Adventures of a New 40g Breeder *Pics*

[FlipFlops24/7]

This is a thread which will document the conversion of my 29 gallon reef to a 40 gallon breeder.

Quick Summary
I chose the 40g(36"x18"x16") breeder because it was the perfect size for the hallway in which it is going. I like the shallow height(16" tall). The nice width of 18" will allow me to aquascape without having live rock against any sides of the tank. It also allows for me to install a glass overflow without losing too much space.

So far a friend from our local reef club has drilled my tank and installed a black glass overflow. I am also having a custom oak stand built by another local reefer. This stand will be finished this weekend(12/9/06) and I will post pictures of the stand.

Sump
I am using the old 29 gallon tank as a sump. I am currently trying to figure out how to install the baffles. I will be running a refugium with chaetomorpha and a deep sand bed. I will be using an AquaC Remora skimmer. My return pump is a Mag 7.

Lighting
I am still undecided on what lighting I will go with. I am torn between:

A. The Fully Assembled 36"Current-USA Outer orbit unit, which sports 2x96w PCs and 1x150w 14K Metal Halide HQI.

B. 36" Fully Assembled Tek T-5 lighting(4 bulb design)

C. Building a hood and installing T-5s and Metal Halide retrofits.


Here are a few pictures of how the tank looks drilled and how the overflow is installed.

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/40frontA.jpg

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/40front.jpg

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/40back.jpg

[FlipFlops24/7]

Plumbing

Tomorrow all of my plumbing supplies will arrive from Marine Depot, as well as my SCWD. I am going to layout how I plan to plumb everythign, and I would really appreciate some feedback since I am a complete noob when it comes to plumbing.

[FlipFlops24/7]

well Marine Depot came a day early, but I'm at home sick with the flu so probably won't be running to the hardware store.

Here is the lockline installed.

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/lockline.jpg

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/lockline2.jpg

[InvaderJim]

Looks really clean so far...are you planning on painting the back or anything?

[herostar]

Looks great. Same setup I'd like to put together!

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8687516#post8687516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InvaderJim
Looks really clean so far...are you planning on painting the back or anything?

Thanks guys,

yes I am going to paint the back with a flat black. Its too cold here to spraypaint(21 degrees) and won't warm up again until spring, so I have to use a mini roller and roll it on...lol

[alien9168]

do you have a garage?

if so you could always spray in there and suck the fumes out with a fan....or open the garage door for a lil' bit. .... just a sugestion :)

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8688358#post8688358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alien9168
do you have a garage?

if so you could always spray in there and suck the fumes out with a fan....or open the garage door for a lil' bit. .... just a sugestion :)

Yes I have an attached garage, but its still about 25 deg in there. The can of black spray paint I have says that it needs to be about 70 degrees. Is this true? Would I have a problem spray painting in 20 degree weather? I can bring the tank back inside my house afterwards and let it dry inside.

[GSMguy]

looks great bare bottom or sand? i would go tek t5 hung from the ceiling for the really clean look
those lights will allow you to have sps clams and lps also will have very good flourescence
other option is 6 bulb tek instead of the metal halide if you feel like 4 wouldent be enough

[MrMexReefer]

awesome job debaser! An idea about the spray painting outside... ide painted interior car parts in my garage in winter, and they are still fine. You should just go buy the paint, and test it on some random piece of glass or mirror in the cold weather. That way, you will at least know what will happen :)

[Kinetic]

yikes sounds cold. =X but otherwise it's a beautiful setup!! I have a 40br I was going to setup as a frag tank, but what you've done makes it look like a high class display tank.

Who made the glass overflow? Where did you get it?

[sjm1978]

Debaser is the drain gonna be quiet like that? if not you can do a external durso standpipe. i did one on my 125g tank and its super quiet. its just a T with pvc and a endcap with a small hole drilled in it. heres a pic

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/sjm1978/S4010048Small.jpg

[fishdoc11]

FWIW most types of paint will just run off of the surface at that low of a temp. Any reason you drilled the back instead of the bottom for the overflow?

Chris

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8689281#post8689281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
looks great bare bottom or sand? i would go tek t5 hung from the ceiling for the really clean look
those lights will allow you to have sps clams and lps also will have very good flourescence
other option is 6 bulb tek instead of the metal halide if you feel like 4 wouldent be enough

I'm going with a shallow sand bed. I got the CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand: 1 - 1.7mm diameter grain size.

I'm still torn between lights. Both the Current USA Outer Orbits(one 150W Metal Halide and two 96w PCs) and the Tek lights (four T-5 bulbs) can be hung from the ceiling for a really clean look.

Which lights would look better?

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8690483#post8690483 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kinetic
yikes sounds cold. =X but otherwise it's a beautiful setup!! I have a 40br I was going to setup as a frag tank, but what you've done makes it look like a high class display tank.

Who made the glass overflow? Where did you get it?

Thank you for the compliment. The glass overflow was cut at a glass shop and installed by a friend in our local reef club. He also drilled the holes in the tank for me. I don't have many tools yet (recently bought our first house) but he has tons and tons of tools so I let him do it. :D

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8691118#post8691118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishdoc11
. Any reason you drilled the back instead of the bottom for the overflow?

Chris

I'm having a custom oak stand built for the tank by another local reefer. I didn't want to drill holes in it. That is my main reason.

Also, all my plumbing will be in back and I won't have to mess around inside the stand too much.

The person who drilled my tank has the exact same setup on his 75 gallon. Once I get things setup I will take pictures of his secret way of keeping the overflow dead silent ;)

[GSMguy]

tek 6bulb would loook best tek 4 bulb second best they are very cool looking fixtures and the blues are sick sps clams they all love the t5 lights. i want the 6 bulb for my 50 gallon which is basicly a little taller 40 br like a 40br thats 18inches tall

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8691546#post8691546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
tek 6bulb would loook best tek 4 bulb second best they are very cool looking fixtures and the blues are sick sps clams they all love the t5 lights. i want the 6 bulb for my 50 gallon which is basicly a little taller 40 br like a 40br thats 18inches tall

So by blues, do you mean the tank will always look very blue? Because I like more of a whitish light. If I do buy a Tek like I will buy it from reef geek. THere are so many different T5 bulbs I wouldn't know what to get.

The main reason I wanted the Outer Orbit is so I have a metal halide light to produce that "shimmer" look.

[GSMguy]

well then get the metal halide dont let me stop you i do think those t5s are sick they donthave to look blue the GE daylight bulb is verybright one white bulb and 3 blue is like a 14k metal halide 2 daylight bulbs andtwo actininc would be like a 10k
current makes a metal halide and t5 combo light that might be the best for what you want that way you get the much better spectrum of the t5 combined with the intesity of a halide there are lots of options and not onlyone right answer

[fishes2889]

Personally i wouldnt like the look of just one metal halide ona 3 foot tank. Metal Halides are sort of a spot light so you would have alot of shading on either side. I would go with the 6-bulb tek fixture.........

Steve :)

[GSMguy]

i am not alone the 6 bulb will make your corals pop i wouldent take my word on bulb choice for the t5s though there are a couple bulbs out there that have tons of PAR and can really look amazing

[FlipFlops24/7]

I'm also looking at this aquactinics unit which is just like the Tek lights, but it has cooling fans and has 5 bulbs.

What do you guys think about this?

http://www.aquactinics.com/Store/T5_HO_Lighting_Systems.htm

[GSMguy]

wow i almost recomended the aquatinics the bulbs inthe tek run hot and par ratings go downbut with the fans inthe aquatinics you get better par ratings and 2 daylight and 3 actinic will make your 40 rock the par in the aquatinics is much better, like the difference in vho to metal halide

[FlipFlops24/7]

Just talked with Tom from Aquactinics and I'm placing my order today. Going to go with the 5 bulb design featuring:

1 UVL Super Actinic
2 Aquaz Ocean Pros
1 Aquaz Sun Pro
1 Geisman AquaBlue+

[GSMguy]

swweeeet you made the right choice you gotta get pics of that unit
any chance you could pm me the total cost i think thats what i need to replace my ghetto metal halide setup

[GSMguy]

my god debaser your photographs on your website are amazing you will have to take shots of your tank should be amazing

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8692488#post8692488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
my god debaser your photographs on your website are amazing you will have to take shots of your tank should be amazing

Wow that is such a nice compliment. Thank you. I'm just an amateur. Digital photography is yet another hobby of mine that I wish wasn't so expensive.

Meh, Time Warner is screwing with Roadrunner at the moment so my web server is down which is why none of my pictures in this post are showing up :rolleyes:

[GSMguy]

yes i have all the equipment no skill but my girlfriend is a photo major and i think your shots are pro quality when is the aquatiniics coming in and can you pm me the cost on the light have to get it on my christmas list

[FlipFlops24/7]

heres a picture of the stand. notice the seahorse handles?

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/TJstand.jpg

[FlipFlops24/7]

heres a picture of the tank filled. New lights will be here later this week

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/tank121106.jpg

[slumpysix]

Looks great... Can't wait to see it filled with lotsa life!

[GSMguy]

what lights did you get

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8730698#post8730698 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
what lights did you get

I ended up buying a new in box Current-USA Outer Orbit unit. They sell for $450 brand new but I got mine for $340 shipped from a fellow RC'er. It has 1x150w 10K HQI Metal Halide and 2x96w PC actinics(1 420 and 1 460)

The aquactinics were on backorder for 1 month. I couldn't wait that long for lights :-(

[GSMguy]

wow that is a long time
i think you will be happy with that light should be nice and bright

[FlipFlops24/7]

just actinics as of tonight

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/tank122106.jpg

[GSMguy]

awsome tank what camera are you using?

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8805919#post8805919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
awsome tank what camera are you using?

Thanks bud. My camera is the Canon Rebel XT(aka 350D) and I believe I only used the crappy kit lens. I have a new reason to get a macro lens for insane coral polyp closeups! :-)

[o2zen]

Nice tank and awesome photography on your site. Your images remind me of the ones I used to buy on the stockart boards for client work.

[GSMguy]

i just got the rebel xti the crappy 18-55 takes great shots i want a macro lens as well

[FlipFlops24/7]

Thank you for the compliments o2zen,

I'm a self taught photographer. I just did my first photoshoot 2 weeks ago and it paid off well. It's a fun 2nd job that I can do whenever I want some extra cash for the reef tank :-)

[NYproDJ]

DIY is the best! lol a+ job!

JON STEWART FOR PRESIDENT 2007 !!!!!!

[Timanator]

Damn this looks great!

What size holes are drilled in to the tank it's self?

[MarineGirl411]

Hi,
I have a 40 breeder as well that I am setting up. I'm almost done with it. It's exciting. What are your plans for this one? It looks like a mixed tank. I was going to go with the Outer Orbit myself, but I heard that you could not replace the lunar lights on that. Have you checked into that at all? I was also concerned with the ballast being inside the unit itself that it would get too hot. I went with the Aqualight Pro instead. I did really like the Outer Orbit though because it had the clean look and more watts/lights for higher demanding corals. Let me know. I'm going to start my postings here soon. =)

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8829895#post8829895 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
Hi,
I have a 40 breeder as well that I am setting up. I'm almost done with it. It's exciting. What are your plans for this one? It looks like a mixed tank. I was going to go with the Outer Orbit myself, but I heard that you could not replace the lunar lights on that. Have you checked into that at all? I was also concerned with the ballast being inside the unit itself that it would get too hot. I went with the Aqualight Pro instead. I did really like the Outer Orbit though because it had the clean look and more watts/lights for higher demanding corals. Let me know. I'm going to start my postings here soon. =)

I went with the 36" Outer Orbit unit and so far I am very happy with it. It's taking my corals awhile to adjust to the halides, but otherwise everything seems great.

Heres a pic of the Rusty Gorgonian I just added

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/gorgonian.jpg

[MarineGirl411]

can u change the lunar lights on it?

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8831293#post8831293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
can u change the lunar lights on it?

Yes you could change them if you needed to, and were somewhat electronically inclined. Why would you want to change them? They are very nice and the LEDs will last a long long time.

[InsaneClownFish]

Maybe I can add some inspiration ;):
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=526615

[Buddyboy]

Any new full tank shots with the new light fixture?

Do you find the single 150W halide is enough light for a tank that long? Do you have darker spots on the sides? How about heat? Are the new lights substantially hotter than the old light fixture?

Great tank Debaser! Similar to what i'd like to do!!! Keep those pics coming! :)

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8855683#post8855683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Buddyboy
Any new full tank shots with the new light fixture?

Do you find the single 150W halide is enough light for a tank that long? Do you have darker spots on the sides? How about heat? Are the new lights substantially hotter than the old light fixture?

Great tank Debaser! Similar to what i'd like to do!!! Keep those pics coming! :)

I'll take some new shots tonight. We are finally hanging the lights from the ceiling tonight. Right now they are raised up off of the tank with some 2x4s...lol

There are NO darker spots on the sides. The single 150 fills the tank nicely, and the shimmer effect is seen throughout the tank. The MH is warm, but since I do not have a canopy, it has not affected my water temp at all.

I hope to post more pictures tonight.

[FlipFlops24/7]

lights are finally hung. I really need to take a better pic than this one though.

http://www.holdren.org/downloads/tank123106.jpg

[reef2]

nice lookin tank. i got a question how r u breaking syphen?seem to me if the power goes out ur tank will drain 1/3 of the way down

[FlipFlops24/7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8862586#post8862586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef2
nice lookin tank. i got a question how r u breaking syphen?seem to me if the power goes out ur tank will drain 1/3 of the way down

I have one of marine depots expensive true union check valves installed. This stops the flow back into my sump. However, I left 14 gallons free in my sump incase the check valve fails. I plan on cleaning the check valve every month. Also, I drilled 1/8th inch holes in the loc-line for a siphon break.