1st Reef - My SPS 40 Breeder Log

[Kayadad]

Intro;

Well it has been a real long time planning this tank and reading RC. I have had a few salt tanks a decade ago, but all were FO and I used an undergravel filter. I want to thank RC for the inspiration and information. I have spent a ton of time on here mostly lurking until a few months ago. Then she finally said yes.

I have wanted a reef for many years now after seeing one at a pet store. Being a newly married career changer I was in no shape to financially afford a tank.

Tank;

My dream tank is larger than this 40, but we had it in the garage, as it was the red-eared sliders tank before I built the pond. It has a stand that my wife's parents got her before we were hitched. We also had the 20 long that I am using as a sump. This tank will be BB.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010010.jpg

[Kayadad]

I was planning on drilling an internal overflow. When my wife gave me a Dremel for x-mas I just knew I wanted an external overflow. It was a piece of cake with the rotozip tile-cutting bit. The trough took me about 10 minutes to cut out. I have always thought the externals were awesome.

I did break the first piece I glass I attempted to drill. It was 1/4" glass which was only 3.5" wide. I drilled a 2 3/8" hole (60mm). Bri, my wife also tells me I was going to fast. I headed back to the local glass store for a 3/8" piece. Worked like a charm. My drain is 1.5”.

My silicone job was sloppy. The hardware store only had white and they are the only game in town or an hour’s drive. I am still proud that it is holding.

The glass store also only had smoke acrylic for the back glass (to make teeth for the over flow weir). I like supporting local, as we are a small town, so I went with smoke knowing that it will be covered in coraline. I tried trimming that to the right size with my dremel and ending up killing the dremel. Circular saws work good, but a little sloppy. Borrowed father-in-laws dremel when he came up for the notches.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010015.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010016.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010014.jpg

[Kayadad]

Equipment;

The sump is a 20 long with no baffles. I have the drain going through a filter sock. I have a Euroreef RS5-3 that I picked up used here on RC. I am impressed on how it well it fills the chamber with tiny bubbles. I have two 150w stealth heaters and a mag 5 for return through 1” pipe.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010017.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010018.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010019.jpg

For in-tank flow, I have a maximod 1200. It pushes a ton of water. I plan on one more smaller pump. Perhaps a maximod 900 or one of the new hydros. I also want to do a surge tank. I want the surge tank to have a LR ruble refugium.

[Kayadad]

For lighting, I have an ATI 36" Powermodule: 4-39W T5 HO Fluorescents on pre-order at reefgeek. I hope to have it no later than mid-March. I am keeping my fingers crossed it will be sooner.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/ati1.jpg

not my lights! but mine should look just like these (only smaller).

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/ati2.jpg

I also have a kent 35 gpd hi-s rodi, a SeaChem multi-test

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010022.jpg

and one of these refractometers

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o283/Mikeyvon/P2010023.jpg

[Kayadad]

more to come tomorrow! I have lots of questions and I will be ordering LR in the afternoon. Goodnight!

[petoonia]

Looks like you've done your research. I hope your using RO/DI water. Keep the pics coming!!!!

[danferd2002]

he has an ro/di filter, so im assuming hes using ro/di water.

[ambaratur]

Kayadad - good job so far I have always liked the shape of a 40 breeder and the external overflow looks great.

One problem you may have with no sump baffles is that the water level in the skimmer area will not remain consistent. As evaporation occurs the water level in the whole sump will drop over time unless you have a good auto-top-off system.

I believe you will have trouble keeping your skimmer adjusted correctly with a fluctuating water level.

Even if you don’t want to create a bubble trap in there, a single baffle would be advisable at least to keep the depth of the skimmer section constant.