So I took some stuff in to the lfs today and ended up getting a 40br. for under two bucks cash,(pretty nice I know), and I'm wondering what else will I need to get this thing off. So far what I got includes 45# of lr, lots of little frags, some larger coral, aquamedic turboflotor blue 1000 protien skimmer, cpr50 overflow box, ten gallon sump(want at least a 20L though), sunpod 150w along with a 250w pfo pendant powered by icecap ballast, 20# of lrr, ball of cheato, vortech mp20 and about 30# of live blacksand.

The idea was to weld a stand out of angle iron and frame around it with some oak, set up a 20 long sump/fuge/fragtank, and then just do a simple mod to the cpr50 with a bigger drain from 3/4 to 1'' for more flow to the sump. I plan on using the credit from the ap24 and stand at the lfs for more rock and a better return pump than a MJ1200. I also intend to get another bag of black live sand but I think I might try to go BB at first and see how long I can stand it till I end up shucking the sand back in there.


What all am I missing to get this thing started up and what advice can you offer me. Should I just keep my AP24 set up and use this tank for something else completely or should I just go for it and go full reef.

er, hobby announcements? lol.

NO I'm not addicted to reefing I just need to danmmit, JK. I only want one tank set up in my casa so this will be like my all in one. I'm spending too much money tring to get different things going on at once when I just realized that I can do it in one bigger setup.

sounds to me your just missing fish!!! and a larger sump! dont go bb!!! theyre ugly imo!!! plus the denitrifying capabilities of a dsb are excellent!!!

when u say you have a 150w mh and a 250w mh setup, do you plan to use both??? cause you could just use the 250w mh setup and be fine!! if anything sell the 150w sunpod and get another 250w mh setup, and you'll be in sps heaven!!!

i think your setup to start a great reef tank!!! and if you need a design for a sump/refug.frag tank i have some...i was toyuing with the same idea!!! lemme know! any other questions about a 40b setup, id be glad to help!!!

I wanted to use the sunpod over the sump. I wanted to plan a sump out of like a 20L or maybe a 30 and set up a frag tank area in the sump along with a spot for cheato w/lrrr and then place the skimmer and return pump in the final sump chamber.

150w...maybe too much for a 20l, im not sure??? but 70w would be grat. depending on the area you wish to have for frag and chaeto...

heres some designs i came up with for the same idea....................


this was my original design....this is using a 40 breeder as the sump/fuge/frag tank, as are the ones to follow.

and here are some more, with a lil help from a fellow nj friend..


full front frag section, with plenty of room for an extra powerhead(since the main pumps flow wont be enough)


fuge,supply,return.....back three chambers


fuge section


return w/bubble trap

you could always use designs like this, which would maximize your frag/sump/fuge area, and use an exteral skimmer...

hope this gives a lil help!

150 would work great a 70w not enough for the length

That's what I'm looking for man thanks for the diagrams, those look like some possible diy's. As far as the light goes I'm trying to work with what I got.

understandable....yuo could always sell it. and my reasoning for saying a 70w, instaead of the 150 was me being stupid. what i had in my head was the heat issue. with the return pump, possible powerhead, skimmer pump, etc. plus a mh would generate a lot of heat, which could cause some problems. me saying you could always sell it, meaning for a t-5 unit. there would be plenty plenty of light output, and the heat would drastically be lower than a mh unit. sunpods go pretty quick around here as you have seen.

you could easily pay for one of these with the doe from the sunpod...
here ya go

ps...dont listen to that guy atlantis reef...he's weird!!! lol j/k tom ill give ya a shout lata, been really busy....

The nova pro is a good light fixture from what I hear so long as you change the bulbs out for some good ones, however I doubt I'd get much for the sunpod being in such horrible condition so I am going to try to incorporate it in the biuld. I've been cruising through some 40br builds on to get more ideas and there is ton's of them on here. As far as this build goes I've got some welding to do later on in the day and should have a stand produced by tonight.