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View Full Version : Help Me Build My In Wall Reef!


frankabagnale
01/17/2014, 05:44 PM
Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I recently moved into a new house and I'm ready to add a new in wall tank. I have two planted freshwater tanks, but have never done a saltwater tank. So I need your help...

Plan is to put a 40 breeder in the wall(pictures below). Wanted a 75 but don't have enough room and don't want to spend the extra money.

I have no idea what to do for lights, sump, skimmer, pumps, and powerheads. That's where I need your help! Help me put together a list! I'm not wanting to spend more then $1,000 right now. I figured I would buy a 40 Breeder and a 29G(sump) tomorrow at the Petco sale.

I use AquaticLife T5HO's on my freshwater tanks so I was looking at the 4 or 6 bulb version for this tank. I really just don't know what I need for reefs.

There are so many skimmers I have no idea! I just need to know which one to get! Haha

Anyway, Hopefully you guys can chime in and help me out on this!

Current Planted 40B - It's a mess. This is while I'm topping it off.
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Current Planted 10G
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This is the basement where the new tank will go.
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This bookshelf is where I will put my tank. Already have an idea on framing and what not.
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Other side of the wall where the back of the tank will be.
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frankabagnale
01/17/2014, 10:57 PM
Maybe this will help me get some replies...I did a little more researching and am hoping you can comment on my list. I would like to do a mixed coral tank. Basically because I'm unsure of what I will for sure want in the future.

Aquarium: 40G Breeder 36x18x16 ($1/gallon sale)

Lights: AquaticLife 6 Bulb-T5H0 234w

Sump: 29 Gallon (Hoping I can pick up a tank from the $1/gallon sale

Skimmer: Bubble-magus NA5.5 Cone Skimmer

Return Pump: Eheim 1250 (320 GPH) 1/2"

Powerhead(s): (2)Hydor Koralia 240GPH

Heater: Jager Thermostat Heater 150W(12")

I'm not sure on the overflow yet. I will definitely drill the tank and plan on doing a Herbie overflow. I'm just not sure about the glass overflow box that I will build. Are there certain dimensions I should use?

conradryaan
01/18/2014, 02:21 AM
looks like you have a pretty good idea on what you need to get lol. I have seem overflow boxes in many shapes and sizes. so just do what works best for your plumbing and the size of your tank. I like that you are going with a smaller return pump. that will make it possible to get the best use out of an in sump refug. what other things are you mixed up about?

frankabagnale
01/19/2014, 07:35 PM
Worked all weekend on getting the stand/wall ready for the tank. I'm almost there. I have it all set up and some paint slathered on. I just need a little more paint and a few finishing touches. I will probably start ordering light and what not tomorrow. This week I need to drill the tank and paint it and set my sump up.

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yagesz
01/19/2014, 07:42 PM
You are off to a great start. I to just started a 40 breeder thanks in part to petco. I will have water in by next sunday woohoo

Pife
01/19/2014, 08:13 PM
Sounds like you have a good grasp on things. Go to the New to the Hobby forum on here and read all the stickies and then read them again.

You have a good start with the inwall and it is looking good.

frankabagnale
01/19/2014, 08:16 PM
Thanks! Yeah I've read through them and will definitely do so again. I also picked up a book the other day that's pretty informative. I think the only thing for me is just navigating the different brands of skimmers and pumps. It will probably be a couple weeks before I get water in the tank and a hard scape in.

yagesz
01/19/2014, 08:19 PM
For my 40 gallon i have a refugium i am building with a DIY Protein Skimmer. Just food for thought. You clearly have experience building stuff. You can run the tank through the cycle phase without a Skimmer btw.

frankabagnale
01/19/2014, 08:24 PM
For my 40 gallon i have a refugium i am building with a DIY Protein Skimmer. Just food for thought. You clearly have experience building stuff. You can run the tank through the cycle phase without a Skimmer btw.

Yeah I just saw that. I will probably start the cycle without one. It will give me a chance to spread my purchases out a bit.

yagesz
01/19/2014, 08:25 PM
Thats what I am doing. Ordered Plumbing and sand and rock. So i can get water in the tank. then 2 weeks in i will order a few parts on payday

frankabagnale
01/19/2014, 08:28 PM
Thats what I am doing. Ordered Plumbing and sand and rock. So i can get water in the tank. then 2 weeks in i will order a few parts on payday

Sounds like a good plan. What kind of light are you going with?

yagesz
01/19/2014, 08:33 PM
I ordered a Current marien led for now. It wasn't super cheap but for the price it had some nice functionallity on the controller. Moonlight, Sunrise, Set. I don't plan on keeping Corals right away but if I do I will change out for A radion most likely. I bought a 36" model current for $180.

frankabagnale
02/10/2014, 12:41 PM
Been awhile since a post...

Have the Tank in place and plumbed to the 29G sump. The Danner Mag 7 was pretty loud, so I bought an Eheim and will use the Danner with my RO/DI system.

I ended up installing a BRS 5 Stage Plus RO system. Little low on pressure so will be installing a booster pump today.

I also installed an Apex Lite and love it! I'm thinking of upgrading to 1 or 2 Vortech mp10w's. Just so expensive. I also bought a Cobalt Neo-Therm heater for the sump as well as a Tunze ATO system. That thing is very nice and will most likely make my life a lot easier.

I picked up 40 lbs. of Pukani rock from BRS and have it all in the tank. I'm going to buy some live rock from my LFS and put it in the refugium section of the sump. Hopefully this helps. I also added a little under 60 lbs of Fiji Pink sand.

The next thing I'd like to get are some new T5 bulbs. I'm thinking 3 ATI Blue+, 2 Aquablue Special, and 1 Purple+. Any thoughts on this are very much appreciated!

I will be cycling with pure ammonia and will get that going as well.

<a href="http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/FrankAbagnale1/media/Saltwater/12_zps0d7e70d2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o782/FrankAbagnale1/Saltwater/12_zps0d7e70d2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 12_zps0d7e70d2.jpg"/></a>

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<a href="http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/FrankAbagnale1/media/Saltwater/28_zpsce090a82.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o782/FrankAbagnale1/Saltwater/28_zpsce090a82.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 28_zpsce090a82.jpg"/></a>

frankabagnale
02/10/2014, 12:46 PM
Also add:

I ended up with a Reef Octopus 4 Needle Wheel Skimmer and two Hydor 850 powerheads with the Hydor controller. I'm thinking this Hydor controller is pointless. If anyone has any advice on using it, please let me know. It will be awhile before I can get some Vortech's!

Just in case I didn't add this...I bought the Glass*oles 700 gph overflow and a return kit. I drilled the tank a few weeks back for both of those.