The Legal B(REEF): Law Office 40 Breeder

[Band Hunter]

Gonna be long winded from excitement.  Feel free to skip to specs!

My one and only reef tank prior to this build was taken down in 2010.  My power compacts fixture on my 20H got fried.  I had no money to replace it and I was studying hard trying to survive the dreaded 1L year.

 

I started my Nano tank in college.  I learned a lot from good folks on here and a friend in one of my classes who worked at the LFS.(he maintained a stunning 90 gallon peninsula mix reef at his house as a college student)

 

I loved it. My corals, my fish, my invertebrates, just awesome.  Life got in the way and ultimately my tank withered/crashed away.  I knew one day i would have a new tank that i could do more with and do it better.

 

The day has come!  I want to share and keep track of my new experience with this journal.

 

Tank Choice Reasoning:

So i knew I wanted a bigger tank than my previous 20 gallon, mostly because I wanted more than just 2 or 3 small fish.  I also knew this tank was going to be in my personal office where I meet with clients and others everyday. It was going to need to look and be well cared for because of its professional setting.

 

It had to be manageable for me, and I had to be realistic with myself about the level of daily and weekly maintenance I would be able to diligently perform before, during, and after the work day.

 

I wanted the tank to sit behind me at my desk, where I could simply turn and have an intimate viewing session with the inhabitants whenever I so chose.  Not an easy task if it was in the waiting area on a busy day.  I also wanted it to be fully observable to clients during our consults. There can be some heavy subjects and hopefully the tank will provide a calming effect to more than a few people in the future.

 

It just so happens there was built in shelving behind my desk chair that formed an opening for someone to sit and use a portion of the shelving as a desk.  This was built into the wall in the 1960s and was pretty sturdy for law book volumes but maybe not a mid size aquarium.

 

I really liked the dimensions of the 40 breeder.  I looked at many others 40b reef setups and felt like it would be big enough for a decent number of reef inhabitants, but also relatively easy to work in with its lower height.  The 40 Breeder was the widest tank, depth wise, that would fit on the shelf.  So during the 2022 Petco sale a 40 Breeder came to the office.  I didn’t realize there was a 60 Breeder until that day, and it was mighty tempting.  Maybe next time.

 

Preparations:

Did he say 2022 Petco sale?!  What has he been doing?

Well mostly worrying about the “stand”(heavy duty built in desk/shelving)for my tank being structurally sound for the tanks weight. I was also worrying about it looking like a charlie foxtrot of wires and gear in my office.

 

I talked with many people and the consensus was if I was gonna do this it needed to be done right structurally and aesthetically.

 

Well I needed some work done on my house and I knew my carpenter could wrap this into the bill.  I got on his list of next projects.  It turned into a 4 month waiting list.

 

2x4s were added under the chair space of the built in desk/shelf for structural support.  I had him make cabinet doors to hide ATO reservoir, controllers, wiring, etc.  No sump! I wanted this to be simple and there simply isn't room behind the tank to work on any plumbing that needed tweaking.  We had to expand the shelf out away from wall so i could even have space for wiring and the return ato pump hose.  We drilled a hole for that. I was nervous about moving the tanks platform slightly forward out over the added structural supports but my guy said I was gonna be fine.  The end product solid piece wood extension platform resulted in the tank being slightly Un level on one corner, but was easily remedied with a custom made leveling mat i cut from a 10 dollar walmart yoga mat.

 

My carpenter doesn’t paint or stain much, so I knew I was on my own with that.  Tried to find the closest stain to the 1960s wood, got it on and then a few coats of poly.  Stain and poly were applied over last two weekends.

 

Before

After

 

Structural Support

 

Stain and Poly

 

Next I decided I wanted a black background and got to spraypainting.  I went to apply the second coat 23 hours after first instead of 24 resulting in some original coast separating/bubbling from glass.  Ugh…. Third coat went on fine.  Coraline and corals should block the imperfections.

 

Now we are getting somewhere as my Maxspect Razor 150w arrived early this week.

 

Equipment Specs:

 

Lighting: Maxspect Razor X 150 watt

Filtration: Sicce Shark Pro 900

Skimmer: Tunze 9004 DC

ATO: XP aqua Duetto 2

ATO Reservoir: 10 gallon Aqueon tank

Powerhead: Sicce XStream SDC Wifi

Heater: ? I have an unopened Fluval 100 watt just laying around since forever.  Considering IM Helio dual element 200 watt in future.

RO/DI: BRS Value 75 ghp 4 Stage

 

Equipment Considerations:

I went with the Maxspect Razor for several reasons.  I have seen lots of happy owners online that have grown all types of coral.  
The closeout deal from Coralvue was an awesome price. Thanks for headsup NR!

 I didn’t want to have to deal with extra cords of multiple single puck lights like Kessils or AI primes.   The cost of going that route is very expensive imo because you need at least 2.
Those options are more than what I paid for this light before you buy any mounting arms.

 With the Razor 150w I get 3 led pucks not just two for more even lighting that I don’t have to figure out spacing on.

The video and pictures of tanks with this light are pleasing to me.

 

I needed a light that was not going to blind clients on the other side of my desk. The Razor does this perfectly with the included legs.  I know the leg height isnt ideal to get best par but the clean look and light shield working is more important for my office.  I have seen a beautiful SPS dominant tank using the legs, so I’m not worried.

 

Limited space between the wall and my tank meant no external/HOB filters or skimmers.  The Shark Pro and Tunze 9004 were chosen to address that limitation as they are completely internal, compact, and should blend in to my background nicely. BRSTV used the 9004 in their 40b and Thomas had mentioned he felt the Shark Pro would pair well with it. So i was inspired by the guys at BRS to some extent on these choices.

 

I’m  going to be a guinea pig as to the new XPaqua Duetto 2.  Only one youtube review out on it so far.

 

Equipment should be arriving all week.

Hopefully will get to pick some rock locally in the next week or two!

[debbeach13]

Welcome back! 

7 hours ago, Band Hunter said:

I really liked the dimensions of the 40 breeder.

This is the tank I set up when I first moved to Florida. It was just right! Large enough for more livestock. Small enough to keep up with maintenance.  Great job on the new cabinet for it. 

[Band Hunter]

***Equipment specs and considerations added to original post!**
 

Thanks debbeach13!

[Band Hunter]

Like Christmas!

 

Getting closer.

 

Live sand bags leaked through shipment.  Fedex is the worst.  Hopefully the bacteria will hold on till i can get sand in tank.

[Band Hunter]

Picked up some Liferock pieces today.  A “cave” and “donut” piece.

 

 

I was also able to secure two pieces of true fiji live rock that have been in an established aquarium for close to a decade.  The pieces weigh a total of 22lbs and are well encrusted with coralline. 🤩 The tank maintenance service is holding them for me in a pest and livestock free tank until I am ready for them.  This is very similar to how I did my last tank.  Rock from established tank with lots of bacteria and coraline, never had a cycle.

Shouldn't be long as the RODI unit is scheduled to be here today and I already have a bucket of salt.

[Band Hunter]

RO/DI Unit testing and setup day.  I have never had a unit.  With my prior tank I went and bought RO/DI from both LFS and a grocery store that had self serve machine.

 

The bathroom I will be using for a station is used by one other person in the  firm, so it cant be a mess in there and always out.

 

Operating:

 

“Put away”:

 

The bucket won’t stay of course but i think it should work fine.  If the other person has a problem then the unit can easily be moved after each use.  22 gallon container will be overflow if i lose track of run time.

 

Made 5 gallons to clear system.

 

I also got some wire and plug management work in today.  The 10 gallon ATO reservoir was also placed underneath.  I tested to make sure a 5 gallon bucket could easily be poured into reservoir.  No space issues!

 

Underneath:

 

I picked up 10lbs of additonal liferock. There were 5 pieces.  I may bust up some pieces or use them whole.  I plan on having at least 1 or 2 island rocks for zoas etc.

[Band Hunter]

The scape that I planned ended up being too tall.  But I finally got the rocks organized in a way that I settled on using.

 

The Plan:

 

End Result:

 

 

 

 

40 pounds of live sand special grade size was added along with water.  i plan to do a FTS once everything settles.

[Band Hunter]

Water and sand have been in since very late sunday night.

 

Salinity: 1.025

Temp: 77.7 to 78.3

 

The Sicce Contral App with the SDC are reporting well and the temperature readings appear accurate.

 

Interested to see what this live rock, from a well established tank, does in regards to a cycle if any.  There were times the rock was not covered or in water during aquascaping that probably were for too long.  May be some die off.

 

I see a very small aptasia. Thank goodness he made it. 🙄

 

Gonna start testing regular this week.

 

 

Makes me wanna start throwing around stocking ideas!

 

Soon, but I’m taking my time to research.

[Band Hunter]

Looking like an instant cycle with the 22lbs of live rock.

 

Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates all were 0 after 3 days.  That was the first day I tested.

 

A couple more days went by and the test was showing some nitrates only.

 

I have done 3 heavy ghost feedings over the last few days and have only seen an “orangeness” increase on the Nitrates with both ammonia and nitrites being at zero every test.

 

 

This was the first test i saw some possible Nitrates.  Was a little bit more orange today and yesterday.

 

looks like some sponges are materializing on live rock.  The aptasia is staying put and likely does not realize the danger its in. Muahaha

 

Lights will remain off.

 

Planning cleanup crew and going back and forth on fish list.

 

So excited and nervous.

[Band Hunter]

So some big updates.

 

Nitrates were up the rest at zero and I started to see a few patches of green where the tank got the most room light.

Added the start of a cleanup crew Thursday. 3 red legged hermits. 3 astrea snails and two Tonga nassarius snails.

 

 

Saturday I drove a good ways to a good Saltwater only LFS.  Got a two year old Blackcap Basslet and a Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse that had been there 11 months.

 

 

I also added pods and phyto to the tank.  The possum wrasse has been a go getter the first day munching frozen mysis and cruising around all the way to the other side of the tank opposite his cave(s).

 

 

The blackcap is in the big liferock cave I hoped he would use.  But is being pouty and nonsocial as expected.  He did come all the way out for 4 seconds when I backed up and sat real still.  He stared me down and went right back in.  Not enough time for pic.

[Lebowski_]

Rockwork looks great.

[Band Hunter]

Here are a few fish pics of the Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse and the Blackcap Basslet.

 

 

The possom wrasse eats mysis and pellet.

Honestly I haven’t seen the basslet eat.  The mysis usually flow through his cave and I think he is eating those pieces.  I will keep an eye on it though.

 

I am very happy with both fish.

[Band Hunter]

Some updates!

 

Blackcap had been doing a twitch half headshake every once in a while.  Then he stopped coming out and I could tell he was barely moving in his cave.

 

I self diagnosed flukes.  Had to pull the cave out to grab him as net wouldn’t fit.  Did a 5 minute freshwater dip.  May have seen something small with some scales in the bucket.

 

We are on week two of prazipro.  Today i actually observed him moving in a somewhat regular manner.  I also finally observed it eat mysis a couple days ago.

 

There was some fast breathing, laying on bottom of the cave and zero eating for a while.  Hopefully we have turned the corner.  Stunning fish, would hate to lose it.

 

Possum wrasse is doing great!  Very active, eats well.  Likes to come up too me when I’m close to the tank.  
 

Added some hardy coral Frags yesterday

 

Duncan:

 

 

Daisy Polyps:

 

 

And a Neon Green Crown Leather.  Which was beautiful and extended at the store but it pissed currently.

 

Enjoying the tank, hate the basslet isn’t well, but trials always start early in this hobby.

[Band Hunter]

Lost the Blackcap.  Was doing very poorly yesterday, wasn’t surprised this morning.  After discussing some of his discoloration it appears he was not feeling well (thanks Sherlock) and was also incurring physical injury potentially from the Possum wrasse at the same time recently.

I was informed by a very knowledgable person in the hobby that most people don’t know but a mature Possum can become aggressive like a sixline.  Thats the first I have ever heard of that.  I will say this one is very brazen and is a good size so it seems to fit.

 

i have other updates but will let today’s  post be the “giant blackcap remembrance” post.

[BadCrab]

Really sorry to hear about the Blackcap.
The possum wrasse is one of my favorite fish, but I've always kept juveniles and usually observed very timid behavior.

[Lebowski_]

Dang 😞

[Band Hunter]

The wrath of the possum wrasse continues.  Lost a pre quarantined 2 inch spotted yellow eye kole tang to the wrasse in 4 days.  That was the first part of the month.  It was a shock.

 

 

Healthy eating nori, pellet, and mysis.  Wrasse showed initial aggression but things seemed to calm.  Tang was dead in a corner, with tattered fins on day four.  The night before he didnt have a mark on him and was doing great. 
 

Twenty some days later I was ready to challenge this wrasse and to expose the aggression i had not observed with both the Blackcap and the tang.  And most importantly calming it down enough to have a cool reef community that balances out.

 

Stocking plan:

1. Multiple fish at one time, to disperse the wrasses aggression.  

2. Fish that should be able to hold their own against the wrasse.  (A tang couldn’t😬)

3. Was also interested in captive bred fish.

4. Not expensive, you know why.

 

All three fish were in quarantine together, from where i purchased them.  Two were definitely buddies.

 

Harptail Fang Blenny

 

Striped Fang Blenny

 

Springeri DottyBack

 

These fish are awesome.  The fang blennies are buddies.  They are really pretty and have interesting mannerisms. The springeri is beautiful and moves really cool.

 

They all have had to go up against the possum wrasse.  Each blenny stands their ground and almost seem like they one step away from a fanging.  Couple sand dive displays to boot.

 

The springeri takes the brunt of the wrasse though, probably because their territories are basically the same. 
 

Everyone is holding their own and eat well.  But the amount of aggression from the wrasse is pretty unbelievable.  He flares in color to a dark red rust color so deep his spots pretty much disappear.  He backs down but never really seems defeated.

 

Its day 4, i hope it gets sorted, otherwise I’ll have to get rid of the wrasse.
 

 He was supposed to be my chill fish!

[Band Hunter]

FTS:

 

 

Some coral pics:

 

 

 

[MLS_Reef]

looking nice!

[Woodini]

Cool tank!

There’s a wrassehole in every bunch

[Band Hunter]

Coral Expo New Additions!

 

 

The 40 Breeder does depth well

 

 

And how about another fish too.

 

[Band Hunter]

FTS:

[Lebowski_]

Great scape!

[Band Hunter]

Cyano, hair algae, now some diatoms I think.  Nitrates bottomed out from algae.

Phosphate test on order.

Alkalinity went low in the mid 7s.  Dosing to fix that.

Still have had some growth despite the issues.

 

Season Greetings monti is plating out.

 

New Fish:

 

 

Randalls Goby

 

its his second day and I have to be far from the tank and have my chair turned for him to poke his head out like this.

 

 

[Band Hunter]

Out and about pics of Randalls Goby

 

 

He found/improved some sand tunnels and was actively feeding today.  Beautiful fish.
 

Possum wrasse has ignored him. Phew

 

On the prowl to add to his rabble of victims.