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Dave's 40 Breeder Thread


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So I am laid up from sinus surgery right now, so what better time to start a thread for my tank upgrade? Quick history.  I used to have a 90 gallon, but for the past 3.5 years I have been bouncing from house to house having to downgrade at every step.  My current tank is an Innovative Marine 25 gallon, but my fiance is on board with stepping it up a notch.  I wanted this to be an 80 gallon shallow reef, but just don't have the space, so I went through all of my stuff and pieced together the parts for this thing. 

The plan is to keep going with a mixed reef of mostly softies and lps.  I may try some SPS along the way, but I prefer movement.  Most of the corals will come from my 25 gallon to begin with anyway.

Filtration will be basic.  Big skimmer, large chaeto section in the sump, and some reactors.  

The tank equipment is:

-40 gallon breeder drilled with a glass holes 1500 gallon overflow.

-20 gallon breeder sump that will be set up: fuge/return/skimmer section.

-Skimmer: Aquac ev-180.  I've had this thing since the beginning, i know it is overkill, but it's a great skimmer and I can run it externally, which is great for the small footprint of the sump.

-Lighting: 2 kessil a160we with spectril control.  Refugium light is a par 38 plant bulb I got off amazon.

-Return pump: Reef octo DC-3500.

-Flow:  Not sure, I have a maxspect gyre 150, but it needs all new rotors and bearings since it has been in storage for too long. Plus I have fears that it will be too big. Suggestions welcome on this, but have mostly been trying to piece this together with parts I already had.

-At least 1-2 reactors that will be driven by a manifold.  I have one TLF reactor now, will likely add another.

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So to start with, I needed to build a stand.  I copied the idea from a guy on another forum. Here are some of the build pics.

I started with a heavy duty 2x4 frame.  This thing is overkill, but I don't have to worry about taking chances at least. Some of the equipment has been placed for sizing purposes

 

 

20180407_221244.jpg

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Still need doors, but here is the stand with the finish on it.  I still need to finish the top and covers that will hide the rear plumbing.

IMG_20180604_084759.thumb.jpg.02d885c45fa13ff25fa12898372dfa2b.jpgIMG_20180604_084807.thumb.jpg.210a2657037b0674b16d33dfbb4c86a0.jpg

 

You can see the plumbing down to the tank.  The kit starts with 2 1.5" drains which is overkill for what I need, and takes up more space than I wanted, so I reduced it to 1".  I used a union valve on the refugium side to give me some control of the flow to the fuge.  I wanted unions before the reducers to give me access in case detritus gets caught in the lip of the reducers.  I haven't plumbed in the return yet and manifold yet, but will add pictures of that when I do.

IMG_20180604_084824.thumb.jpg.06061bea0952cec69a9712c5ba01917c.jpgtmp_2018060410153518606.jpg.2bad5cb4ef50b2cf88cad6761f6c72f2.jpgMVIMG_20180604_084816.thumb.jpg.72ab869c70ad1af415a10a98dc2927b5.jpg

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Ok, so I am recovered enough for light activity, so I spent yesterday working on my plumbing.  I have the manifold done and a part of the return plumbing.  I couldn't decide whether I should go with 3-or 4 manifold outlets, finally 4 being just a little tight for my space.  I plan to run at least carbon and GFO reactors.  There is a third outlet being left if I decide to add biopellets, or some other toy.  I also added the 3 way tee leading to the manifold for water changes.  I expect to add at least one more union to the other sided of the elbow that heads down.  I am trying to make this thing as modular as possible.IMG_20180608_063406.thumb.jpg.2afd02fff2b5604016b115d9d8b0da4f.jpgMVIMG_20180608_063358.thumb.jpg.27c7d423d393330dfe5c8a922bab2230.jpgMVIMG_20180608_063403.thumb.jpg.b021c70a7c340fdb1d4cb104e4b4d7b0.jpg

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Really like the enclosed side and top of tank. Looks good!   Is conduit easy to bend?

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It is fairly easy.  I have two extra pieces that say there is a learning curve(no pun intended). Luckily, it's also cheap.  The bender is the expensive part.  It helps to know someone that has one, or work in a metal fabrication company😉.   What I like most about this is being able to run my wires through the conduit and hide them.  Trying to keep it all as clean as possible.

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Long weekend of garage cleaning and finishing work. Got the doors on, light hung, water in the tank and sand in. I haven't ran water to the sump yet, but hoping to transfer my corals tomorrow evening. 

IMG_20180624_220454.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yeah.  I like them so far.  Running them on a spectral control in acclimation mode at the moment.  I actually have the corals in there now. They seem to be responding well.  Need to get another few pictures posted, but I haven't arranged anything.  They're all just sitting there right now. I am gonna need a few more rocks as well.  

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  • 1 month later...

Haven't updated in awhile. I added a auto waste collector from Bashsea to get my skimmer up and running. I had it draining into an old growler but one overflow was enough for me.  I have been running with just chaeto in the sump and had a good harvest during my last water change. The corals all seem to be doing well. I'm still a month away from adding any fish. Would love to hear some stocking suggestions. Here's pics for the time being. 

IMG_20180818_211508.jpg

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Full tank shot. Not sure why it appears so dark. Will have to play with camera settings. MVIMG_20180818_211516_1534696142170.jpg.53fd5d42ed2ac8414b11414b731fe246.jpg

The right side is the lps and sps side. I plan on having very few sps, but this monti has been with me for quite awhile.

MVIMG_20180818_211558_1534696205363.jpg.4910c16d3e1e03d2c3d64bc52807d771.jpg

The left side is the softie and mushroom side. 

MVIMG_20180818_211606_1534696250096.jpg.cff6f72dafa1ca8f761972a1ba4ea8f0.jpg

This is a side shot that shows the Kenya tree and rhodactis MVIMG_20180818_211619_1534696620440.jpg.6a53ae38df2321f2eba3315d7d84f870.jpg

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