New 40 gallon breeder tank build starting soon...

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
Hello everyone. I am starting to begin my new tank build. I am upgrading from a 17 gallon nano that has no pump, refugium protein skimmer or sump. Just use live rock and sand for filtration.

I picked up a 40g breeder and a 20 g long and I just got my dry BRS reef saver rock in. I know it will be a while before the tank is ready, but I am excited. Here is the plan so far...

I will be drilling the 40 to put in a 700 GPH overflow and am not sure yet if I will do a single drain with 1 1/2" PVC or go with a herbie style overflow using 1" for the syphon and a 1" for the emergency drain. I will be using an EcoPlus 633 GPH pump for my return with 1" PVC. The 20 long will be used simply as a refugium with a return pump. I am not planning on using a protein skimmer but may add one later if I feel it is necessary. If I do add the protein skimmer, I am looking at the SeaClone skimmer which is rated to 100 gallons and will sit next to the fuge, not in it. I will be using my existing Kessil 350w to light the tank but may upgrade the light later. I will also be transferring over my existing 20# of live sand and 25# of live rock plus I just received 30# of BRS dry reef saver rock and 5# of BRS dry rubble. I still need to get a few things for the tank. I am planning on getting 2 mp10's and I still need a stand. Here is my potential stock list though it keeps changing because I am trying to get only tank bred fish and I am having trouble finding some of them for sale.
1- A. Ocellaris B&W clown (already have from ORA)
1- A. Ocellaris B&W snowflake clown (possibly ORA maybe locally if I can find one)
1- Pajama Carsinalfish (already have from ORA)
1- Mandarin fish (Haven't decided between red or green but leaning towards red from ORA)
1- Horned Blenny ( has been successfully tank bred but can't find one for sale)
1- pink speckled shrimp goby with a pistol shrimp (not sure yet which shrimp)
1- wrasse- I haven't been able to find any that are tank bred so I may need to find another option.

I do plan on having a Pom Pom crab, Porcelain crab, a starfish, and a clam as well.
This will be a mixed reef.

so, that's the start, here is a picture of the stuff I got in today from BRS. Any tips or suggestions are always welcome. Thanks.

View attachment 14717 View attachment 14718
 

CRW Reef

Blue Whale
M.A.S.C Club Member
ex-officio
#2
Re: New 40 gallon breeder tank build starting soon...

Nice choice on rock, I like the pieces you got too. Did you find a stand yet?
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#3
Thanks CRW. I like the rocks too but I plan on breaking some to make them a little smaller. I would like to be able to build in some caves.

Still looking for a stand. I thought I was going to get one through trade but that fell through.
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
Still searching for a stand. I may still do the trade, but just for the mp-10's. I may be moving again soon cuz my apartment complex is bogus. So, I may need to wait until after the move before I add water. Hopefully I can find a stand soon. I was hoping to get one under $100 so I may need to build it myself. Unfortunately I don't have the tools.
 

sethsolomon

Hammerhead Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#5
Tri Color Fairy Wrasse would be a good wrasse for a 40g. But you are correct that there are no commercially aquacultured wrasses at this point.
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#6
sethsolomon;258795 said:
Tri Color Fairy Wrasse would be a good wrasse for a 40g. But you are correct that there are no commercially aquacultured wrasses at this point.
Would you have another recommendation for a fish that would eat unwanted pests like the wrasse does that I can see if I can find captive bred?
 

sethsolomon

Hammerhead Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#7
Aiptasia eating filefish is the only 1 I can think of but if you want clams its not reef safe. Wrasses are the best pest eater.
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
Wow sweet! Thanks. Don't know if that yellow Coris will work in a 40 though. The site states 50 gallon minimum tank size. Now I know the 40 breeder is closer to 47gallons but still... I will keep researching. Thanks again Seth!
 

sethsolomon

Hammerhead Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#10
That number is completely arbitrary for tank size. For a full size yellow coris wrasse sure 50g minimum. But it take many years for a yellow coris wrasse to get to the full 5 in. They normally come in at about 1.5 in - 2 in. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Wrasses/YellowCoris.php says 30g minimum. http://www.exoticfishcheap.com/product.php?id_product=254 says 30g. live aquaria and blue zoo say 50g. Saltwaterfish.com says 20g.http://www.freshmarine.com/golden-coris-wrasse.html says 30g. Completely arbitrary.



A rule of thumb for mid size tanks 30-75g
Display tank size /15 = max fish size

Thats what I follow as a general rule. But I need to incorporate tank length and width into that as well.

so as long as you get a yellow coris wrasse smaller than 3 in your fine.
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#11
Ya, I guess so. Lol! Well, I noticed it is a tank raised wrasse too, not captive bred. So, I may need to keep looking. Thanks for the info though.
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#12
Here is the stand. I picked it up this weekend at a thrift store for $16. I will be sanding and painting it black. I will have to add a top sheet measuring 27"x17" because the stand is only 26"x18".
 

xxHLTxx

Detritus
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
CRW Reef;259712 said:
Is a 40breeder 36long x18wide x 17tall?
i think ur right CRW.. i know its at least 36x18... maybe he typod and meant adding a sheet 37x17 so the weight load is on the glass?
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#16
sorry, I meant 36
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#17
and yes 37x19 for top sheet
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#18
sorry, lol. I was doing too many things at once.
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#20
So, I've been really busy and no money to work on my build. I just got a new job that starts in a few weeks and I will be moving soon. Don't know exactly where but hoping for Evergreen and hopefully by either May 1st or June 1st. That being said, I thought I would get some items to get the 40 ready to start after we move. I just ordered an Aquatic Life T5 36" 2 bulb light (one blue, one purple) to supplement my Kessil 350w. I also ordered a Reef Octopus xp1000 ss protein skimmer, a Sicce 3.0 return pump, and an MP10w. I still need to order my glass holes overflow, drill the tank, paint the stand, and build the sump. The stand is sanded, just need a nice warm day and no other work to do so I can finish it.
 
Top