52 gallon 20" tank vs. a 40 Breeder for reef

Jdev · 07/17/2012, 06:26 PM

I have heard that the foot print of a 40 breeder is excellent for a reef tank. So I was wondering which would be better my 52 gallon (48x13x20) or a 40 breeder. Advantages of the 40 in my opinion are that I could fit a larger sump, a 10 gallon is all that will fit in my stand. I'd to a custom stand for the 40 so I could have a 20 long sump. Also, I'd be able to use 36" lights, which will save me over the 48" for the current tank. With the $1 per gallon sale at petco, I could recoup the cost of the breeder in savings on lights alone.

So if you were setting up your first reef which would you choose, a 40 breeder or my 52 (its the foot print of a 55 with the front corners at angles to give it a more interesting look)

snowcarver75 · 07/17/2012, 08:26 PM

I have several tanks ranging from 10 to 300. 40b is my favorite for most things: frag tanks: qt for larger fish, mixing station. You need width for aquascaping.

Jdev · 07/17/2012, 08:39 PM

So then the 52? It is 48" wide compared to 36" for the 40B. Or are you talking front to back width?

warlord239 · 07/17/2012, 08:52 PM

I thinknhe ment front to back...that defiantly makes aquascaping better

Virtuoso · 07/17/2012, 09:08 PM

40g breeder. For the larger sump and as others said, the larger depth (front to back). It really makes the difference as far as aquascape goes. From 13 inch depth to 18 inch depth is a huge difference.

Jdev · 07/17/2012, 09:40 PM

Okay sweet. I'll save the 52 to use as a fowlr for a lionfish in the future. I love lion fish, but I love the look of a reef in my living room better.

secrest · 07/17/2012, 09:41 PM

I would go with the 40 breeder as well. The added depth makes a huge difference.

Jim.mer · 07/17/2012, 10:18 PM

40 breeder for sure, make a great sump when you upgrade.

Entropy · 07/18/2012, 09:43 AM

It is always better to have a tank that is as wide (front to back) as it is tall (or more). It just makes aquascaping so much easier and it gives the tank more depth when viewing. I would go with the 40B.

Nick12 · 07/18/2012, 02:35 PM

40 breeder . This is my first tank and I love it. More depth means more room to play and move corals

steelwrap · 07/18/2012, 03:13 PM

If You can find one there is a 50 gal that has same footprint as 40b but is a couple inches taller

07/17/2012, 06:26 PM	#1
Jdev Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 32	52 gallon 20" tank vs. a 40 Breeder for reef I have heard that the foot print of a 40 breeder is excellent for a reef tank. So I was wondering which would be better my 52 gallon (48x13x20) or a 40 breeder. Advantages of the 40 in my opinion are that I could fit a larger sump, a 10 gallon is all that will fit in my stand. I'd to a custom stand for the 40 so I could have a 20 long sump. Also, I'd be able to use 36" lights, which will save me over the 48" for the current tank. With the $1 per gallon sale at petco, I could recoup the cost of the breeder in savings on lights alone. So if you were setting up your first reef which would you choose, a 40 breeder or my 52 (its the foot print of a 55 with the front corners at angles to give it a more interesting look)

07/17/2012, 10:18 PM	#8
Jim.mer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Bay,Ont Posts: 235	40 breeder for sure, make a great sump when you upgrade. __________________ JBJ 12 in the works, I said to my self, my self I said, Maybe i'll go LED No my self said No, MH all the way Current Tank Info: 12 jbj settin up soon, no fish, just inverts, hermits,softies,LPS

07/18/2012, 09:43 AM	#9
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	It is always better to have a tank that is as wide (front to back) as it is tall (or more). It just makes aquascaping so much easier and it gives the tank more depth when viewing. I would go with the 40B. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

07/17/2012, 08:26 PM	#2
snowcarver75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 86	I have several tanks ranging from 10 to 300. 40b is my favorite for most things: frag tanks: qt for larger fish, mixing station. You need width for aquascaping.

07/17/2012, 08:39 PM	#3
Jdev Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 32	So then the 52? It is 48" wide compared to 36" for the 40B. Or are you talking front to back width?

07/17/2012, 08:52 PM	#4
warlord239 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 334	I thinknhe ment front to back...that defiantly makes aquascaping better

07/17/2012, 09:08 PM	#5
Virtuoso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 727	40g breeder. For the larger sump and as others said, the larger depth (front to back). It really makes the difference as far as aquascape goes. From 13 inch depth to 18 inch depth is a huge difference.

07/17/2012, 09:40 PM	#6
Jdev Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 32	Okay sweet. I'll save the 52 to use as a fowlr for a lionfish in the future. I love lion fish, but I love the look of a reef in my living room better.

07/17/2012, 09:41 PM	#7
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	I would go with the 40 breeder as well. The added depth makes a huge difference.

07/18/2012, 02:35 PM	#10
Nick12 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: plainfield ct Posts: 14	40 breeder . This is my first tank and I love it. More depth means more room to play and move corals

07/18/2012, 03:13 PM	#11
steelwrap Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan City IN Posts: 148	If You can find one there is a 50 gal that has same footprint as 40b but is a couple inches taller