40 Breeder as first tank?

[Artes]

I'm thinking of taking advantage of Petco's tank deal today. Is a 40 gallon breeder large enough of a tank for a beginning to learn the hobby? Once setup and cycled with live rock, I was thinking of introducing a clean up crew and two clownfish. Down the road with more experience adding an anemone for them would be nice.

Otherwise, if a 40 would still be prone to swings a newbie may not handle well my other thought is leaning toward a 75 gallon tank. Would a 40B be overkill for a sump, even if a custom stand was built to accomodate the width?

Thanks again for your advice.

[greech]

A 40B is a great tank IMO. Maybe I'm biased a bit though since I have one . But a 75 with a 40B as a sump would serve you very well. Both tanks are perfectly fine to start with. Neither is too big or too small and both have nice footprints for aquascaping.

[cloak]

A 40 breeder is probably one of the most popular tanks out there. Just great dimensions all around.

[Lance M.]

I just got back from petco a couple hours ago and bought two 40 breeders. I love the dimensions and I cant wait to set them up.

[mudskipper1]

40 Breeders are some of my favorite tanks, i started with one. Went well.

[tvotaw]

you can never have to big of a sump imo. due to the fact the more water and space for rock you have the better the quility long term! enjoy

[Artes]

To follow-up selecting the 40B as a display tank. Since the tank sale is going on, I should pickup a couple more tanks for when I'm ready to move foward. Let me know if there is a better choice than a 29 gallon under the stand to contain the skimmer, return, and refugium sections for a 40 breeder?

For a quarantine tank, is a 20 long sufficient? Aside the inverts, the only fish I'm learning toward for phase two of the tank would be a pair of clowns. Phase I would be the setup of the tank, live rock and cycling process to create the initial stable environment. Phase three could include an anemone and beyond, but that's a long way and more research away.

Thanks again

[mudskipper1]

i thought my 20L sump was the perfect size for the 40 Breeder, but it is more of a personal preference I think.

[Mavrk]

20 long is the perfect QT for almost anything new going into the tank.

A 40b will not fit in my stand. It is too wide. I have a 90g, which is just a tall 75. So the width of my tank is 18" (same as the 40b), and since there are supports to hold up the DT, the cabinet is only 16.5" wide inside.

40B is supposed to be a great size for coral. Personally, if I were new to the hobby and had a choice of a 40b or a 75, I would go with more water volume. You have more wiggle room that way. But a 40b with a sump would be nice. I don't know if you can drill the bottom of these tanks (i.e. is it tempered?).

[jrapp13]

According to the Aqueon website, the 40breeder does not have a tempered bottom.

[gweston]

I picked up a 40B myself yesterday as a 'spare'. No idea what i'm going to do with it yet LOL.

I like the size of the 40B. Nice wide profile. Not overly deep which helps get the light in there. May help reduce lighting needs somewhat. It isn't too wide/big to **** the wife/girlfriend/etc off

But.. if you have a pile of empty tanks in the basement.. even a small tank may **** someone off LOL

[Supasalty]

I bought a 40b at the last petco sale. I really like the width and length of the tank. I think it is the best value for a reef tank you will find unless you go used. I am also using a 40b for the sump on my setup. This did cause some difficulties designing a stand but it all works and looks great. I also have ample room in the sump for skimmer return pump and a large fuge.

[jeff@zina.com]

Advantage to a 40 breeder is the width to depth. Less water for light to have to penetrate means less expensive lighting, though you may want 6 bulb fixtures instead of four. Depends a lot on what you're going to keep. Also, wider lets you have more room for an overflow, 3" coast to coast will still leave you a wider opening the a 55. Wider also lets you have better, more stable, rock formations without cutting out swimming room. It's not a big enough tank for larger fish, you'd want more like a 90 for a tang or surgeon, but it's plenty for the clowns, gobies, smaller angels and such.

For the price, I'd buy a second 40B for the sump. Lots of room to play in. Heck, I'd buy six just to have for expansion. If I could hide them from my wife. It's hard enough hiding the two I bought the last sale...

Jeff

[Whisperer]

Why not get another 40 G for the sump if it will fit in your stand? You don't have to have a smaller sump than your DT. I like my 40G sump. Lots of room for equipments and refugium, I even have frag rack section in it.