I got into the hobby about 10 months ago an built a pretty successful Fluval Tank setup. I wanted to graduate to a bigger tank, and decided on a 40G Breeder setup.
SUMP - I decided to do a DIY in a 29 gallon, which fits perfectly within the steel tank. That sump build is HERE.
(above) - This is the 40B placed as a peninsula. I decided on the metal stand, and I'm very happy with the build quality of it. Eventually, I'm going to skin the metal stand with HDPE sheeting.
(above) - I had a LFS drill a hole centered for the Eshopps Eclipse-M overflow, and a return hole centered in one of the remaining sections of glass. The Eshopps overflow is nice quality, but I spent 2 full days trying to figure out how to set gaskets so that it didn't leak, and the only working solution was to buy more gaskets than it comes with. The water line is right at the bottom of the top trim of the tank, so I may cut a piece of acrylic and put it inside the internal weir to raise the water level in the future. I put a 1" strainer in the main siphon drain (not shown). The red emergency tube is a little short, so I may have to make a longer one. All in all, I'm not sure I could really recommend this overflow...
(above) - I chose the Aquatic Life T5 hybrid, and I'm going to try to place my single AI Hydra 26 in there once I move the tank. I really think I'll have plenty of lighting with just 1 LED, but I may add a 2nd Hydra if needed. I was super proud of the work I did to move the Power cords both to one side of the ballast. So many people complain about the cords coming out of opposite ends on this fixture, but all it took was some minor disassembly of one of the ballasts and 2 cutouts with a dremel. It was such a trival task, its baffling to me that Aquatic Life doesn't just provide the 2 cutouts in the metal brackets in the first place.
(above) - this is the stand with the Light hung. I decided to put some grated flooring from Menards under the sump. It sounds like with Carpet you really don't want a solid surface that can trap water underneath, so I think this was a good solution. I decided to mount some eggcrate on the underside of the stand so I can hang various things in the sump if I need to. With the 40B tank, there is a half inch or so of space above the metal bars where I can easily maneuver zip ties wherever I need to.
(above) - This is the tank installed with the light over it.
(above) - Some of the various plumbing and fittings I did for this tank. Unions and valves everywhere....
SUMP - I decided to do a DIY in a 29 gallon, which fits perfectly within the steel tank. That sump build is HERE.
(above) - This is the 40B placed as a peninsula. I decided on the metal stand, and I'm very happy with the build quality of it. Eventually, I'm going to skin the metal stand with HDPE sheeting.
(above) - I had a LFS drill a hole centered for the Eshopps Eclipse-M overflow, and a return hole centered in one of the remaining sections of glass. The Eshopps overflow is nice quality, but I spent 2 full days trying to figure out how to set gaskets so that it didn't leak, and the only working solution was to buy more gaskets than it comes with. The water line is right at the bottom of the top trim of the tank, so I may cut a piece of acrylic and put it inside the internal weir to raise the water level in the future. I put a 1" strainer in the main siphon drain (not shown). The red emergency tube is a little short, so I may have to make a longer one. All in all, I'm not sure I could really recommend this overflow...
(above) - I chose the Aquatic Life T5 hybrid, and I'm going to try to place my single AI Hydra 26 in there once I move the tank. I really think I'll have plenty of lighting with just 1 LED, but I may add a 2nd Hydra if needed. I was super proud of the work I did to move the Power cords both to one side of the ballast. So many people complain about the cords coming out of opposite ends on this fixture, but all it took was some minor disassembly of one of the ballasts and 2 cutouts with a dremel. It was such a trival task, its baffling to me that Aquatic Life doesn't just provide the 2 cutouts in the metal brackets in the first place.
(above) - this is the stand with the Light hung. I decided to put some grated flooring from Menards under the sump. It sounds like with Carpet you really don't want a solid surface that can trap water underneath, so I think this was a good solution. I decided to mount some eggcrate on the underside of the stand so I can hang various things in the sump if I need to. With the 40B tank, there is a half inch or so of space above the metal bars where I can easily maneuver zip ties wherever I need to.
(above) - This is the tank installed with the light over it.
(above) - Some of the various plumbing and fittings I did for this tank. Unions and valves everywhere....