40 gallon breeder build

[scelona]

Hey guys,
I am starting a thread to track the progress of my 40 gallon breeder build. I am brand new to reefing so any feedback would be much appreciated. I initially was planning to set my tank up sumpless but eventually changed my mind. I am planning on doing a peaceful community tank with all softies. I plan to start with the corals and add fish 72 days after the last coral addition.

I don't have a set coral list but my tentative fish list is:
- pair of clowns (don't know breed yet)
- diamond watchman goby
- purple or exquisite firefish
- 3 pajama or Banggai cardinal fish

Current equipment list:
- 40 gallon breeder tank, back spray painted black with two 1" bulkheads and one 3/4" bulkhead for the return
- 20 gallon tall sump with custom glass baffles (I went with the tall to leave a little extra room under my tank for other equipment)
- 35 lbs of live rock with another ~30 being picked up today
- 40 lbs live sand/40 lbs dry aragonite
- 3 hydor koralia 425 powerheads
- Stand with canopy
- Eheim compact+ 2000 return pump
- Eheim 200w heater
- Cheap counter current protein skimmer (will upgrade eventually when I get fish)
- Overflow box rated at 1200 GPH
- Canister filter that I want to convert into a reactor
- For lighting I have decided to do LED, the two frontrunners at the moment are a Reef Breeders photon 24" and a 32" fixture from BuildMyLED

My sump (and cat) after testing it for leaks. The bubble trap goes under over under:


I am doing a Herbie overflow with 1" pvc for both the siphon drain and the emergency drain:


My plumbing from the back:


A closeup of the mounting brackets I used:


I am so excited to get started in reefing and the setup has been a blast so far.

[LOU A VILLE]

Looks good so far, any updates?

[scelona]

I managed to build the first draft of my rock scape, put sand in the tank, and fill it up with water. I had previously put my tank together sumpless so I already had all my live rock and sand ready to go. The live rock is held together with pvc, zip ties, acrylic rods, and pretty much every other technique I saw being used. The plumbing is working great, the overflow is easily handling the water from the return pump, and the system is silent.

I would be glad to hear any feedback you may have for my rock scape. I feel that there are a lot of good places to put corals at different heights but the pictures don't show the ledges too well. All of the rock is sitting on eggcrate underneath the sand.

Front view:


Top view:

[Canadian Reefer]

Looks good, I'm sure your cat will have many hours of enjoyment watching the tank with you

[Isaacs55]

I noticed you wanted a diamond watchman goby. Just a word of caution...if your rock is sitting on top of the sand and you add your goby he will turn the sand around and cause your rock to shift and fall if any are stacked. So just a heads up. It would be best to make sure your rock is sitting stable on the bottom and then add the sand.

[Isaacs55]

So far so good though! All looks great. And great looking rocks btw. I'll be following along!

[scelona]

My rock is sitting on eggcrate underneath the sand so I think it should be good but thanks for the heads up!

[Goldmund]

Looks very similar to my 40B build I did this past December, I think you will love it. I have the Reefbreeders Photon 32 on mine, and it has been fantastic. Seeing really good growth on my corals.

[scelona]

Originally Posted by Goldmund

Looks very similar to my 40B build I did this past December, I think you will love it. I have the Reefbreeders Photon 32 on mine, and it has been fantastic. Seeing really good growth on my corals.

I was actually thinking about getting the 24" unless I can find a used 32". I am just planning on keeping softies for the most part and if I decide to get anything else I think the 24 could handle it as long as the coral is near the surface.

[scelona]

I just installed a used rodi system I bought from a local reefer! I used my TDS meter to measure the tap water (462 ppm, much higher then I was expecting), water after the filters and RO membrane (12 ppm), and the final product (2 ppm). I bought all new carbon filters, sediment filter, and DI resin but wanted to test before switching them out. Are these values reasonable?

[Isaacs55]

Originally Posted by scelona

I just installed a used rodi system I bought from a local reefer! I used my TDS meter to measure the tap water (462 ppm, much higher then I was expecting), water after the filters and RO membrane (12 ppm), and the final product (2 ppm). I bought all new carbon filters, sediment filter, and DI resin but wanted to test before switching them out. Are these values reasonable?

You want your tds to be 0 post DI stage or else it's useless.
Try getting a new dual DI cartridge and canisters...or maybe flush the system prior to check tds post DI.
But it really has to be 0 or it will make a difference even If it's just 2 tds

[scelona]

I swapped everything out with the new pieces and it is reading 0 now.

[Isaacs55]

Perfect! Looking good then! I love your rock man lol

[scelona]

Thanks I appreciate it, Im thinking about changing the arch around on the right side while I still have time but I am real happy for the most part.

[Isaacs55]

No way man its perfect! If this was my tank I'd be super proud! The arch on the right is perfect. Good amount of surface area for sps corals to grow and the arch on the left is higher which gives your tank that asymmetrical look with depth...
I wish this was my build lol
What kind of rock is it? Just your lfs rock?

[Isaacs55]

Here's my aquascape...I don't know if I like though cuz I feel like it's too high. Thoughts?

[sixpackgarage]

[QUOTE=scelona;23890282]A closeup of the mounting brackets I used:


[QUOTE]

Just a heads up, when that sock clogs, you're going to have water everywhere.

[Isaacs55]

[QUOTE=sixpackgarage;23918003][QUOTE=scelona;23890282]A closeup of the mounting brackets I used:

Just a heads up, when that sock clogs, you're going to have water everywhere.

It would have to take a lot of time for that to clog...I think he's good...plus weekly Maintanance and with washing and switching them out, he shouldn't have a problem

[jml1149]

Also, if that sock extends over the back of the tank, it's going to wick water out.

[mmittlesteadt]

There's a lot of us with 40 Breeder reef tanks.

Here's a link to my 40GBr build thread, if you want to check it out for ideas and such. Welcome and enjoy the process (because it's a long process).

I have two Ocellaris Clownfish, Twin Spot Goby, Lawnmower Blenny, Firefish and two Banghaii Cardinals.

Here's a pic of mine at about 3 months in, just to hopefully keep you inspired as you go along...

[ShadowRancher]

Cool build, fellow SW newbie here thinking of doing a 40B reef in the next few months. I have 4 FW 40s on edsal racks currently (2 racks like the pic below) and was thinking of doing another rack next to them (hey you're supposed to design stuff in threes the fiancee cant argue with that right?) with a softie reef up top and a 40 sump/fuge plumbed below. I've never cut/plumbed a tank though so I'm trying to figure out how best to do that with this set up...I'm thinking black flex hose that I can try to run down the legs then I'll paint the utility parts of the sump black and only leave the fuge visible.

Cool build though, I'll keep checking it out

[tazdvl]

You might want to look at a plastic versions for the the metal brackets on your PVC Those could be problematic down the road.

[scelona]

Originally Posted by Isaacs55

Here's my aquascape...I don't know if I like though cuz I feel like it's too high. Thoughts?

I like the structure overall but maybe you could try and utilize more high and low points, that would be my only comment.

[scelona]

Originally Posted by jml1149

Also, if that sock extends over the back of the tank, it's going to wick water out.

I ended up moving the sock more into the filter so I think it should be good. Currently my water is so clean that Im not getting any bubbling or clogging so we will have to see down the road when I add fish.

[scelona]

Originally Posted by tazdvl

You might want to look at a plastic versions for the the metal brackets on your PVC Those could be problematic down the road.

What is your worry with the metal, just rust and what not? Thanks for bringing up your concern this is the type of feedback I like to hear.