ChrisPMcGills 40B build

[chrispmcgill]

This set up will have a lot of 1st for me so any feedback is welcomed. I picked up BSJF's old breeder she was breeding her baby picassos in a few weeks ago. I figured this would be a good transition from my two AIO nano/bio cube setups. I didn't feel conferrable purchasing a larger tank yet before having a test run with something a little smaller. As I said, this will be a few 1st for me, as in a DIY CREE LED setup, drilling (well ACE did that), all the plumbing, DIY sump/fuge and having a sump/fuge.

I was going to take before pics of the setup but i forgot to. Just in case you have not seen a 40B here is a stock pic:http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTD3Q3aCzpAzEBjiBq-_9oz3vmygZSMOavRSIOeAwKqMwCp1Djtbm7vl1co

stand:http://www.discountpetsuppliesonsaleprice.com/images_products/PETCO_Manhattan_55_Gallon_Metal_Tank_Stand.jpg

So this is what I have done so far.
ACE drilled the for the beananimal system and one return. ACE is also building me a custom overflow.
I have began to assemble the all the plumbing.

Equipment I have so far:
MP40w
SWC xtreme 160 Cone skimmer
Mag 9.5 return
TLF reactor
20L for Sump
60 3W CREE LEDs
I will take pics tomorrow.

[SoLiD]

Great list of parts that mimics my set up pretty closely. You should do well.

[adolph_09]

Man you might need to have that mp40 turned way down ha
i have a mp10 in my 40B and if I have it too high it sucks air into the water and if I have it to low it makes a sand storm in my tank

[chrispmcgill]

Great list of parts that mimics my set up pretty closely. You should do well.

Thanks! You have a thread on your build?

[chrispmcgill]

Man you might need to have that mp40 turned way down ha
i have a mp10 in my 40B and if I have it too high it sucks air into the water and if I have it to low it makes a sand storm in my tank

Ya I am a little worried about it but I wanted to make sure that everything I get would transfer over to a larger build further on down the road.

[allan]

Nice, when will you post up some current pics?

[SoLiD]

Thanks! You have a thread on your build?

Never had enough time to put a build thread together. I took me about a year (really) to design it and put it together in my spare time. Since I had a Red Sea Max 130D up and running I was somewhat content with that. I will see if my build buddy can send me some pictures of when we were working on it at times throughout last year as he did take some.

Here is a parts list and brief description of what I put together.

$40 40 Gallon Aqeon Breeder from Petco that I drilled 3 - 3/4" bulkhead holes through the top back of the tank for the Bean Animal Over Flow (Dead Silent once dialed in with a valve).

Also Drilled the 4 bottom corners with 4 - 1/2" bulkhead holes for an Oceans Motions 4way Squirt Directed Return.

Plumbing is 95% black Flex PVC glued with Gorilla PVC Glue (This is the only glue that works with this Flex PVC)

2 Tunze 6055's Modded with the 6095 Face Shrouds for a wider & undertow type flow pattern which made it a totally different type of powerhead and it's Dead Silent.

Tunze 1073.05 Return Pump on 24Volts with a Tee to also feed 2 Sea Side Aquatics Media Reactors for ROX Carbon and High Capacity GFO.

Custom Acrylic 3 chambered Sump.

SWC Xtreme Cone 160

Aquamedic Kalkwasser Stirrer/Reactor 1000 fed by a Tunze Metering Pump 5000.02 for top off

4 AI SOL Super Blue Modules

Neptune APEX Controller with VDM and Breakout Box

--------------------------------------
Things Changed or Added

2 Next Reef SMR1 Media Reactors
Reef Octopus BR1000SS Bio Pellet Reactor
Vertex Alpha 170 with Vertex Vectra Self Cleaning Head
Profilux 3 Ex Controller
Newer and Wider Acrylic Sump Design

[chrispmcgill]

Thanks for the info SoliD...please post if you get some pics of your build.

I was planning on doing some work on the setup today and take pics....did neither. will post some tomorrow.

[Zack]

I'm doing a 40 breeder sometime in the next 2 years so definitely sub'ing to this thread.

[chrispmcgill]

Well here is the UPDATE:

The good:
Installed the overflow and all the plumbing, added baffles to the 20L sump.

The Bad:
did a freshwater test and 3 of the 4 bulkheads are leaking. The overflow system is LOUD. My main drain was not able to keep up. The secondary drain has a TON of micro bubbles. Security drain works fine though. Somehow I have to figure out how to increase water flow from the main drain.

Will keep everyone posted.

[chrispmcgill]

Thanks to SoLiD I was able to fix my siphoning problem on the main drain. Now the system works like it should. I still have a little problem of the bulkheads still leaking. I didnt want to silicone them but I am running out of ideas. The overflow system is still a little loud and the noise is coming from the cascading water into the overflow box. Any tips on reducing the cascading noise?

[Dallas]

I had the same problem with my bulkheads. I put sealing rings (like a o ring or something that works like one ie what ever fits) on both sides of my overflow box and that fixed it.

I will be looking for anyone to give some advice about the noise. I would love to make mine quieter.

[chrispmcgill]

Fixed the bulkhead problem without having to use silicone. I have no leaks anywhere and everything is up and running like it should. I am going to let it run a few days on freshwater to make sure everything is good.

While I have it running with freshwater, I am going to attempt to come up with an idea to help with the cascading water into the overflow sound. I am thinking some egg crate and poly floss might help kill the sound a little.

I am also getting a lot of sound from my mag9.5. Could I just use a mouse pad to help with absorb the sound? Or would it just become a nutrient trap?

[SoLiD]

I use mouse pads all the time. They work well. You might also try a sponge to quiet the water fall.

[chrispmcgill]

I use mouse pads all the time. They work well. You might also try a sponge to quiet the water fall.

How long until you change your mouse pad out?

[SoLiD]

How long until you change your mouse pad out?

Um... I never have.... but my tank is only 6 months old on the 20th of this month.

[chrispmcgill]

ok cool. I was not sure if it became a nutrient trap eventually.

[chrispmcgill]

Added some vinegar to help get everything extra clean. Going to let it run though the system for the next day or two.

Now on the the LED set up. I have 5 meanwell drivers and 60 CREE LED's. I have done a ton of reading but if anyone has any tips, please share then with me. I plan on starting either tomorrow or Wednesday evening.