Xavier's 40g Breeder Build

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/02/2010, 12:59 PM

This is the chronicles of my 40g Breeder, Hope you enjoy!

I have been planning this tank for a few years now and I finally got the go ahead to set it up.

I picked up a different 40g with stand, canopy and sump from Zoomster a couple of days ago, and I plan to use the stand and sump for this set up as the 40g that came with it is not the dimensions I wanted.

I got the tank from the Petco $1/Gal sale it is an Aqueon tank which I hear has a tempered glass bottom so I can try my hand at drilling it (unless someone knows how, and would be willing)

The equipment list is planned as follows:
40g Breeder- purchased
Stand- purchased
45g Sump- purchased
Return Pump- still deciding on which to get (any opinions)
Lighting- I am leaning towards a 250 watt halide but I am keeping my options open
Protein Skimmer- probably an asm g-1 (I have it laying around)
Heater- still need to get one.

I will need all of your help since I am a complete n00b when it comes to plumbing and sump systems!
I hope to use one portion of my sump as a refugium, but I don't know which to choose, or even which way water is supposed to flow through the sump that I have.

Here are some mock ups I did to show dimensions of the tank/sump

40g breeder

45g sump

Sump dimensions with baffle placement

Here is the new tank!!! (sorry cant find the cord to the camera so i took it with my phone)

And a side view!

Enjoy · 09/02/2010, 02:05 PM

Lookin good!

If the bottom glass is tempered, I believe you cannot drill it. You can check to see if the back glass is tempered, and if it isn't you can drill your drain/return holes in the back. Personally I like the holes being on the back anyways. Keep the overflow small, and create more real estate in the tank.

Good Luck!

Symbiant · 09/02/2010, 04:02 PM

I drilled the back of my Aqueon 40B, I don't know about the bottom. I drilled 2 1 3/4" holes in the back for 1" bulkheads.

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/02/2010, 05:56 PM

After some more research, tempered means I CANT drill the bottom. Unfortunate for the original plans, but I guess it means I have to come up with something else.. any ideas?

psykokid · 09/02/2010, 06:30 PM

are you sure its tempered? I just looked up in aqueon's catalog, states that 40 Breeders are not tempered..

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/011/19784.pdf

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/02/2010, 06:38 PM

Wow, thats very interesting.. I will call them and make sure! thanks a lot

guitarfreak11 · 09/02/2010, 06:47 PM

Good find psykokid. I also assumed it was a tempered bottom

I also just bought a 40B and am planning it out. I will be custom making myself a stand out of steel, probably gonna work on it tomorrow. Now that i know i can drill my tank i am gonna be replanning the whole tank. Ill wait for one of you guys to drill yours first though =P

psykokid · 09/02/2010, 06:53 PM

i'm going to pick one up this weekend, throw a glass bit in the drill press to see how it goes..

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/02/2010, 06:59 PM

I think I will wait for you to drill yours..
haha

guitarfreak11 · 09/02/2010, 07:11 PM

Gemini, how will you be making your overflow?

Im just curious if your gonna make it or buy one.

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/03/2010, 01:53 AM

I think i am going to be making one to save money, unless I can find one for very cheap...
what about you?

byrdman81 · 09/03/2010, 05:30 AM

I am also contemplating a 40 breeder or custom built. The bottoms arent tempered until 55. You can drll the bottom of a 40.

guitarfreak11 · 09/03/2010, 07:21 AM

I am also thinking about making one. Everywhere i look to find one they are usually pretty expensive so i am gonna try my hand at it.

Symbiant · 09/03/2010, 01:11 PM

I drilled mine in the back to make a sweet coast to coast style overflow that's super quiet. here's a few pics:

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/03/2010, 01:35 PM

Thats a very interesting overflow, how does it work?

Symbiant · 09/03/2010, 01:37 PM

oops... sorry about the huge pic

Symbiant · 09/03/2010, 01:46 PM

here's the other pic I meant to post.... basically, it surface skims the length of the tank, it's really quiet, and it's cheap. The "overflow" is a 1" pvc pipe running most of the length of the tank. Then 2 1" slip/slip street elbows on each side make the turns to go into 1" bulkheads. On the outside of the bulkheads I have 2 external dursos that go down to the sump. Here's a pic of the back of the tank. It's quiet and works fantastic! Plus, with the back painted black (krylon fusion), you can't even see the overflow.

guitarfreak11 · 09/03/2010, 02:07 PM

So you just slotted the pvc on top and plumbed it up, that is a sweet overflow.

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/03/2010, 02:25 PM

Interesting concept.. I am sorta leaning towards a corner overflow right now... I will have to think about that though

Symbiant · 09/06/2010, 02:10 PM

thanks. I can't take credit for it though. The first person I saw do it is Flyguy. I now have a 90 that is plumbed exactly the same. Great surface movement and really quiet. Plus, it's pretty rare for a fish to take a sump ride. I've found a few small chromis in the sump, and once a mystery wrasse (Don't know how that happened), but I never have to go overflow fishing for anything.

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/08/2010, 01:31 PM

The tank is not tempered after all, so drilling can continue as planned!
I picked up some free plumbing parts from a reefer in Oceanside the other night. I'm not sure how I can use some of it as most of it is glued together, but I know some of the stuff will be very useful.

Here is a pic of the parts I got

The eggcrate fits perfectly in the bottom of the display tank so I think I will use it to keep the rocks off the bottom of the tank directly.

guitarfreak11 · 09/08/2010, 03:02 PM

Sweet! I am about to start buying up my plumbing parts as well. Im just not sure what size bulhead i wanna use for my drain hole. Im going with a corner overflow to a 29g sump, then its gonna return into a brand new SCWD i have laying around here and kick out to 2- 3/4" returns. Im gonna be starting up a thread as well, That way we can follow each others haha.

scott26 · 09/08/2010, 03:13 PM

You could always drill the back and do a bean overflow system with a coast to coast much more surface skimming and looks clean... If you are going to do a corner are you going to use the herbie method to keep the drains quite?

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/08/2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarfreak11

Sweet! I am about to start buying up my plumbing parts as well. Im just not sure what size bulhead i wanna use for my drain hole. Im going with a corner overflow to a 29g sump, then its gonna return into a brand new SCWD i have laying around here and kick out to 2- 3/4" returns. Im gonna be starting up a thread as well, That way we can follow each others haha.

I think I am going to use 1" cause thats what most of the parts are, but im not sure...
You should def start a thread, we can help each other hopefully!
what are you doing for lighting?

gemini aquarius(t) · 09/08/2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott26

You could always drill the back and do a bean overflow system with a coast to coast much more surface skimming and looks clean... If you are going to do a corner are you going to use the herbie method to keep the drains quite?

What is a "bean" overflow?
heard of herbie, but not of bean

09/02/2010, 12:59 PM	#1
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	Xavier's 40g Breeder Build This is the chronicles of my 40g Breeder, Hope you enjoy! I have been planning this tank for a few years now and I finally got the go ahead to set it up. I picked up a different 40g with stand, canopy and sump from Zoomster a couple of days ago, and I plan to use the stand and sump for this set up as the 40g that came with it is not the dimensions I wanted. I got the tank from the Petco $1/Gal sale it is an Aqueon tank which I hear has a tempered glass bottom so I can try my hand at drilling it (unless someone knows how, and would be willing) The equipment list is planned as follows: 40g Breeder- purchased Stand- purchased 45g Sump- purchased Return Pump- still deciding on which to get (any opinions) Lighting- I am leaning towards a 250 watt halide but I am keeping my options open Protein Skimmer- probably an asm g-1 (I have it laying around) Heater- still need to get one. I will need all of your help since I am a complete n00b when it comes to plumbing and sump systems! I hope to use one portion of my sump as a refugium, but I don't know which to choose, or even which way water is supposed to flow through the sump that I have. Here are some mock ups I did to show dimensions of the tank/sump 40g breeder 45g sump Sump dimensions with baffle placement Here is the new tank!!! (sorry cant find the cord to the camera so i took it with my phone) And a side view! __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/02/2010, 02:05 PM	#2
Enjoy That's what she said.... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 2,477	Lookin good! If the bottom glass is tempered, I believe you cannot drill it. You can check to see if the back glass is tempered, and if it isn't you can drill your drain/return holes in the back. Personally I like the holes being on the back anyways. Keep the overflow small, and create more real estate in the tank. Good Luck! __________________ -Andrew IIII20 Current Tank Info: 48x30x20 Rimless

09/02/2010, 05:56 PM	#4
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	After some more research, tempered means I CANT drill the bottom. Unfortunate for the original plans, but I guess it means I have to come up with something else.. any ideas? __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/02/2010, 06:38 PM	#6
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	Wow, thats very interesting.. I will call them and make sure! thanks a lot __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/02/2010, 06:47 PM	#7
guitarfreak11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mentone and Phelan, CA Posts: 390	Good find psykokid. I also assumed it was a tempered bottom I also just bought a 40B and am planning it out. I will be custom making myself a stand out of steel, probably gonna work on it tomorrow. Now that i know i can drill my tank i am gonna be replanning the whole tank. Ill wait for one of you guys to drill yours first though =P __________________ Adam adam1121 on: Nano-reef socalireefs inlandreefs Current Tank Info: 24g Aquapod 12g nano cube, 72g bowfront in the works

09/02/2010, 04:02 PM	#3
Symbiant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 156	I drilled the back of my Aqueon 40B, I don't know about the bottom. I drilled 2 1 3/4" holes in the back for 1" bulkheads.

09/02/2010, 06:30 PM	#5
psykokid Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,454	are you sure its tempered? I just looked up in aqueon's catalog, states that 40 Breeders are not tempered.. http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/011/19784.pdf

09/02/2010, 06:53 PM	#8
psykokid Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,454	i'm going to pick one up this weekend, throw a glass bit in the drill press to see how it goes..

09/02/2010, 06:59 PM	#9
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	I think I will wait for you to drill yours.. haha __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/02/2010, 07:11 PM	#10
guitarfreak11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mentone and Phelan, CA Posts: 390	Gemini, how will you be making your overflow? Im just curious if your gonna make it or buy one. __________________ Adam adam1121 on: Nano-reef socalireefs inlandreefs Current Tank Info: 24g Aquapod 12g nano cube, 72g bowfront in the works

09/03/2010, 01:53 AM	#11
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	I think i am going to be making one to save money, unless I can find one for very cheap... what about you? __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/03/2010, 05:30 AM	#12
byrdman81 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 543	I am also contemplating a 40 breeder or custom built. The bottoms arent tempered until 55. You can drll the bottom of a 40.

09/03/2010, 07:21 AM	#13
guitarfreak11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mentone and Phelan, CA Posts: 390	I am also thinking about making one. Everywhere i look to find one they are usually pretty expensive so i am gonna try my hand at it. __________________ Adam adam1121 on: Nano-reef socalireefs inlandreefs Current Tank Info: 24g Aquapod 12g nano cube, 72g bowfront in the works

09/03/2010, 01:11 PM	#14
Symbiant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 156	I drilled mine in the back to make a sweet coast to coast style overflow that's super quiet. here's a few pics:

09/03/2010, 01:35 PM	#15
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	Thats a very interesting overflow, how does it work? __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/03/2010, 01:37 PM	#16
Symbiant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 156	oops... sorry about the huge pic

09/03/2010, 01:46 PM	#17
Symbiant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 156	here's the other pic I meant to post.... basically, it surface skims the length of the tank, it's really quiet, and it's cheap. The "overflow" is a 1" pvc pipe running most of the length of the tank. Then 2 1" slip/slip street elbows on each side make the turns to go into 1" bulkheads. On the outside of the bulkheads I have 2 external dursos that go down to the sump. Here's a pic of the back of the tank. It's quiet and works fantastic! Plus, with the back painted black (krylon fusion), you can't even see the overflow.

09/03/2010, 02:07 PM	#18
guitarfreak11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mentone and Phelan, CA Posts: 390	So you just slotted the pvc on top and plumbed it up, that is a sweet overflow. __________________ Adam adam1121 on: Nano-reef socalireefs inlandreefs Current Tank Info: 24g Aquapod 12g nano cube, 72g bowfront in the works

09/03/2010, 02:25 PM	#19
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	Interesting concept.. I am sorta leaning towards a corner overflow right now... I will have to think about that though __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/06/2010, 02:10 PM	#20
Symbiant Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 156	thanks. I can't take credit for it though. The first person I saw do it is Flyguy. I now have a 90 that is plumbed exactly the same. Great surface movement and really quiet. Plus, it's pretty rare for a fish to take a sump ride. I've found a few small chromis in the sump, and once a mystery wrasse (Don't know how that happened), but I never have to go overflow fishing for anything.

09/08/2010, 01:31 PM	#21
gemini aquarius(t) Always Learning Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 5,099	The tank is not tempered after all, so drilling can continue as planned! I picked up some free plumbing parts from a reefer in Oceanside the other night. I'm not sure how I can use some of it as most of it is glued together, but I know some of the stuff will be very useful. Here is a pic of the parts I got The eggcrate fits perfectly in the bottom of the display tank so I think I will use it to keep the rocks off the bottom of the tank directly. __________________ -Xavier Blue Thumb Aquatix @BTAquatix

09/08/2010, 03:02 PM	#22
guitarfreak11 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mentone and Phelan, CA Posts: 390	Sweet! I am about to start buying up my plumbing parts as well. Im just not sure what size bulhead i wanna use for my drain hole. Im going with a corner overflow to a 29g sump, then its gonna return into a brand new SCWD i have laying around here and kick out to 2- 3/4" returns. Im gonna be starting up a thread as well, That way we can follow each others haha. __________________ Adam adam1121 on: Nano-reef socalireefs inlandreefs Current Tank Info: 24g Aquapod 12g nano cube, 72g bowfront in the works

09/08/2010, 03:13 PM	#23
scott26 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Santa Maria Posts: 624	You could always drill the back and do a bean overflow system with a coast to coast much more surface skimming and looks clean... If you are going to do a corner are you going to use the herbie method to keep the drains quite? __________________ Tank list: 55 Gallon Mixed (Broken Down), 95 Gallon Wave (Sold), 30 Gallon Cube (Rebuilding), 225 Gallon (Sold), 150 Gallon (Building). Current Tank Info: 150 Euro Building

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