20250421_203046.jpg
20250421_203046.jpg

40g Taking it Easy

My 40g breeder, since I have a very busy job, has a very low maintenance schedule. No sump, had too many clogged drains and overflows in the past... So HOBs and surprisingly powerful yet cheap LEDs.
SaltwaterAquarium.com
Overview Discussion
My 40g breeder, since I have a very busy job, has a very low maintenance schedule. No sump, had too many clogged drains and overflows in the past... So HOBs and surprisingly powerful yet cheap LEDs.

Aquarium Profile and Equipment

What type of saltwater aquarium is this?
Mixed Reef
Total Water Volume
42
When did you start this tank?
Mar 25, 2025
What is your aquarium made of?
Glass
Aquarium Length (inches)
36
Aquarium Width (inches)
18
Aquarium Height (inches)
16
Aquarium Overflow/Drain
No Overflow
Aquarium Sump
NO Sump
Aquarium Stand
Wire aluminum shelving
Aquarium Controller
NO
Protein Skimmer
NO
Aquarium Reactors
  1. Carbon
  2. None
What types of equipment are you using for water flow and circulation?
  1. Wavemaker
  2. Other
Water Flow and Circulation Equipment List
3 HOB filters (1 is setup to surface skim), canister filter and AL nero3. Carbon in canister filter.
Aquarium Lighting
  1. LED
Lighting Equipment List
Dosing Equipment
  1. Calcium
  2. Alkalinity
  3. Magnesium
Dosing Equipment Detail
Manual hand dosing
Auto Top Off or ATO
NO
Aquarium Heating and Cooling
  1. I am using a heater or heaters
Water Temperature
76

Aquarium Water Chemistry and Parameters

Salt Brand
Reef crystals

Aquarium Natural and Mechanical Filtration

Substrate
Bare Bottom (BB)
Substrate Level
No Substrate
Nutrient Export
  1. Macro Algae
  2. Carbon
Water Changes
YES
Water Change Details
weekly
Additional Maintenance Details
Hand dosing calcium, magnesium and baking soda.

Aquarium Tank Inhabitants (fish, coral, invert etc.)

Fish List
  1. Angelfish
  2. Blenny
  3. Clownfish
  4. Damselfish
  5. Dartfish
  6. Wrasse
  7. Eel
Total Fish
10
Coral List
  1. SPS Coral
  2. LPS Coral
  3. Zoanthids
  4. Soft Coral
  5. Mushroom Coral
Invert List
  1. Anemone
  2. Crabs
  3. Starfish
  4. Shrimp
  5. Snails
  6. Clams
  7. Urchin
  8. Other
Livestock Quarantine
  1. No Quarantine

Aquarium Nutrition (fish, coral, invert etc. feeding)

Fish Feeding Frequency
One Daily Feeding
Coral Feeding Frequency
Do Not Feed Coral Directly
Fish and Coral Feeding
  1. Frozen
  2. Algae Strips
Auto Feeder
NO

Additional Aquarium Information

What do you think are the keys to your success in reefing?
Simplicity
Jump to Last
Corals.com
Ron Reefman

Ron Reefman

Lets Go Snorkeling!
View Badges
Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
9,640
Reaction score
12,395
Location
SW Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have a 40g breeder aio tank. I made maintenance easy by not having any fish so I don't have to feed the tank as often or as much!
 
Tidal Gardens
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Grog

Grog

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 19, 2023
Messages
115
Reaction score
175
Location
Bastrop
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Very nice!

SpartaReef said:
I'm definitely looking to upgrade my HOBs and flow...
Click to expand...

I ran HOB in my 40 for two years prior to switching out to a drilled 40. I had pretty good success running the Sicce HOB filter. I like this one because it is a bit oversized for the 40 and has a surface intake and can pull out surface scum. Other good thing being oversized, is if you find a need to run carbon or GFO, you can easily fit a sack of it in that HOB. I've run the smaller versions on QT and frag tanks. I'm a fan of this series HOB filter.

Amazon product

For flow, I played around a lot with several different powerheads. Currently using this one. It moves water pretty good in a 40 its just about the just-right powerhead for a 40 IMO. Only had this for about a month so I cannot comment on longevity.

Amazon product
 
AS
OP
OP
SpartaReef

SpartaReef

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
Messages
766
Reaction score
378
Location
Sparta, WI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
1000009350.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20250504_151524_1_1.mp4
    12.9 MB
  • 20250504_151524_1_2.mp4
    25.2 MB
  • 20250504_151524_1_3.mp4
    13.9 MB
  • 20250504_151524_1_4.mp4
    14.3 MB
  • 20250504_151524_1_5.mp4
    27.2 MB
Top Shelf Aquatics
exnisstech

exnisstech

Grumpy old man
View Badges
Joined
Feb 11, 2019
Messages
19,435
Reaction score
31,413
Location
Ashland Ohio
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Can't see any of the videos. I have a 40 breeder running an aquaclear 110 hob. I had an old hob overflow I was able to rig up as a surface skimmer and it works very well. Someone is 3d printing them but this one is larger than the ones I've seen printed and free is always nice.

This is it in action.
 
OP
OP
SpartaReef

SpartaReef

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
Messages
766
Reaction score
378
Location
Sparta, WI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
That is a great idea for surface skimming. I actually could utilize something like that. And I have a buddy of mine with a 3D printer, so I'm going to ask him to set something up like that for me.
 
Nutramar Foods
Gumbies R Us

Gumbies R Us

God, Bouldering, and Reefing
View Badges
Joined
Nov 10, 2022
Messages
29,799
Reaction score
52,681
Location
North Georgia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
OP
OP
SpartaReef

SpartaReef

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
Messages
766
Reaction score
378
Location
Sparta, WI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Moved hobs and did water change
 

Attachments

  • 20250511_193348.jpg
    20250511_193348.jpg
    221.8 KB · Views: 41
  • 20250511_193323.jpg
    20250511_193323.jpg
    97.8 KB · Views: 37
  • 20250511_193310.jpg
    20250511_193310.jpg
    178.1 KB · Views: 49
Corals.com

Similar threads

Tklein2219
    • Like
    • 2 Thumbs
  • Showcase: Item
Reef Showcase 120 gallon mixed reef
Replies
3
Views
144
Imrahilwjz
Imrahilwjz
E
    • Like
  • Showcase: Item
Reef Showcase Reef 350
Replies
3
Views
167
1ocean
1ocean
terminallyonline
  • Showcase: Item
Reef Showcase Surreal world tour biotope nano reef
Replies
2
Views
136
Lumous
Lumous
The real RBR
  • Showcase: Item
Reef Showcase 155 planet Aquarium
Replies
2
Views
314
Imrahilwjz
Imrahilwjz
hardcorn77
    • Like
  • Showcase: Item
Reef Showcase 20 gallon nano
Replies
2
Views
175
hardcorn77
hardcorn77

TOP 10 Trending Threads

M
    • Like
All for reef vs 2/3 part in larger SPS systems
2
Replies
27
Views
560
Jackal799
J
M
Using only AI blades on bigger tank
2 3
Replies
47
Views
699
Justfebreezeit
Justfebreezeit
revhtree
    • Like
WWYD Have you ever been working in the tank and suddenly you get bit or stung by something?
2
Replies
25
Views
407
zheka757
zheka757
Reef Jedi
    • Like
    • 2 Thumbs
Return pumps are underrated
2 3 4
Replies
64
Views
1,411
UncommonSense
UncommonSense
5
Large Tank Leveling Mat
2
Replies
24
Views
325
dank.reefer
dank.reefer
AlyciaMarie
    • Like
Best customer service in the biz. Who's got it?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
824
BriDroid
BriDroid
AlyciaMarie
    • 2 Thumbs
GIVEAWAY 🎆 Welcome to the Tunze Comline DOC Skimmer 9004 DC Giveaway: Beat the Dog Days with this awesome prize! 🎆
2
Replies
32
Views
335
tharbin
tharbin
DmitryB
    • Like
Show us your controller boards!
2 3
Replies
41
Views
1,127
Reef Jedi
Reef Jedi
Shnetts
Are these tank seams as bad as I think
2
Replies
28
Views
558
vetteguy53081
vetteguy53081
J
First saltwater mixed coral tank and some are not looking so good.
2
Replies
24
Views
308
jkennedy211
J

DO YOU THINK TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS ARE MORE HELPFUL OR HURTFUL TO REEFING?

  • More helpful.

    Votes: 42 40.8%

  • More hurtful.

    Votes: 4 3.9%

  • I think it depends mostly on the technology.

    Votes: 40 38.8%

  • I think it dependsmostly on the reefer behind the technology.

    Votes: 33 32.0%
See comments…

New Posts

TSA
TCK Corals
Nutramar Foods
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
World Wide Corals
Tidal Gardens
SaltwaterAquarium.com
New Posts
Back
Top
Home
Forums
Post thread…
Market
What's new