40 Breeder Build

BMills15 · 08/19/2015, 03:18 PM

Hey all, couple of buddies of mine have tanks and I always loved them so in January of this year I figured it was time to start my own. After many months of building the stand, getting boxes upon boxes in from online retailers, dealing with my girlfriends rolling eyes and buying tools I may never need again, it's finally up and running! I posed some pictures below of the build process, let me know what you think.

ryeguyy84 · 08/20/2015, 07:51 AM

looks good so far, very organized. . . But, have you tested if the sump can hold the extra water from the DT if you turn off the return pump? the water looks a bit high in the sump.

BMills15 · 08/20/2015, 08:54 AM

Rye - thanks for the feedback.

I have tested the sump and it was able to handle the water draining back into it plus some. The water level looks higher in the sump than it really is due to the angle of the picture. Now, if there was a leak in the silicone used to hold the overflow wall in place, that would be a different story.

mygsris2slo4u · 08/21/2015, 06:58 PM

Now it's time for lights and a skimmer! Vertex omega 130?! Maybe? Others may chime in. I haven't bought a skimmer since 2012. The reef octopus prime is a vertex knock off and it costs more. When are the kessils arriving?

BMills15 · 08/23/2015, 05:50 PM

Two a360s will be here on Tuesday. Already made my kessil to Apex communication cable. Now that it has been four days since I placed the order the 30 bucks for 2 day shipping seems like it would have been well worth it!

As for a protein skimmer, I'm really not sure. I feel like the biggest issue I am going to have is the footprint. What I'm not sure of is whether the dimensions listed for each skimmer includes the space the pump takes up. I have about a 9"x9x9.5" area in the return section of the pump. Anyone have any recommendations?

mushumatt · 08/23/2015, 08:31 PM

Check out any of the skimmers with the pump located inside the tube or beneath it will save space. But nice build man! How easy was the apex to setup?

BMills15 · 08/24/2015, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushumatt

Check out any of the skimmers with the pump located inside the tube or beneath it will save space. But nice build man! How easy was the apex to setup?

Thanks Mushumatt!

The Apex was actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. The coding can be a little tricky - you can make your code as simple or as complex as you want. To be completely honest, the hardest part was and is trying to fit all the wiring into a relatively small space! Definitely worth the money to have a controller! I am sure there are people out there that still don't want them, but I am glad I have one.

gtguy256 · 08/24/2015, 02:19 PM

The reef octopus classic 110 super space saver, or the aquamaxx cones-co-1 would fit.

mushumatt · 08/24/2015, 06:36 PM

Awesome, i am kind of scared of the coding but my dad is very good with coding so he probably could help me. The apex is going to be my last purchase, I see it as a great tool but not necessarily a necessity in my case.

08/19/2015, 03:18 PM	#1
BMills15 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 18	40 Breeder Build Hey all, couple of buddies of mine have tanks and I always loved them so in January of this year I figured it was time to start my own. After many months of building the stand, getting boxes upon boxes in from online retailers, dealing with my girlfriends rolling eyes and buying tools I may never need again, it's finally up and running! I posed some pictures below of the build process, let me know what you think.

08/20/2015, 07:51 AM	#2
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	looks good so far, very organized. . . But, have you tested if the sump can hold the extra water from the DT if you turn off the return pump? the water looks a bit high in the sump. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

08/23/2015, 08:31 PM	#6
mushumatt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Chester Posts: 670	Check out any of the skimmers with the pump located inside the tube or beneath it will save space. But nice build man! How easy was the apex to setup? __________________ Lets Go Mountaineers WVU Audi Sport/ACNA/NEQ Current Tank Info: 40 BR w/20L sump

08/24/2015, 06:36 PM	#9
mushumatt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Chester Posts: 670	Awesome, i am kind of scared of the coding but my dad is very good with coding so he probably could help me. The apex is going to be my last purchase, I see it as a great tool but not necessarily a necessity in my case. __________________ Lets Go Mountaineers WVU Audi Sport/ACNA/NEQ Current Tank Info: 40 BR w/20L sump

08/20/2015, 08:54 AM	#3
BMills15 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 18	Rye - thanks for the feedback. I have tested the sump and it was able to handle the water draining back into it plus some. The water level looks higher in the sump than it really is due to the angle of the picture. Now, if there was a leak in the silicone used to hold the overflow wall in place, that would be a different story.

08/21/2015, 06:58 PM	#4
mygsris2slo4u Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Westlake, OH Posts: 96	Now it's time for lights and a skimmer! Vertex omega 130?! Maybe? Others may chime in. I haven't bought a skimmer since 2012. The reef octopus prime is a vertex knock off and it costs more. When are the kessils arriving?

08/23/2015, 05:50 PM	#5
BMills15 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 18	Two a360s will be here on Tuesday. Already made my kessil to Apex communication cable. Now that it has been four days since I placed the order the 30 bucks for 2 day shipping seems like it would have been well worth it! As for a protein skimmer, I'm really not sure. I feel like the biggest issue I am going to have is the footprint. What I'm not sure of is whether the dimensions listed for each skimmer includes the space the pump takes up. I have about a 9"x9x9.5" area in the return section of the pump. Anyone have any recommendations?

08/24/2015, 02:19 PM	#8
gtguy256 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Spanish Fork, UT Posts: 17	The reef octopus classic 110 super space saver, or the aquamaxx cones-co-1 would fit.