steely185 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 As of March 11, 2009: The beginning: So everyone has been on the 40 breeder build kick lately and I guess I just happened to jump on board. I managed to pick up a 40 breeder, drilled with two 1" bulkheads and painted black background for $50 from a LFS. I've been surfing craigslist and was able to pick up a 20 long tank (future sump once sectioned), a 250 watt stealth heater, and coralife 36" t5 2x21w" strip (just plan to use for two 420nm actinic lighting addition) for $42 total. My boss is going to give me an old oceanic lizard lounge stand (pictured or linked below) for free. It should hold the weight but I may brace it to be safe. I may possibly paint it, still undecided. http://images.craigslist.org/3nc3m03p3ZZZZ...fd5dfa61345.jpg Equipment that I will probably purchase at the end of the week include: -A 36" 2 x 150W 14K sunpod -two Hydor Koralia 2 powerheads (may bump it to Koralia 3's, looking for input) -A mag 7 return pump -A Octopus NW-110 protein skimmer w/pump Right now I think that Fishtanksdirect.com has the best deal to get everything from one place for the cheapest price. As for the stand I may buy or build a new one once I get and inspect the free one. Last question: Anyone have problems with eggcrate (to prevent carpet surfers) under a MH light or should I just risk going completely topless? By the way this is my first reef tank after a 15 year absence(previous was 55). It's a habit you can't kick. Link to comment
steely185 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Here is a pic of my old 55 gallon from 15 years ago http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww5/ste...NEW_NEW_NEW.jpg and a pic of my old 1600 gallon pond built by yours truly. http://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww5/ste...nt=IMG_0002.jpg Not too bad for when I was 16. Link to comment
Gerber77 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Looks good man, 40 B's are awesome tanks. There are so many options as far as stocking. Link to comment
jerzsky Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 welcome to the club!!! wow, ive said that a lot lately! any way... glad to see another breeder i can follow! what do you plan to keep in there? lps/softies, sps?? this will better us to help you figuring out your flow. and for skimmer, i have heard and seen so many good things about these.... bubble magus skimmer 05xrunner is using this skimmer on his tank with great results! and i hear they have awesome customer service. i will be using one soon on my 40 breeder. a mag 7 return pump would be great flow for a sump/refugium! and lighting, will you be using the feet to sit the light on the tank or hanging it? either way i dont really see a problem with using the eggcrate. any more ques i will be glad to help!! good luck!! looking forward to updates!! Link to comment
steely185 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Still working on a list. I would love to have a A. nigripes pair, and am leaning heavenly towards the gobies. Looking at a mix of SPS, LPS and softies. Maybe a clam or two when running solid. Link to comment
jerzsky Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 sweet pics!! i have a 2500 gallon pond in my backyard...i love it!! oh, and if you copy the image code from ur pic on photobucket, and paste it in the blank feild were u type your reply, the pic will just show up, no clicking linky needed. Link to comment
jerzsky Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 if your going with a mixed reef, two korilia 2's and mag 7 should provide adequite flow...and hey if ya can spring for it, you could get the controllable korilia's with the wavemaker, and have some nice wave action. or go with one vortech mp20. and if you get heavily into sps, you could always upgrade the driver to make it an mp40... Link to comment
steely185 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 if your going with a mixed reef, two korilia 2's and mag 7 should provide adequite flow...and hey if ya can spring for it, you could get the controllable korilia's with the wavemaker, and have some nice wave action. or go with one vortech mp20. and if you get heavily into sps, you could always upgrade the driver to make it an mp40... Sometime down the line I may spring for the vortech but not at the time. Probably will just bump the current setup up to 3's for a difference of 12 bucks. Later down the line though possibly the eco-techs. Link to comment
steely185 Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 Here's a long over due update on this build. I'm starting a 20 H while a work on the 40 breeder over the next couple months. Here's some pics of the 40 breeder project. The stand will be sanded and cleaned prior to painting black. The stand is a 3/4 " plywood stand made by oceanic for their lizard lounges. It should hold but may be braced. Here's the old school top fathom skimmer that can be used in a pinch. I'll provide some updates as they become available. Steely's 20H build Link to comment
steely185 Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 Picked up a can of black paint over lunch so I may prep and paint the stand tonight. Link to comment
JBM Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 love 40b's tagging along for the ride Link to comment
steely185 Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 This may be a slow ride over the next couple months as I may have a pending engagement that will suck up my funds. The 20 should still move along with no problems. Link to comment
steely185 Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 First coat of black paint done. I'll post some pics when all coats are on and doors are refastened. Link to comment
ajmckay Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Looks great. Sounds like you're getting some really great deals on the equipment. That's a good thing because now hopefully you can spend more on the inhabitants! Anyways, I'm excited to see the progression on this. Link to comment
steely185 Posted May 2, 2009 Author Share Posted May 2, 2009 So I've done a bit of painting on the stand lately and I'm just about done. I have to paint the doors a few more times and add the knobs I picked up. Here are some pics: Link to comment
steely185 Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 The stand has been completed. Done painting and new knobs added. Link to comment
steely185 Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 Long time since updating. I should be ordering a light for this badboy sometime this week. Here are my options. Feel free to weigh in on them. I love the growth and shimmer of a MH and really want to stay this route. 1) 2 x150 watt sunpod (most probable route) 2)Building a canopy, running retrofit 1 x 250 watt MH and 4x39 t5's to give some of the actinic look that I miss in the early morning and late evening. 3)An outer orbit 2x150 MH and 4x39 T5 setup. (heat and two much light concerns me) I have to go to a reef yard sale this weekend to see if I can get some bargains. One that I know if is a mp40 for $250 used. I may wait to order until I see what may be available. I have also enquired about 40lbs of BulkReefSupply rock that someone is selling locally that I can cycle in a brute and transfer to the 40 a few weeks later. Unless a skimmer is priced pretty nice I may wait for that purchase until later as I have been running skimmerless and dosage free on my 20 for it's life. Link to comment
steely185 Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 So I will place my order for equipment this weekend. I will be buying a 2 x 150 sunpod, koralia 4, 40lbs of carib sea fiji pink sand, and a mag 7. I will have my sump tank baffled this week. If everything goes according to plan I may be able to move my 20 to my new 40 breeder next weekend. I will be using my K4, K3, K2 and return from the mag 7 so the breeder should have some great flow. I will move the old sand to the fuge section of the sump along with some chaeto. I will probably order a second phoenix 14K in the coming week as well. I'm pretty excited about the coming move and I know the crowded coral will love it as well. I'm thinking of ordering 20lbs of bulk reef supply rock to cycle in the garage but that may not happen for a couple of weeks. Stay tuned... Link to comment
steely185 Posted August 12, 2009 Author Share Posted August 12, 2009 Everything is on the way minus the light. It seems it has been discontinued so it's time to make some new lighting plans.... Link to comment
steely185 Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 I'm thinking that a 2x250 sunpod is going to be overkill and lead to bleaching. It's tempting because the price is down now but overkill. I'm really thinking of buying a 6 bulb tek t5 fixture. Looking for what bulb combos people advise. Let's hear it. Looking for colors to really pop. Link to comment
steely185 Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 I was looking at this lighting configuration for the tek 6 bulb t5 setup. I was going to order this from fishtanks direct if anyone has dealt with them please let me know. I have an extra bulb on there to give me something I can play with for color configuration. I'm assuming these bulbs will all work with this fixture so please let me know if they don't and if I'm going to end up with a completely blue tank. ATI Blue Special ATI True Actinic ATI Blue Special ATI Blue Plus Giesemann 15K Aquablue Giesemann 22K Aquablue plus URI 75/25 v-HO t5 Link to comment
Ross.C Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I have a 30 gallon breeder and use T5 on it and have had good growth on the corals in the tank. MH will probably burn the corals in a tank like these as the depth is minimal compared to the standard 2'+ tanks. Further I have seen comparisons on MH vs T5 and the T5's have beaten out MH on PAR readings and economy of usage of electricity. Link to comment
steely185 Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 I had seen the PAR comparisons. I will miss the shimmer of the halide as I enjoy it now on my 20H. I may have to keep that running. Link to comment
Ross.C Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Here is a thread a friend of mine did on the comparisons http://aquariumfans.ca/forums/index.php?showtopic=649 Link to comment
steely185 Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 Mag 7, K4 and 40lbs of fiji pink sand arrived today. If all goes well I will order a 6 bulb tek fixture from Reef Geek this weekend. I just want to get this stuff moved to a new home with more room to grow. Link to comment
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