ReeferReefer Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 So I have been out of the hobby for a few years and I am jumping back in with my 40 Breeder. After doing a bit of research I want to base my tank on GobyInPeace's old 40B for the sake of simplicity (the prospect of building a sump right now is a pain). I want to keep mostly softies and a few LPS as well as a few interesting fish. So here is what I was thinking. Equipment: Tank: 40 Breeder (petco) Mechanical Filtration: HOB Aquaclear 50 or 70 with Carbon and Chemipure? Biological Filtration: 40lbs of Live Rock and Macroalgae hidden in display behind rockwork (maybe a second aquaclear with crushed coral?) Skimmer: Not very much experience with this, thinking a HOB of some sort? Looking for recommendations. Maybe a BH50 but that in in the display right? Lights: Tek T5 6 blub (May run 4-5 during day and 1-2 actinics at night?) Not sure about bulbs yet, could use some help Powerhead: Need recommendations! Heater: Aquaeon Heater? Fish: 2 Clown Fish Some sort of flasher wrasse Looking for more suggestions Inverts: Cleaner Shimp Turbo Snails Hermit Crabs Corals: Mushrooms Zoas and Palys GSP Brain Coral Xenia Kenya Trees Hammer Might want to try a RBTA Please let me know if I am missing anything and give me some recommendations. I was planning on doing a 10 gallon water change every other week and prevent evaporation with a acrylic plate and doing manual top offs. Perhaps I can fashion some DIY ATO as well. If you can't tell this is a more budget oriented build. I have kept a 10 gallon nano before so I am not tottally new to this and the 40 used to be a FW planted community tank. Not sure about dosing or anything like that. I might try to add some calc to get any LPS I get to grow more? Link to comment
kimberbee Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I like this idea. I'll be following along, since I want to upgrade my biocube to a 40B in the next 6mo to a year! Good luck! Link to comment
ReeferReefer Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 I like this idea. I'll be following along, since I want to upgrade my biocube to a 40B in the next 6mo to a year! Good luck! I am still in the planning phase but I hope to have the basic tank up and cycling in a month or two. Ill finish up the equipment as I can and then add livestock. The way I see it is that the longer the tank is up the more stable it will be, even if I just have a CUC and no skimmer or something like that. Link to comment
elusianzxelo Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 if you planning to spend the money on the T-5, I would just go with a nice set of LED light, you might spend additional 100 bucks or so, but I think is worth the money since you are planning to have BTA, the one I am looking at is Eco Tech Marine Radion XR15 pro . I would have a little more live rocks then that, I have 45lbs in my 28g nano cube, but what you have should be fine. I would do all live sand, I got 30lbs of live sand in my tank. Skimmer you can check AquaC or AquaMaxx hang on, I used to have an AquaC on my 50 g and it works really well, but I will be getting the AquaMaxx for my 28 g soon, I don't have any recommendation on heater as long as the one you get that can support enough heat to a 40g. You can cycle your tank without live stock by using some fish food. Hope this help. =) Link to comment
ReeferReefer Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 Thank you for the skimmer advice. Ill check those out. I already own the Tek 6 bulb T5 so thats a set piece. Do you think the 6 bulbs will be enough for a BTA? I could sell it I suppose and go with LEDs down the road as I won't be getting a BTA until I am 100% confident in the tanks stability. I am familiar with cylcing and I would never subject livestock to cycling. Sorry if my post made it seem otherwise. Ill look at getting more live rock. Its more of an inital set up cost saving thing more than anything. If I can find cheap dead rock I may just seed it instead. Live sand is something I have used before and probably will again but I think I will start the tank as a BB just to save money again and for ease of cleaning at first. Link to comment
elusianzxelo Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I think the T-5 should be enough for the coral and it will be a good idea to wait on the BTA, if money saving is your main goal on this set up, I think what you have above is good enough, I believe you can always add live rocks slowly w/o the tank crashes. You should really look into those skimmers, I believe they are one of the best and I do think is important to get a good skimmer just for the long run, since the prices of each skimmer is all about the same pretty much. Also I just notice that you are seeking for a wrasse, I believe some of them are reef safe and some are not, I personally have a six line, and it was picking on my shrimp the first couple days, but now they are doing fine. Any ways....good luck on your tank!!! Link to comment
ReeferReefer Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 I think the T-5 should be enough for the coral and it will be a good idea to wait on the BTA, if money saving is your main goal on this set up, I think what you have above is good enough, I believe you can always add live rocks slowly w/o the tank crashes. You should really look into those skimmers, I believe they are one of the best and I do think is important to get a good skimmer just for the long run, since the prices of each skimmer is all about the same pretty much. Also I just notice that you are seeking for a wrasse, I believe some of them are reef safe and some are not, I personally have a six line, and it was picking on my shrimp the first couple days, but now they are doing fine. Any ways....good luck on your tank!!! Sounds good to me. I will definitely wait on the BTA as I want to take this slow. Probably add Mushrooms first and slowing move up from their. Yeah, I realize I need to get a good skimmer and I like the Hang on since it stays mostly out of the display tank. I personally love the Six Line but my girlfriend is partial to the flasher wrasses so we will see. Ill definitely get my hands on as much live rock as possible for this as I know that it is my primary method of biological filtration. I'll try bumping it up to 50 lbs. I will be sure to post a build log as I put it together. I am really excited to get back into the hobby! Thanks again for your help! Link to comment
ReeferReefer Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 So does this sound like a solid plan then? I just want to make sure I am not missing anything on this build. Thanks in advance! Link to comment
Dan R Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Looks like a good start.I set up a 40b four months ago. 2 jebao RW4 gave me good flow. For filtration I used a AC110 no skimmer I just do a 5 gal. water change every week.My heater is a 125W jager.My lighting is 4 blub T5 2 blue plus 1 aquablue special 1 purple plus. I will be looking forward to your build thread. Link to comment
elusianzxelo Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Yea i think ur set up should be good...the rocks and light prob cost the most and u are able to keep the cost down on both of these things..post some pics. I personnelly had an 50 g 3 years ago now jumping back into a 28g nano cube...i am now waiting to get my light...mesh grill lid..good power head...and 1 more fish (flame angel) i am into the corals...here is my set up.. 28 g jbj nano cube cf (will remove canopy and replace it with the led) 45 lbs od live rocks 30 lbs od live sand 1 fire goby 2 black and white clown 1 six line 3 cleaner shrimp 8 hermit crabs 6 turbo snail again...gopd luck Link to comment
righttirefire Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I was disappointed with my single ac50 on My 20 tall. I added a second ac50. Loved the concept. Ran a hydro 240gph powerhead. So much more have with my sump and mp10... maybe 2 mp10s on a 40? I believe carbon is chemi-pure elite. But chemi-pure is better. So maybe not both. Best suggestion. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH. I'm not disappointed with building my system from components that added valve throughout the transition. Good luck. And find your own happiness Link to comment
ReeferReefer Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Yea i think ur set up should be good...the rocks and light prob cost the most and u are able to keep the cost down on both of these things..post some pics. I personnelly had an 50 g 3 years ago now jumping back into a 28g nano cube...i am now waiting to get my light...mesh grill lid..good power head...and 1 more fish (flame angel) i am into the corals...here is my set up.. 28 g jbj nano cube cf (will remove canopy and replace it with the led) 45 lbs od live rocks 30 lbs od live sand 1 fire goby 2 black and white clown 1 six line 3 cleaner shrimp 8 hermit crabs 6 turbo snail again...gopd luck thanks for your stocking listnting list and encouragement. Thankfully I already have my Tek T5 6 bulb so rock is the biggest cost I am facing. Found some for 2 bucks a pound on Craigslist so it shouldn't be too bad and I have 10 pounds from my last tank too. Link to comment
Hig789 Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I don't know if Dave makes a retro for that light or not but you could always retrofit so LEDs down the road into that hood and keep two of the t5's as actinics. I'd love to add two t5's to my LEDs but I don't think the make HO's is 12". Link to comment
CJJon Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I have an ac70 on a 10 gallon and a ac110 on a 20L. The ac50 would be way small IMO. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.