40 breeder tonga branch tank

[pikachux3]

Location: Orange County, CA
Date of setup: Fall 2022
Tank: 36"x18"x16" 40 breeder
Sump: Trigger Sump 26
Return Pump: DCP 6500
Controller: KASA Smart Powerstrip /w InkBird Controller
Lights: (2)-39w Sunblaster T5 Amazon, (2)-Kessil A360WE
Water movement: Looking to get a gyre pump or mp10/mp40
Filtration: Filter Sock, Chaeto Refugium, Skimmerless
Dosing: None atm
Other additives: Iodine and Chaetogro every few days
Food: New Life Spectrum and Reefroids
Fish List: (2) clownfish, (5) Chromis
Coral: frogspawn, hammers, blastomussa merletti, some montiporas, mushrooms, gorgonian, GSP, green toad stool, neon green toadstool, space invader pectinia, zoas, jack o lantern leptoseris
Inverts: bunch of snails of reefcleaners i don't remember, pincushion urchin

Was Originally going for something like this below but decided to go with corals I already had from my previous tank

Inspiration Tank

Tonga Rock Glued Up
Early Stages


January 10, 2022

January 20, 2023

March 25, 2023

April 14, 2023

August 22, 2023

 

[mdb_talon]

I think it just personal preference, but yes to me it looks like too large of canopy related to tank size.

On another note i like the rockwork and love tonga branch that should turn out very nice.

 

[pikachux3]

I think it just personal preference, but yes to me it looks like too large of canopy related to tank size.

On another note i like the rockwork and love tonga branch that should turn out very nice.

yea.. most likely need to cut down the size of the canopy

spent a lot of time on the rock work appreciate the comment

 

[pikachux3]

Need some advice! Is a check valve worth installing on my return? There is no risk for overflowing my sump and my return line is maybe 2 inches below the surface. So it does drain some water and when the pump starts back up, it tends to sputter water and splashes some water out of the tank. What would you do?

 

[pikachux3]

Need some advice! Is a check valve worth installing on my return? There is no risk for overflowing my sump and my return line is maybe 2 inches below the surface. So it does drain some water and when the pump starts back up, it tends to sputter water and splashes some water out of the tank. What would you do?

Bump need help

 

[geekengineer]

I'm not sure if you gave up, but I thought you usually did check valves on your output into the tank cause that is usually where you get more back flow from the tank. I guess it depends on the setup etc.

 

[pikachux3]

I'm not sure if you gave up, but I thought you usually did check valves on your output into the tank cause that is usually where you get more back flow from the tank. I guess it depends on the setup etc.

I’ve seen people usually put check valves right before the return bulkhead on the tank which was what I was wondering if I should do. I also seen people people a few inches to a feet above their return pump.

Tank is running and cycling now, I ended up not putting a check valve but still wondering if I should.

Once power goes out my sump fills up without overflowing but there’s still some sputtering and splashing when power is back on

 

[pikachux3]

Some updates

September 2022 - tank got wet, seeded with filter from my IM10

January 2023 - Yesterday, I broke down the IM10 and transferred the corals over.

I have not glued anything to the rock work yet.

Does anyone have any new coral suggestions and placements? Not sure where to put my frogspawn.

Thanks for reading

side note anyone know what this is? Don’t have any parameters to give.. since all my stuff probably expired

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

Hi y’all need some advice.. currently building out a 40 breeder. Right now I’m working on the canopy and could use some help.

Need some aesthetic/functional advice on this diy canopy for a 40 breeder, it is 14 inches tall and covers the 1.5 inch trim, does this look too tall or proportional to the tank and stand? My instinct is that it looks too tall.. but maybe it can work? I’m planning to put 2 Kessil a360we in and 2 t5ho in the canopy, the kessils are 4” and plan to hang them 6” off the water. The internal frame is 12” tall, should I reduce the the height of the canopy/internal frame? That might force the hanging height of the kessils down. I also plan to have a removable lid on the canopy to maintenance it from the top. What do y’all think?

No experience with canopies, BUT - had to stop to say this looks really cool and I love the branches! Will be following the progress for sure.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Tank looks good, and seems like it is off to a good start!!

 

[pikachux3]

No experience with canopies, BUT - had to stop to say this looks really cool and I love the branches! Will be following the progress for sure.

I reduced the canopy size and it’s mechanized now will share videos later

 

[pikachux3]

Tank looks good, and seems like it is off to a good start!!

Thank you! Any suggestions for corals you would add and where on the rock work?

 

[pikachux3]

new anemone acquired

 

[pikachux3]

Dinos outbreak caused frogspawn to only open half way. Didn’t recognize it was Dino’s till a few days but acted quickly. Dinos were growing all over the corals and glass and rocks.

Bought the 9w AA green killing machine UV sterilizer and it worked fast. Over fed food to the point where I had a bacterial bloom (I do not recommend). Also dosed tropic Marin NP+.

now the tank is green and growing hair algae, which I don’t mind since it’s better than a full on dinos out break. Corals are looking happier and space invader pectin is looking super plump.

Before

After

 

[pikachux3]

November 2020

April 2023

Slow growth but cant complain

 

[pikachux3]

Corals seem happy after the dinoflagellate episode.

Frogspawns are fully opened.

Dealing with Cyano I believe? Easily blown off by a baster or sucked up with siphon.

Also have lots of detritus. I need to add more flow on the bottom. Some people has suggested a gyre in the back corner. Also thinking about MP10 or MP40.

 

[pikachux3]

Some updates looking forward to seeing how everything grows in

Space Invader Pectinia, Mystic sunset monti, blasto, pink nep, zoas

green and red polyp monti not sure of name, red cap monti

toadstool and euphyllias

 

[pikachux3]

Looking to add some sand can't stand the look of bare bottom any more.

Anyone with tips and tricks to add sand painlessly?

 

[pikachux3]

Bump! Caribsea special grade sand coming in tomorrow. Probably going to rinse it as I don't care for the extra "live sand" that comes with it. What do you guys think is better?

Option A
Filling up a 2L soda bottle to distribute sand

Option B
Soda cup

Option C
Dumping the whole thing in

 

[pikachux3]

Added sand, looks a lot warmer than before