Complete 40 Gallon Breeder Build

[RZ5T]

Here are some pics of the aquascape.

Left Side

Right Side

 

[RZ5T]

Arch that allows you to see the rock structure behind it

 

[RZ5T]

Up and Running.

 

[RZ5T]

I've finished the mesh top to protect the Jawfish and Wrasses from themselves.

Thanks Acroholic for the mesh. This stuff is great.

Parts

Frame Finished

With Mesh

Mesh Cut

And on the tank

With the light fixture on it

This was a pain

Next step is plumbing the UV Sterilizer and Phosphate Reactor.

 

[tkrause88]

Very nice. Love the stand you did a great job on it.

 

[RZ5T]

Very nice. Love the stand you did a great job on it.

Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for posting. Sometimes it feels like I'm talking to myself on this thread. :wink:

 

[RZ5T]

I've completed the installation of the UV Sterilizer and Phosphate Reactor.

 

[RZ5T]

The doors are built.

With first coat of paint

Here's the doors set in place (unattatched).
I'll install them on the stand tomorrow.

Caulked the stand to the wall and floor to give it that "built in the wall" look.

 

[fenderguy1]

Nice setup!

 

[Angels 2010]

very nice setup! Love all your original touches you added like the caulking and the tile, very clean looking...

 

[icedgxe]

Everything is looking great! I really like the way you caulked it to the wall. Really adds a nice touch!

 

[RZ5T]

Nice setup!

Thanks man

very nice setup! Love all your original touches you added like the caulking and the tile, very clean looking...

Appreciate it. I finally have a setup that my wife likes too.

Everything is looking great! I really like the way you caulked it to the wall. Really adds a nice touch!

Yea I do like the look with it caulked. I'm worried that it's going to make it humid in the stand... I'm sure I'll have to add a fan. Thanks for the compliment


Thanks all of you for participating in the thread.

 

[RZ5T]

Got the doors hung.

First door

Both

I still need to attach the center piece that completely blocks out the sump light... I'll do that tomorrow, or maybe another day. I'm starting to get burnt out on this build. I just want this tank to be completely done with my coral and fish in there.

 

[RZ5T]

I re-ran the drains so that I could fit the light fixture over the refugium.

We have Ammonia.

The cycle has started. It's kind of hard to see but there is some brown diatoms starting to grow on the rock and sand.

I'm happy to see some kind of progress with the water.

 

[RZ5T]

Got the ATO finished. Basically you paint a 5 gallon bucket and a plastic planter, put a plant that drapes over it and it gives the appearance that it's just a tall pot.

Plants...

Bucket...

and just like Magic.

Line in

Eshopps float valve

Full pic next to the tank

 

[RZ5T]

So here are some pics of the stand finished. I added the pieces that cover the plumbing behind the tank.

Painted and Caulked

Here are the doors with the pieces of wood to block the light between them and the sides of the stand

Doors finished

Stand is finally done

I just need the tank to finish the cycle... rock and roll.

 

[milkman]

One of the best build threads I have read. I just love the 40 breeder for a clean look. The plant covered ATO is pure genius. Good luck with your new tank.

 

[RZ5T]

One of the best build threads I have read. I just love the 40 breeder for a clean look. The plant covered ATO is pure genius. Good luck with your new tank.

Thanks Milkman. I'm happy that you've enjoyed looking at the build. I got the ATO idea from a friend of mine. I agree... genius. The plant does such a great job at hiding the fact that there's a bucket underneath it. When I first saw it at my friends house I literally thought it was just a plant sitting next to his tank. It wasn't until I asked him where his ATO was and he showed me that I knew that the plant was anything else than just a plant.

Thanks again for posting.

 

[RZ5T]

So after I sealed the stand completely to the wall it felt like I was in Florida every time I opened it. I decided that I should probably install a vent to pull the humidity from it.


Here are some pictures


Dryer Vent

Fan Wired

Siliconed the fan to the vent

Vent fan installed. I'll see how one works, I may have to install a second one.

You can barely see it behind the plant

 

[thewackyreefer]

Looks great, I really like what you've done with the setup.