ZOKU's 40 BREEDER build thread...

[ZOKU]

Hey everyone!!

So, I'm sorta kinda new to the whole big reef tank build hobby. My last venture was a 3-gal. JBJ Picotope tank that I made a build thread for here. I loved my little pico reef tank, but I had an accident. Well, I didn't have an accident, my tank had an accident. My wife & I have a super tiny studio apartment & my pico was sitting on our kitchen counter. Came home from work one evening and emptied the dishwasher (don't you hate that chore?!) I was putting away a couple of soup bowls into the kitchen cupboard above the pico tank and one of them slipped out of my hand. See where I'm going with this? Needless to say, the ending was not good. I took a break from the hobby and vowed not to get anymore reef tanks capable of sitting under kitchen cabinets.

I took advantage of PetCo's $1/gal. sale a couple of weeks ago and picked up a brand spankin' new 40 Breeder aquarium. I've always had a soft spot for the dimensions of this tank. 18" wide so there's plenty of room to aquascape and only 36" in length... big enough to enjoy but not big enough where it'll cost me an arm, a leg and some gold buillon to light it up.

Here is my very, very, very empty aquarium because who doesn't like photos?



Here's what I've got for a tentative equipment list thus far. This may or may not change as I go along. I was initially opting to keep things as simple as I possibly can and it's sorta morphing into something different... or everytime I surf the Internet and come across something else that intrigues me.

RO/DI SYSTEM: SpectraPure 90GPD 4-STAGE - ORDERED!!
ATO SYSTEM: ???
RETURN PUMP: Water Blaster 3000
OVERFLOW KIT: Glass-Holes 700 GPH kit – GOT IT!!
RETURN KIT: Glass-Holes ¾” return kit – GOT IT!!
LIGHTING: Custom 120W LED Fixture from local reef club member
SUMP/REFUGIUM: 36" x 15" x 15" custom acrylic sump/refugium (approx. 35 gal.) - ORDERED!!
HEAT: Jager 250W
SKIMMER: Reef Octopus SRO2000INT - ORDERED!!
REFUGIUM LIGHT: Skkye 6W Utility LED Lamp – GOT IT!!
CONTROLLER: Apex LITE

I'll keep adding to this thread as I go along.
I really hope you guys (and gals) chime in often and help me along! I'm certain I'll have a lot of questions along the way. And like with most hobbies, there's a million different ways to get to the RIGHT answer... some people just have different ways of getting there. I think that's one of the coolest things about the hobby.

Looking forward to "chatting" with some of you!

[ZOKU]

I really kinda dig this Skkye LED Utility light that I got for my refugium. It's 6500K and 6W (1W per LED). It's kinda sleek and the arm is completely bendable, moldable, etc, etc... and man, this thing is bright!







So, I'm sorta collecting equipment right now and researching things as my wife & I are currently ditchin' this tiny shoebox studio apartment and upgrading to a larger 2-bedroom apartment not too far away. I won't be getting the new 40B up 'n running 'til we get all moved in and settled in March... so I've got a couple more months.

[ZOKU]

I enlisted the assistance of a guy in a local reef club that I joined to help me out with the stand. Everyone in the reef club has been terribly helpful and very friendly. What a great resource!!

I'm not much of a DIY kinda guy... I'm more of a "could-I-just-spend-a-little-more-and-buy-it-somewhere?" I couldn't build something to save my life. And there's no way I trust myself to build a stand needing to hold several hundred pounds.

So as we get closer to moving time, I'm going to get him the materials and he's going to "help" me build the tank for the tank which will also hold my custom sump/refugium (currently ordered and waiting to arrive)

This got me thinking about an ATO system. I know this 40B is going to have a lot more daily evaporation than my little 3-gal. pico did so I know I'll need to have something in place. I picked up a pretty cool sized Rubbermaid storage container that holds 24-gallons, yet still has a fairly manageable sized footprint at only 24" x 18.5" x 20". I thought this would be my ATO reservoir. The local reefer is going to "help" me build a custom cabinet of sorts that will hold this Rubbermaid container.



I'm still undecided about what to utilize as an ATO system, but a local reefer told me about this system which seems to be working fairly well for him. I initially had my eyes on a Tunze Osmolator, but if I can put that cash towards something else - I'd rather do so. We shall see...

[ZOKU]

I got my 3/4" return kit from Glass-Holes today in the mail... these guys ship really fast and really help to a n00b like myself. (thanks, Mike!)

Unfortunately, they forgot to pack my holesaw for the return kit so they got another one in the mail for me immediately. And if nothing else, at least I got more candy out of the deal. Hey, who doesn't like Fun Dip?



I'm also enlisting the help of a local reef club member to help me drill the overflow and the return. I'm certain with enough YouTube video installations I could probably do it myself, but eh... there's something about drilling a couple of holes into the back of an aquarium that make me squeamish.

I believe the plan is to get it drilled next weekend and then I'm gonna slap a nice coat of black paint on the back of it.

[ZOKU]

GOALS / LIVESTOCK:

1.) Keep mainly SPS corals along with the zoas that I had in my pico tank that I've come to love. I may toss in a couple of LPS just for texture variation throughout the tank. Judging from what I've read online and from other tank builds, somehow this usually morphs into something different.

2.) I want a completely self-sufficient thriving refugium that will sustain not only itself over time, but also the tank inhabitants. I'd like to utilize a DSB in the refugium coupled with some live rock where copepods and other food sources can live and then [hopefully] make their way up to the main display tank.

3.) I plan on utilizing approx. 20lbs. - 30lbs. of Pukani dry rock in the main display tank along with a few choice pieces of live rock to help seed. Still not sure what kind of live rock I am going to be using, but I do have a few ideas rollin' around in the back of my mind.

4.) I really don't want an enormously large bioload to maintain so I'll only be doing a handful of fish. I do know for certain I would like a pair of Clownfish along with the obligatory goby or blenny and perhaps one other fish like a Hawkfish or reef-safe wrasse. Total of (4) fish. That's it.

5.) Above all, I really want to continue growing with the hobby and have fun. My intent is to learn, research and understand not only what I'm doing... but why I'm doing something.

[ZOKU]

Sorry... just got a PM from a nice individual who suggested I introduce myself to you guys (and gals) since I failed to do that in my initial post. D'oh!

My name is Scott. 37 years old. Oshkosh, WI. I'm not nearly as cool as you think I am. No, really. I'm not. I work full-time at a desk job staring a computer for most of the day. I enjoy photography, musky fishing, hunting, collecting random items to survive the inevitable zombie apocalypse. I enoy movies and surfing the Internet and I'll often do both at the sametime. I'm talented like that. Got married in August 2011 and will be moving at the end of March when I'll finally be able to get my 40B project off the ground. *yay!* I enjoy hiking and my wife and I have made a pact to hike all 1,000+ miles of the Ice Age Trail that stretches from one end of the state of Wisconsin to the other. As of Dec. 10th, we have about 12 miles accomplished. We have a ways to go.

Here's a few shots from our recent hike that we did a couple of weeks ago up in Sturgeon Bay, WI. We've started at the eastside of the state and plan on hiking westward...

[jim.crunk]

It sure looks like your off to a really great start. I have the same skimmer & thought it was going to be overkill on my 75g. Dont be worried when you dont see much skimmate for a couple days at a time, unless you run bio-pellets.

Looking forward to many pics & maybe a video or 2 of your build.

[ZOKU]

Originally Posted by jim.crunk

It sure looks like your off to a really great start. I have the same skimmer & thought it was going to be overkill on my 75g. Dont be worried when you dont see much skimmate for a couple days at a time, unless you run bio-pellets.

Looking forward to many pics & maybe a video or 2 of your build.

Thanks for the reply!!

Yes, initially I get several replies and people that do this when I say I ended up going with a SRO2000INT as a skimmer for my 40B. But I figure, my sump/refugium is an additional 35 gal. of water volume + I figure I'll be able to use if/when I ever decide to upgrade. And judging from everyone else in the hobby, a large percentage always seem to upgrade.

Looking forward to posting up my build here at RC and hoping you guys will assist me along the way!

[ZOKU]

OK.

Here's a question for everyone... if you don't opt to spend $300+ on a controller, how are those people controlling their lights and their powerheads? ...I can understand the lighting being simply turned on and off with a couple of timers courtesy of your local hardware store.

But what about powerheads? Are people simply leaving them plugged in 24/7? Do they walk by their tank and unplug one and then come by again and plug it back in? You can't tell me everyone in the hobby has spent upwards of $300.00 (plus the cost of modules) for an aquarium controller.

I'm stumped. Even if I cough up the $369 for an Apex LITE, I still need to cough up $229 each for a Tunze controllable powerhead. ugh. I wrote Neptune Systems and it seems the only powerhead manufacturer they really deem acceptable for use with their Apex controllers are the Tunze controllable models.

If you DON'T have a controller of some form, how are you controlling your lights and your powerheads? What am I missing here?

[jim.crunk]

I am using a cheap jbj controller. It works good for just turning off & on pumps but it doesnt turn one off at night and them resume normal operation durring the day. BUT, you could put a hardware type timer on one pump/or both and plug the the timer onto the jbj or hydor wave controllers.
For my lights I run 2 walmart digital timers. One for moonlights and the other for all the other lights.
I would love to have a fancy controller like the Apex, but it seems everything you want to do with one you have to buy add-ons.

[ZOKU]

Anyone know if the "regular" Hydor Koralia powerheads (non-controllable) are okay with a off/on wavemaker application?

Understanding that I wouldn't be turning them off/on at something ridiculous like a 1-minute interval... but if I ran them in blocks of, like, 15-30 minutes at a time and alternated, accordingly... would these work?

[jim.crunk]

I dont know if others are having better results but I am running the koralia 1400's and you cant beat the gph per watt for the price. I do hate that they make a clunk sound everytime they turn on reguardless of what I have the interval set at.
When I do upgrade my tank I will also upgrade these pumps.
BTW they run perfectly quite after turning on and would be perfect for someone that wants to run them non-stop.
I have the jbj pumps that I got with the controller and they are perfectly quiet when turning on and running non-stop. I just with I had gotten the bigger ones, mine are the 500 gph.

[ZOKU]

Thanks for the info!!!

[Snakebyt]

you will love the 40B tank, i have had mine up for about 2 years now but i will be upgrading to a 75 in the next couple months

[ZOKU]

Originally Posted by Snakebyt

you will love the 40B tank, i have had mine up for about 2 years now but i will be upgrading to a 75 in the next couple months

THANKS!!

I've always loved the size of the 40B.
I'm looking forward to aquascaping it!

[Alysiak00]

good start zoku! i just stumbled across your build thread. Keep us posted (pics of course!) lol

[ZOKU]

Originally Posted by Alysiak00

good start zoku! i just stumbled across your build thread. Keep us posted (pics of course!) lol

THANKS!

I will definitely keep everyone posted.
I know the reason why my build thread is a bit slower than others is due to the obvious fact that... my tank has no water. But I honestly am learning a lot and as soon as my wife & I move into our new place, the tank will be in its new home and the filling will commence! *w00t!*

I will also get some photos up this weekend. Skimmer should be here and tank is getting drilled!

Thanks for taggin' along, everyone.

[ZOKU]

Look what I got on Friday:

* REEF OCTOPUS SRO2000INT *



I also got together with a local reefer today and he assisted me with drilling the tank. (1) hole for the overflow and (1) hole for the return.

* DRILLED! *



I also ordered my custom 120W LED fixture today which I should have in a couple of weeks... B)

EDITED / Equipment List:

RO/DI SYSTEM: SpectraPure 90GPD 4-STAGE - SHIPPED!
ATO SYSTEM: ???
RETURN PUMP: Water Blaster 3000
OVERFLOW KIT: Glass-Holes 700 GPH kit – GOT IT!!
RETURN KIT: Glass-Holes ¾” return kit – GOT IT!!
LIGHTING: Custom 120W LED Fixture from local reef club member - ORDERED!
SUMP/REFUGIUM: 36" x 15" x 15" custom acrylic sump/refugium (approx. 35 gal.) - SHIPPED!
HEAT: Jager 250W
SKIMMER: Reef Octopus SRO2000INT - GOT IT!!
REFUGIUM LIGHT: Skkye 6W Utility LED Lamp – GOT IT!!
CONTROLLER: Apex LITE

[ZOKU]

Took this beast outta the box... and I was, like, "Holy ####!" I mean, I knew it was big... but day-ummm, it is REALLY big. I can't wait to get this thing hooked up to my system and get some water in my tank!

[yamaha16bw]

I just set up a 40b myself. Looking forward to watching yours take shape. I used the Glass-Holes 700 overflow as well. Works great! I used a standard 20g tank for my sump tho.

[hoganrj1]

Nice start. I just picked up a 40B at the petco sale too! What made you choose the 700 glass holes kit? I was looking at them as well.

[ZOKU]

Originally Posted by hoganrj1

What made you choose the 700 glass holes kit? I was looking at them as well.

I've actually not had any first hand experience with them at all. But several local reefers recommended their overflow kit. I also did a search online and several others made the same recommendation. Everyone seems to say they're very quiet (no gurgling / toilet-draining noises)

Instructions are very straight forward, as well.

Thanks for reading!

[TimeConsumer]

Originally Posted by ZOKU

Anyone know if the "regular" Hydor Koralia powerheads (non-controllable) are okay with a off/on wavemaker application?

Understanding that I wouldn't be turning them off/on at something ridiculous like a 1-minute interval... but if I ran them in blocks of, like, 15-30 minutes at a time and alternated, accordingly... would these work?

I run three Hydor Koralia Evolution 750's on my 75g. These are connected to an on-off wavemaker at 20sec intervals. There is an audible "click" when the pump turns on, but you get used to it quickly. I sleep in a room with this going on and I don't notice it anymore. One problem though, the click you hear is the pump hitting a bumper that prevents it from spinning backwards. Well, one of my pumps clicked too hard and snapped the bumper right off. So it started spinning backwards half the time. Talk about random flow! Anyways at the cheap price of these I just bought a new one.

[ZOKU]

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

I run three Hydor Koralia Evolution 750's on my 75g. These are connected to an on-off wavemaker at 20sec intervals. There is an audible "click" when the pump turns on, but you get used to it quickly. I sleep in a room with this going on and I don't notice it anymore. One problem though, the click you hear is the pump hitting a bumper that prevents it from spinning backwards. Well, one of my pumps clicked too hard and snapped the bumper right off. So it started spinning backwards half the time. Talk about random flow! Anyways at the cheap price of these I just bought a new one.

Hey!!! Thanks a lot for the info!! I really appreciate that and will keep that in mind!

[ZOKU]

In other news.... look what the nice UPS man brought me today:


** SPECTRAPURE 90GPD 4-STAGE RO/DI UNIT W/DUAL INLINE TDS METER **