Jacks 40 breeder

jstabile316 · Mar 1, 2025

Hello everyone, I’ve been on the forum for almost 5 years and currently have 2 tanks running and also have had a few others in that time but never documented any of my builds. My home is currently under contract for sale and will probably be closing in the next month or so. We haven’t found a new home yet and have a great offer on our house so we decided to sell and move into my mother in-laws house until we can find our new home. Currently I have a IM 25 and IM 15 running , the plan is to set up a 40 gallon breeder with a 20 gallon long sump at my mother in-laws to upgrade the 25 lagoon and then move everything from the 15 gal to the 25 gal.

The IM 25 gallon lagoon: Setup November of 2022 has 2 clownfish, sixline wrasse, pajama cardinal, astrea snails and emerald n hermits. Lighting is 2 Ai primes. This tank is packed with mostly lps that are really starting to sting each other. This is the main reason why I’m upgrading now instead of just waiting to get into my new home.

The IM Nuvo 15. This tank has been up since may of 2024. Currently homes 2 clownfish, astrea snails and emerald crabs. Lighting- noopsyche k7 mini

The new tank. Marineland 40 gallon breeder with internal overflow box, 3/4” bulkheads with herbie overflow drains to a 20 gallon long sump. Duel 3/4” returns with 2- IM mighty jet 326 gph dc pumps that I’m currently using in the 25 lagoon. Will be moving the 2 Ai primes to this tank. I’m ordering all the parts I need to get this up asap and have the tank and sump already, I would like to cycle it with a few new rocks before moving everything from the 25 lagoon. Here is the stand I build for it. I’ll be leaving it open and just painted it black.

I’m really excited to share this build with the community and would appreciate any pointers on how I could make this new tank build and tank transfers go as smooth as possible.

fishface NJ · Mar 1, 2025

Very nice corals! I understand the need to upgrade do to corals growing, and stinging other corals.

jstabile316 · Mar 1, 2025

The overflow box was delivered yesterday but I don’t think it’s deep enough, I can’t get a 3/4 street elbow out of the bulkhead into the box. Do I need a standpipe in the overflow box for the main drain? Or is the bulkhead opening fine itself?

jstabile316 · Mar 1, 2025

I just ordered a deeper box and will return the one I have. Can anyone tell me if I need a standpipe in the overflow box for the main drain? Or will the hole of the bulkhead be fine? I’ll have a street elbow with a short piece of pvc for the emergency drain.

jstabile316 · Mar 5, 2025

Got the tank and sump in place, waiting for the overflow box and some pvc valves to come in. Hopefully will be drilling the tank., installing the overflow and silicone the baffles in place this weekend.

Gumbies R Us · Mar 5, 2025

jstabile316 said:
Got the tank and sump in place, waiting for the overflow box and some pvc valves to come in. Hopefully will be drilling the tank., installing the overflow and silicone the baffles in place this weekend.

Are you going to be transferring everything over from your other tank or just some of it? Good luck on the plumbing!

jstabile316 · Mar 5, 2025

Gumbies R Us said:
Are you going to be transferring everything over from your other tank or just some of it? Good luck on the plumbing!

Thank you, yeah the plan is to move everything from the 25 gallon to the 40 and then transfer everything from the 15 to the 25 gallon. I’ll let the 40 run for like a month with some new rock and seeded media from the 25 gallon and then try to match the parameters as close as possible before transferring everything.

Tahoe61 · Mar 5, 2025

What an amazing tank. The transfer should go smoothly, you obviously know what you're doing. Congratulations on the new tank and digs.

jstabile316 · Mar 8, 2025

Plumbed everything in today. Before I glue everything in I’m going to paint the back glass. Is there anything u guys see that should be changed before I glue everything together?

nextevolution3 · Apr 1, 2025

beautiful tank

Bohemian Waxwing · Apr 1, 2025

Build is looking great dude!

roninmagik1 · Apr 1, 2025

Wow, i'm also running a 40 breeder, but man, looks so sweet, and planned out and organized, man following for sure! =)

Saltyreef24 · Apr 4, 2025

Looks great. Beautiful corals, by the way. One recommendation I have is to add a second filter sock in your sump before you finalize everything. I am running 2ct 4” mesh socks on my 40 breeder and they still clog up and overflow every 2 days or so. Felt socks clogged even faster. It’s pretty easy to make a custom holder out of acrylic sheets too. The only downside is once it’s siliconed in you can’t move it without risking breaking it. Best of luck on this build, I’m looking forward to seeing it come together

kalan850 · Apr 18, 2025

Outstanding plumbing job!

jstabile316 · Jun 3, 2025

Finally got the tank up and running and the animals into their new home!!!!

Made a few minor adjustments on the plumbing. Changed the return lines to 1/2” and moved some pipes around to get a more even flow between the 2 return lines. Also I swapped out the filter sock with a media cup and use some filter floss then just toss it in the garbage after a few days, it’s so much better and easier than socks.

About 2 months ago I got some new live rock filled the tank and got the cycle started with a few pieces of live rock from my 25 gal. After about a month I added a 3 stripe damsel to help keep the cycle going.

May 24th was the big day. Filled up a bunch of 5 gallon buckets and moved all the live rock, fish, corals and inverts into their new home. All at the same time we are moving into our new home as well so making time has been difficult so everything was basically just thrown into the new tank.

Today I finally had some time to organize, moved some rock and glued down some corals. The animals are all starting to get settled in and looking better. The last few pics are today after fixing everything up.

Fish stocking is a pair of clowns, sixline wrasse, pajama cardinal and a 3 stripe damsel, I might end up moving the damsel out and into my 25 gallon so I’m looking to add another fish or 2 if you guys have any suggestions let me know and thanks for looking !