BoM's Sumpless 40 Gallon Breeder Macroalgae Mixed Reef

[boyofmystery]

Recently upgraded from a Biocube 29 / 32 (I started it from zero and it had been running for 2 years, but I am like the 4th owner of that biocube so who knows how old the tank actually was) to a 40 gallon breeder. Being a short king, I chose a 40 gallon breeder because I liked the shorter dimension of the tank, makes maintenance and sand bed access easier for me. I like the look and movement of macroalgae, plus it helps with my nutriet export without running a seperate sump. Decided to document my progress and keep track of my equipment spending...

Photo taken April 2025

All my prices are in CAD. I tried my best to use second hand stuff to lower cost + I think folks should buy less new 'stuff' in general, not just in reef keeping.

Specification

1. Tank Size: 40 gallon breeder + DIY stand (FB marketplace $200)
2. Filtration: Two Fluval U2 underwater filters (one has filter sponge + activated carbon, one has ceramic balls) (FB marketplace $60 total)
3. Powerhead: Two SunSun JVP-110 528 GPH wavemakers (FB marketplace $10 total)
4. Lighting: Unknown brand light bar plugged into timer switch (FB marketplace $50)
5. Heater: Fluval M Heater, not sure if 100 or 150 watt (FB marketplace, forgot price...)
6. Lid: NestBascis DIY Lid (Amazon.ca $27)
7. Water: Vancouver tap water left in buckets for 2 days min, sometimes Seachem Primed
8. Dosing: Brightwell Aquatics Chaetogro 3-4 times a week
9. Age: 2 months old (recently upgraded from 2 years old Biocube 29 / 32)

Stock list

Fish:

• 1 Ocellaris Clown (Male) - paired (added September 2023)
• 1 Percula Clown (Female) - paired (added September 2023)
• 1 Royal Gramma (added June 2024)
• 1 Yellow Watchman Goby (w TPS) (added June 2024)

Invert:

• 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (added June 2024)
• 1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp (w YWG) (added June 2024)
• 1 Fighting Conch (added early 2024)
• Trochus Snails
• Nassarius Snails
• Bumblebee Snails (dealing with vermetids)

Macroalgae:

• Blade Caulerpa
• Grape Caulerpa
• Codium
• Dragon's Breath
• Blue Hypnea

Coral:

• 1 Purple Frogspawn
• 1 Green Tipped Hammer with Purple Body frag
• 1 Duncan
• 1 Yellow Candycane
• 1 Red Encrusting Gonipora (re-try) frag
• 1 Orange Encursing Gonipora frag
• 1 Green Leptastrea frag

• 1 Toadstool Leather
• 1 Pulsing Xenia (on island)
• GSP (on island)
• Gatorade Zoas (on island)
• Captain Jerk Paly (on island)
• 1 Green Rhodactis Mushroom frag
• 1 Green Nepthea Leather

• 1 Sunset Montipora frag

Notes:

• The unknown brand light bar will soon be replaced by a Kessil AP700.
• I went with internal filters because I've had bad leak experiences with HoB before from my freshwater days. As such, canister filters and sumps were also considered but ultimately forgone.

Graveyard (gone but not forgotten, and important learning lessons)

• 1 Ocellaris Clown (after 1 day)
• 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (after 1 day)
• 1 Tailspot Blenny (after 6 months)
• 1 Scarlet Hermit Crab (after few months, got stuck)

• 1 Homeycomb Leptastrea (got buried)
• 1 Green Hammer
• 1 Purple Zoa (got buried)
• 2 Bird's Nest

 

[boyofmystery]

Photo Dumps (April 2025)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along! I love being able to see macroalgae tanks!

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

So beautiful! I really enjoy the more natural-looking tanks like these. We don't see them often, but I am always so impressed with them.

Congrats and keep up the great work!

 

[Texx]

I really dig the spectrums everyone uses for their macro tanks (I don't know if it's better for the macro or not w/out the blue)