7Rabbit's 40B LPS build

[7rabbit]

Hello everyone! Thanks for visiting my tank build! This is my first reef in over 10 years and excited to work with all the new tech and other fun gadgets out there! Plus all the INSANE amount of coral varieties available now!

I started collecting stuff for a new reef build about 4 years ago and finally got around to setting it up in January 2025. I chose to go with a 40 breeder this time mostly because I've never had a 40B reef before and I really like the deep footprint and shallowness of the tank. It will give me plenty of room for my latest coral obsession, Cynarina. I want them all!

TANK SPECS:

40 Breeder Marineland-not drilled. 1/2 $ off sale at the big box store
Imagitarium stand, nothin fancy

FILTRATION
Aquaclear 110 HOB - Basically a hob sump that holds 1 of 2 heaters and the pump for the reactor. I run filter floss overnight after a water change, it is removed immediately after.
BRS Single reactor with Carbon and GFO
Reef Octopus Classic 100 HOB skimmer
40lbs live rock- about 20lbs of rock was leftover from my last tank. I cleaned, bleached, and cured it for 3 months before adding 20lbs of fresh, clean lr from the lfs. I let this cook for another 2 months before starting the tank. I will slowly be adding ~20lbs more.
30 lbs live sand - CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink
15 lbs Refugite sand from Two Little Fishies.

FLOW
2 Hydor Koralia 850
Aquaclear 110 HOB dialed down and with a baffle.
-Giving~1800 gph

LIGHTING:
Aquaillumination AI Prime 16hd LED
*currently only running one at 60%. Will be adding a 2nd one once it is needed.

SALT
I have only ever used Reef Crystals up until a few weeks ago. Now using TropicMarin Pro. Much cleaner salt but a lower Alk than I prefer. In the past I used to run my tanks at around 8 but I think I want to raise that to around 10 or 11 for better colors.

I chose to go with 2 part for dosing, using ESV B-Ionic.

INHABITANTS
1 Black Ray Goby with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1 Royal Gramma
1 Starry Blenny
1 Skunk Cleaner
1 Tiger Conch
2 Peppermint Shrimp
4 Blue Leg Hermits
Various snails


Here's a few shots of the tank before a started glueing everything up on the rock and really great pick of my rock flower this morning.

 

[exnisstech]

Looks good. Just throwing this out there because I have a 40B with an aquaclear 110 also. The idea wasn't mine but I added part of an eshopps hob overflow and it turns the 110 into a really nice surface skimmer.

 

[7rabbit]

Looks good. Just throwing this out there because I have a 40B with an aquaclear 110 also. The idea wasn't mine but I added part of an eshopps hob overflow and it turns the 110 into a really nice surface skimmer.

Thanks! I’m actually looking at 3D printed pieces to turn a smaller aquaclear into a surface skimmer. I want to add separate hob because this one is mostly for holding equipment and I’m already annoyed at cramming floss pads in there. I only run floss once a week after a water change and then it’s removed so the smaller one will be easier to change out. I might throw some chaeto in the small one and do away with the floss all together. I’ve used these aquaclears a few times for refugiums and they work great!

 

[Anna K]

Love the tank so far! This is going to be exciting to follow along (and I'll probably learn a thing or two as well)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[7rabbit]

Went to Cherry Corals last weekend! Really great shop and friendly owner, and EXCELLENT quality corals. I’m lucky to live so close. The pieces look identical to what you see on their website. Immediately upon entering you see a 300 gallon display with an incredible Suharsonoi specimen and I had to grab a frag!

 

[7rabbit]

Power went out for a minute and I got a great shot of my bubble when lights came back on

 

[Goaway]

Bubble coral change so much at night. Nice pic!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Power went out for a minute and I got a great shot of my bubble when lights came back on

Great photo!