.

[glennr1978]

All I can say is WOW!!! I also have a 40g breeder but mine doesn't look anything like that!!! Who drilled your tank and what do you dose other than calcium and kalk? I have a few sps frags that just aren't growing right now and I'm wondering if there's something else I'm not doing.

Thanks, along with Ca, and Alk, I dose Kent's "coral accel" daily (I do forget every now and then). I also feed the tank DT's oyster eggs once or twice a week.

The tank was drilled here locally at my LFS. Had I known how easy it was to drill a tank I would've done it myself and saved myself over $200. For that matter, I have holes drilled in the tank that I'm not even using anymore!!! I think there is something like 7 holes in the tank, and that's why it cost so much to have them all drilled.

What kind of SPS do you have? IME (very limited) some grow much faster, and are alot easier to keep than others. That may have something to do with the issues you're having.

Do you have any pics of your tank? I love 40 breeders, and am eager to see a new one!!!

[wwarriner]

I'll try to post some pics as soon as I can. Are you having any kind of heat problems with your tank? I have a 150w de mh and 2 t5 actinics and my temp is like 80-81 with a 6" fan blowing across the water.

[wwarriner]

Oh, for corals I have 2 orange and 1 red digi, 1 green pocilliopora, 2 red monti caps, 1 birdsnet, 1 ORA blue green tort and a few softies like zoas and rics and shrooms. All the sps frags are all about 1-1.5" right now. I can't wait until my frags grow out to some small colonies like you have in your tank.

[glennr1978]

I'll try to post some pics as soon as I can. Are you having any kind of heat problems with your tank? I have a 150w de mh and 2 t5 actinics and my temp is like 80-81 with a 6" fan blowing across the water.


Not at all. I have my heater and fans (2x 4"ish fans "modded" to fit my application from wal mart....$5 each) programmed on my Acjr and my temps stay VERY stable. the tank only fluctuates from 77.7 to 77.9 degrees. My tank is in the main room in my house and if there's alot of traffic in and out the front door the tank temp can hit up to 78.3, but that's about the extent of temp fluctuation in my tank.

Here's a pic of the fan set up in my canopy.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/FISHTANKPICS142.jpg

One of them stays on 24/7 (I'm all for evap!!) and the other one kicks on at 77.8, and back off at 77.7.

[glennr1978]

Oh, for corals I have 2 orange and 1 red digi, 1 green pocilliopora, 2 red monti caps, 1 birdsnet, 1 ORA blue green tort and a few softies like zoas and rics and shrooms. All the sps frags are all about 1-1.5" right now. I can't wait until my frags grow out to some small colonies like you have in your tank.

Sounds cool!!! Have you checked the Mg level in your tank? I was having issues with alot of my SPS fading and it was due to low Mg.

I don't think Mg is stressed enough when talking about SPS. You mainly hear about lighting, flow, Ca, and Alk, but IME (again very limited!) Mg is just as important as anything else.

[glennr1978]

I'm sick of looking at powerheads in my tank, sooooo I've got a Vortech MP20w on the way!!! Happy times.

[topsoil]

very nice tank.

[glennr1978]

very nice tank.

thanks, I'm tryin'!!!

[SoLiD]

I'm sick of looking at powerheads in my tank, sooooo I've got a Vortech MP20w on the way!!! Happy times.

:confused: I thought the Vortech MP20 was a powerhead. None the less they are schweet! :thumbs_up:

-David

[glennr1978]

:confused: I thought the Vortech MP20 was a powerhead. None the less they are schweet! :thumbs_up:

-David

Details, details... I suppose i should rephrase then. I'm tired of looking at 4 powerheads in my tank!! I'll settle for 1 that's much smaller than any of the four it's replacing!!

[glennr1978]

PE.

Right after my T5's came on for the day today. Flash on.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00664.jpg

Flash off.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00671.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00674.jpg

[clone]

thats some nice PE

[fjr_wertheimber]

Nice to see I'm not the only one on the MP20 train... :-) Just checked last night on Reefgeek, mine has already shipped! W00t! I can't wait!

[glennr1978]

I got mine in a group buy for $265 shipped!! Should be here by the end of the week, maybe first of next week.

I'm pretty excited too. I've yet to see a negative review, and the videos I've seen on youtube are awesome. I'm hoping this will be the last piece of the puzzle for my tank. I'm not keeping my fingers crossed though!! After the move I'm getting rid of my pseudochromis, and getting a Mccoskers fairy wrasse, and I maaaay get a mandarin. I still haven't decided for sure if I want to take on that task in my tank.

[glennr1978]

I put together a new sump / fuge tonight that I plan on installing during the move. It's not the prettiest, but should do the job.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00678.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00679.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00683.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00684.jpg

The new sump / fuge is a 20H that will be replacing a 20L that I currently use. the 20L works okay, but it takes up the entire inside of my stand. This one will free up a little space in there, and I also added a bubble tower, and a spot to hold fiter floss (I'm really tired of chaeto clogging up my spray bars).

I still need to install one more baffle next to the other 3 so that water flows up through the macro, and not just over it. I ran out of silicone so this is going to have to wait until tomorrow.

[SoLiD]

Pretty Nice Looking if you ask Me...

[glennr1978]

Thanks, I'm getting better. lol.

[RayAllen]

Looks great, I have a 40g breeder I may just have to make reefready one of these days, lol. Great looking DIY sump!

[ErikH]

Wow Glenn, again you have done very well for yourself! Don't fear a reactor! :) I just bought one and I could see major growth after I got back from my 8 day vacation in Maine. Once I buy a controller, I am set! I have found that it always seems that there is just one more thing you need to finish a tank. :p

[glennr1978]

A reactor is next on my list. I don't know anything about them, or how they work though. I can get by with a small one for my tank I'm assuming, right?

[SoLiD]

Calcium Reactors work by adding Carbon Dioxide in the camber to lower the Ph to about 6.4. This makes the saltwater slightly acidic to slowly dissolve the media (dead coral skeletons) in the reactor. Saltwater and Carbon Dioxide is fed in to the Calcium Reactor very slowly. The reactor has a circulation pump to aid the dissolving process. The dissolving media releases Calcium, Carbonate (To Raise Alkalinity), Strontium, Magnesium (with some media), and other trace elements via effluent (water leaving from your calcium reactor) back into your sump\aquarium. Slight caution has to be used with the return effluent as it can lower your Aquariums Ph if it is added to fast.

[glennr1978]

Calcium Reactors work by adding Carbon Dioxide in the camber to lower the Ph to about 6.4. This makes the saltwater slightly acidic to slowly dissolve the media (dead coral skeletons) in the reactor. Saltwater and Carbon Dioxide is fed in to the Calcium Reactor very slowly. The reactor has a circulation pump to aid the dissolving process. The dissolving media releases Calcium, Carbonate (To Raise Alkalinity), Strontium, Magnesium (with some media), and other trace elements via effluent (water leaving from your calcium reactor) back into your sump\aquarium. Slight caution has to be used with the return effluent as it can lower your Aquariums Ph if it is added to fast.

Would you say a Ca reactor is superior to dosing pumps? If so, by a large margin, and what are the added benefits?

I need to shop around, but I recall seeing Ca reactors that would be adequate (atleast by what the companies claim, I'll have to research this area a bit more as well) for a small system such as mine for not too much money. If it's worth it, I may seriously consider getting one.

Btw, thanks for "Ca reactor 101" explaination. I actually understood it!!

[wwarriner]

Hey so how's your Vortech?

[glennr1978]

Hey so how's your Vortech?

My tank seems to love it. I only had it for about a week or so before I moved the tank to our new house, but I was getting the best PE from all of my SPS after installing the MP20. I saw that you're going to get a MP40W for your 40g. Hoestly, I think the MP20 moves enough water, but you could always tune down the MP40w. The flow is dispersed in an extremely wide pattern, and the pump creates quite a bit of undertow as well. I don't plan on adding any other pumps for supplemental flow. At this point, all I have is the MP20, and about 300gph from my return pump flowing through spraybars at the bottom of the tank.

As soon as I find the USB cable that connects my camera to the PC I will get some new pics up. I tried to get things back in their original positions in the tank after the move, but it was just about impossible. I like the new rock work just as well, maybe even better.

[wwarriner]

Is your Vortech blowing your sand bed around? I just got mine yesterday and it created a huge sand dune from blowing sand around.

[rabadanmarco]

very nice...props

[fjr_wertheimber]

Hey wwarriner, play with the placement of your Vortech and also try placing rocks in the places you see excess sand movement. I placed two small (<1") rocks in the places I saw too much sand movement, and that fixed it.
By the way, +1 on loving the Vortech. Greatest thing I ever got for my tank (hardware-wise, that is...). LOVE the thing!

[glennr1978]

Is your Vortech blowing your sand bed around? I just got mine yesterday and it created a huge sand dune from blowing sand around.


I only have the MP20, and I also have quite a bit of LR in my tank. So no, it doesn't blow sand around at all. I was thinking about upgrading to the MP40w, but now I'm thinking I may just stick another MP20 on the other side fo the tank.

[wwarriner]

I probably should have gotten the mp20 but I want to be able to use the same one in my 75 or 90 gallon when I move into a house and upgrade my tank.

[glennr1978]

I probably should have gotten the mp20 but I want to be able to use the same one in my 75 or 90 gallon when I move into a house and upgrade my tank.

Well you bought the right pump!!!

[glennr1978]

Here's a pic of what the tank looks like after the move and a pic of the new sump.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00948.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00840.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00837.jpg

[glennr1978]

a couple more....

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00814.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00815.jpg

sorry about the dirty glass in those two, it's been cleaned since.

a couple of my newest frags (thanks Acropoorer & SoLiD!!)....

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00942.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00955.jpg

This is the best pic I could get of the "pink jade".

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00953.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00805.jpg

[Aquapod24]

Wow Glenn!!! I had no Idea you rolled like this! Spectacular!

[clone]

man im envying your tank

[glennr1978]

I ordered 3 fish from liveaquaria last night. I'm getting a purple firefish, a $10 green mandarin, and a McCoskers flasher wrasse from the "divers den". I'm thinking they will probably be here Tuesday.

That will give me a total of 12 (small) fish in my 40g. Alot of people think that's cruel, but I've got plenty of filtration, and really feel like my system can sustain the bio load. If not, I'll be the first to declare failure. Until then, I think all will be just fine.

[Aquapod24]

I just saw this tank this evening. Wow, I have seen large tanks before but this tank completely embodies what a reef tank should be! Glenn is also as cool as it gets. No snob here. :shades: Thanks for the frags Glenn! I will update my thread with some new pics once I get the chance.

[glennr1978]

I just saw this tank this evening. Wow, I have seen large tanks before but this tank completely embodies what a reef tank should be! Glenn is also as cool as it gets. No snob here. :shades: Thanks for the frags Glenn! I will update my thread with some new pics once I get the chance.

Glad I could help. And thank you for the ric, and the conversation. Let me know if you need anything, I'm glad to help with anything I can.

[fjr_wertheimber]

BEAUTIFUL tank, Glenn! Awesome job, man!

[glennr1978]

BEAUTIFUL tank, Glenn! Awesome job, man!

Thanks!!

[glennr1978]

The latest additions (and last, fishwise) to the tank....

McCoskers flasher wrasse

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01018.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01012.jpg

and the biggest, brightest purple firefish I've ever seen (it's atleast 4") pics do it no justice.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01015.jpg

[bimmerzs]

Looking great, bump that Mg up to 1350ppm -1400ppm range, it will help out your corals with calcium uptake.

Cheers,

[Aquapod24]

Them fish sobered up eh?

[glennr1978]

Them fish sobered up eh?


lol, yeah...well sort of. The mandarin died from alcohol poisioning.

[glennr1978]

Well I've stocked up on a few nice new frags thanks to Aquarium masters.

ORA red planet
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01301-1.jpg

ORA pearlberry
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01022-1.jpg

I also got, but don't have pics of ATL pink tulip acro, ATL sunrize milli, Tyree ponape (another one since my original still hasn't quite recovered from the move) and a Leng Syish cap.

[DrMark]

those are some nice frags.......
i have the same, have to compare color and growth.........
need to talk to you some time about dosing....
mark

[wwarriner]

Man those are some nice frags. I'm so jealous.

[aggman]

Well I've stocked up on a few nice new frags thanks to Aquarium masters.

whats up man, lemme know when you start fragging some of your corals, i am upgrading to the GC Starfire 65 Rimless and i NEED some nice new frags. lol, and the other frags i got from you are great, they are already growing. thanks.

~alex

[glennr1978]

those are some nice frags.......
i have the same, have to compare color and growth.........
need to talk to you some time about dosing....
mark

Yeah we do!!! I swear, one of these days I will actually meet you, lol.

[glennr1978]

Man those are some nice frags. I'm so jealous.

Thanks!! So far so good, but as usual my monti's aren't looking nearly as good as they should.

[glennr1978]

whats up man, lemme know when you start fragging some of your corals, i am upgrading to the GC Starfire 65 Rimless and i NEED some nice new frags. lol, and the other frags i got from you are great, they are already growing. thanks.

~alex

starfire + rimless = me being VERY jealous!!!!

When is this upgrade going to take place? I may have a few nice frags by the time the tank is ready.

I just checked out the 65g on gc.com. Very cool dimensions, and not a bad price even if you were to order 3 sides starfire and black silicone on the seams.