Downgrade from 90 gal to 40 gal?

RCMark325 · 08/11/2009, 05:43 AM

Hi

It has been a long time since I've posted on here but now I need some advice

I currently have a 90 gallon reef which I just moved because I'm starting grad school. With my salary and time available decreasing I think it's time to set up something more manageable.

I've always liked the size of a 40 breeder tank and I'm surprised they don't come predrilled with an overflow. My questions are

1) How do I go about selling a 90 gal tank/stand/canopy. What would be a fair price for a 1 year old stand/canopy and a slightly used tank (I cracked my old tank in the move and bought a new 90 July 20th)?

2) Is it necessary to drill a 40 br or can I get away with just running powerheads and no skimmer? I did this once for a while with a 30 gal tank, but not for a long period of time.

The current setup:
90 gal AGA megaflow
Aquawood Rose Stand/Canopy
29 gal AGA sump
ASM-G2 Skimmer
Mag 5 Return
Ehiem 1262 Closed loop with SCWD for flow
200 W heater that is useless in Florida summers
36" Current USA Sunpod
Airking cooling fan

Possible new set up:
40 Gallon Breeder
AGA Stand, no canopy
Eheim 1262 closed loop with SCWD
(later upgrade to hydor koralias with controller)
I have an old Red Sea Prizm skimmer I can throw on there
36" Current USA sunpod
Maybe a plenum or DSB...

-or-

Drill the 40 breeder. I'm kind of afraid of this because I don't want to void the warranty and end up flooding my apartment. I wouldn't be so worried if I owned my own house... I'd rather have it come drilled...

I just moved to St. Pete florida so I don't really have reef club friends to help me out or to scavenge my equipment.

Thanks!!

Mark

Logzor · 08/11/2009, 05:56 AM

A downgrade is not a bad idea. I run a 90g and the costs can add up. It is mostly electricity costs, though. If you can find ways to save on this then keep your current setup.

Definitely find someone local to drill the 40B for you. Have them build a simple glass overflow

You may also have a custom 40BR made for relatively cheap. A drilled with overflow 40BR is a little over $100 from Glasscages (I am not sure nice these tanks are).

1. When you sell your 90g I would ask $250 if you want to sell it fast or maybe $300.
2. It is not necessary to drill and have a sump w/skimmer. I had a very successful 55g that had not sump. I did have a HOB skimmer though. I flooded my floor countless times with that HOB skimmer, though.

greech · 08/11/2009, 06:12 AM

Hello,

I have a 40 Breeder and I like it a lot. I am only running two Koralia 2's and a Aquaclear HOB filter for flow. I do a 5-gallon WC every week. Its nice to do a WC with 2 buckets!

The tank is still faily new but it is going great. A lot of people drill 40B's with success but I had the same concerns you have and I wanted my tank to be quiet (which it is). Here is a pic of my tank. Still in its infant stages but its coming along.

JC VT · 08/11/2009, 08:52 AM

If you wanted to avoid drilling, you could look at the Tunze skimmers which are in-tank or the Warner Marine skimmers that are HOB.

Here's a 40 breeder TOTM (sumpless)

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...totm/index.php

nowell · 08/11/2009, 09:32 AM

Or do the HOB closed loop like on Melev's site. You could plumb it so you still have room for the HOB refugium. Depending on what you want to do, you wouldn't need much more than that.

RCMark325 · 08/13/2009, 06:36 AM

thanks for all your responses. I've been reading at glass-holes.com and drilling actually might be an option. After some searching I've realized that some people drill several holes into the back panel of their tank. Does anyone ever worry about weakening the structure of the glass by doing this? I'd love to drill my own tank (two holes on the back wall) but I really would rather not have my tank end up on the floor.

Where are the safe places to drill? How many holes are OK in a 36"x16" (40BR) or 36"x18"(50 gallon) panel? Does the thickness of glass matter?

Thanks again...

JonnyD91 · 08/13/2009, 09:32 AM

i was in the same boat as you about drilling. I had a closed loop with a OM squirt on my 50. I was worried about drilling my new 90G. So i sold all the pumps and OM Squirt and bought 2 Vortechs.

08/11/2009, 05:43 AM	#1
RCMark325 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Palos Heights, IL Posts: 52	Downgrade from 90 gal to 40 gal? Hi It has been a long time since I've posted on here but now I need some advice I currently have a 90 gallon reef which I just moved because I'm starting grad school. With my salary and time available decreasing I think it's time to set up something more manageable. I've always liked the size of a 40 breeder tank and I'm surprised they don't come predrilled with an overflow. My questions are 1) How do I go about selling a 90 gal tank/stand/canopy. What would be a fair price for a 1 year old stand/canopy and a slightly used tank (I cracked my old tank in the move and bought a new 90 July 20th)? 2) Is it necessary to drill a 40 br or can I get away with just running powerheads and no skimmer? I did this once for a while with a 30 gal tank, but not for a long period of time. The current setup: 90 gal AGA megaflow Aquawood Rose Stand/Canopy 29 gal AGA sump ASM-G2 Skimmer Mag 5 Return Ehiem 1262 Closed loop with SCWD for flow 200 W heater that is useless in Florida summers 36" Current USA Sunpod Airking cooling fan Possible new set up: 40 Gallon Breeder AGA Stand, no canopy Eheim 1262 closed loop with SCWD (later upgrade to hydor koralias with controller) I have an old Red Sea Prizm skimmer I can throw on there 36" Current USA sunpod Maybe a plenum or DSB... -or- Drill the 40 breeder. I'm kind of afraid of this because I don't want to void the warranty and end up flooding my apartment. I wouldn't be so worried if I owned my own house... I'd rather have it come drilled... I just moved to St. Pete florida so I don't really have reef club friends to help me out or to scavenge my equipment. Thanks!! Mark

08/11/2009, 08:52 AM	#4
JC VT Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, Il Posts: 579	If you wanted to avoid drilling, you could look at the Tunze skimmers which are in-tank or the Warner Marine skimmers that are HOB. Here's a 40 breeder TOTM (sumpless) http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...totm/index.php __________________ What ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in what?

08/11/2009, 05:56 AM	#2
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	A downgrade is not a bad idea. I run a 90g and the costs can add up. It is mostly electricity costs, though. If you can find ways to save on this then keep your current setup. Definitely find someone local to drill the 40B for you. Have them build a simple glass overflow You may also have a custom 40BR made for relatively cheap. A drilled with overflow 40BR is a little over $100 from Glasscages (I am not sure nice these tanks are). 1. When you sell your 90g I would ask $250 if you want to sell it fast or maybe $300. 2. It is not necessary to drill and have a sump w/skimmer. I had a very successful 55g that had not sump. I did have a HOB skimmer though. I flooded my floor countless times with that HOB skimmer, though.

08/11/2009, 06:12 AM	#3
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Hello, I have a 40 Breeder and I like it a lot. I am only running two Koralia 2's and a Aquaclear HOB filter for flow. I do a 5-gallon WC every week. Its nice to do a WC with 2 buckets! The tank is still faily new but it is going great. A lot of people drill 40B's with success but I had the same concerns you have and I wanted my tank to be quiet (which it is). Here is a pic of my tank. Still in its infant stages but its coming along.

08/11/2009, 09:32 AM	#5
nowell Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 56	Or do the HOB closed loop like on Melev's site. You could plumb it so you still have room for the HOB refugium. Depending on what you want to do, you wouldn't need much more than that.

08/13/2009, 06:36 AM	#6
RCMark325 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Palos Heights, IL Posts: 52	thanks for all your responses. I've been reading at glass-holes.com and drilling actually might be an option. After some searching I've realized that some people drill several holes into the back panel of their tank. Does anyone ever worry about weakening the structure of the glass by doing this? I'd love to drill my own tank (two holes on the back wall) but I really would rather not have my tank end up on the floor. Where are the safe places to drill? How many holes are OK in a 36"x16" (40BR) or 36"x18"(50 gallon) panel? Does the thickness of glass matter? Thanks again...

08/13/2009, 09:32 AM	#7
JonnyD91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Manalapan NJ Posts: 1,444	i was in the same boat as you about drilling. I had a closed loop with a OM squirt on my 50. I was worried about drilling my new 90G. So i sold all the pumps and OM Squirt and bought 2 Vortechs.