setting up a 40 gallon breeder equipment help

[gavinc123]

Good afternoon, I am setting up a 40 gallon breeder and I wanted some recommendations for equipment. I am trying to find a good heater for it and plan on getting a hang on filter for now and plan on buying to AI prime hds for lighting. Any suggestions to make it better or good brands for cheap/good heaters

 

[blaxsun]

Eheim makes very solid and reliable heaters. The Seachem Tidal HOB filters are supposedly very good (I haven't used them myself, but I'm always hearing good things about them). AI Prime 16HD lights are great, and if you use a Nero 3 for a powerhead you can control both via the same app.

 

[EricR]

I'm running 2x Eheim Jager TruTemp 100w in a 40 breeder right now (mostly because people recommended them and they were basically almost free when I got store credit for a failed PetSmart heater under warranty).

*I see them on sale all the time for about $20 each

Be aware that the glass heaters are pretty long -- the 100w version is about as long as I could comfortably fit vertically. Pretty sure the 150w is even longer so doubt it would fit easily (in-tank) unless you mount horizontally.

 

[jgirardnrg]

Why not turn it into an AIO tank? I run one of these on a 40 breeder I'm using for a frag tank right now:

Fiji Cube AIO Box All-in-One Kit 4th Gen - 40 Gallon Breeder

This is the 4th generation of the AIO DIY Kit with improvements made. The magnets and clamp are no longer provided in the 4th gen. A permanent silicone seal is required. Build your All-in-One (AIO) aquarium with Fiji Cube AIO box to maximize the fun of the aquarium hobby. Just drop this AIO box...

www.fijicube.com

There's also a skimmer that fits in the middle compartment with my heater.

 

[gavinc123]

Why not turn it into an AIO tank? I run one of these on a 40 breeder I'm using for a frag tank right now:

Fiji Cube AIO Box All-in-One Kit 4th Gen - 40 Gallon Breeder

This is the 4th generation of the AIO DIY Kit with improvements made. The magnets and clamp are no longer provided in the 4th gen. A permanent silicone seal is required. Build your All-in-One (AIO) aquarium with Fiji Cube AIO box to maximize the fun of the aquarium hobby. Just drop this AIO box...

www.fijicube.com

There's also a skimmer that fits in the middle compartment with my heater.

i would but im kind of on a budget right now and dont want to spend too much money for the insert

 

[EricR]

i would but im kind of on a budget right now and dont want to spend too much money for the insert

Yeah,,, I liked the idea of that Fiji AIO kit too but didn't do it because:
(a. wasn't available yet
(b. still need to buy other stuff (...return pump, etc)
(c. lose useable real estate inside the tank

*plus I don't like the idea of having to deal with a filter sock,,, but sure you could swap it out for some other first line of defense (in that first chamber)

 

[jgirardnrg]

I stopped using the filter socks and just put egg crate in there with filter floss... nice little kit. It'll hold me over until I redo the room where the frag tank is and drill the 40 for a sump

 

[gavinc123]

Eheim makes very solid and reliable heaters. The Seachem Tidal HOB filters are supposedly very good (I haven't used them myself, but I'm always hearing good things about them). AI Prime 16HD lights are great, and if you use a Nero 3 for a powerhead you can control both via the same app.

any good cheaper options for a power head?

 

[EricR]

any good cheaper options for a power head?

Probably a good idea to state your goals, in terms of livestock,,, and realitstic budget. I'm at -- fish and non-coral inverts looking to try a couple of beginner soft corals right now. (Maybe you too but just to make sure).

More budget-friendly options (than AI Nero) for powerheads that have been recommended to me are the cheaper Jebao and Hydor Koralia models but you'd have to consider what flow/turnover and options you'd really like to have.

*For the record, the only flow/filtration I'm running is 2 HOB power filters but I kinda stumbled into that,,, not necessarily what I'd recommend if you're starting from scratch,,, although it has served me well enough to this point, for the amount of effort/time/money I was willing to spend to get here.

 

[blaxsun]

Tunze also makes fairly affordable and incredibly durable powerheads.

 

[gavinc123]

Probably a good idea to state your goals, in terms of livestock,,, and realitstic budget. I'm at -- fish and non-coral inverts looking to try a couple of beginner soft corals right now. (Maybe you too but just to make sure).

More budget-friendly options (than AI Nero) for powerheads that have been recommended to me are the cheaper Jebao and Hydor Koralia models but you'd have to consider what flow/turnover and options you'd really like to have.

*For the record, the only flow/filtration I'm running is 2 HOB power filters but I kinda stumbled into that,,, not necessarily what I'd recommend if you're starting from scratch,,, although it has served me well enough to this point, for the amount of effort/time/money I was willing to spend to get here.

yeah i was probably just going to do some soft corals and fish so ill definitely look at those two thank you

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I quit buying any heater made out of glass. Fluval makes a good metal one. Sicce makes good powerheads. I have a Tidal Filter HOB to use with my freshwater tank. It's easy to clean and can store any media. I have a 40 breeder setup also.

 

[gavinc123]

I quit buying any heater made out of glass. Fluval makes a good metal one. Sicce makes good powerheads. I have a Tidal Filter HOB to use with my freshwater tank. It's easy to clean and can store any media. I have a 40 breeder setup also.

i am probably going to get a tidal 55 and a fluval 150w

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I use mesh filter socks with polyfilter with my SW tank. Has worked out well. You don't mention what kind of a tank you are getting but I would encourage you to consider a sump.

 

[gavinc123]

I use mesh filter socks with polyfilter with my SW tank. Has worked out well. You don't mention what kind of a tank you are getting but I would encourage you to consider a sump.

im getting a 40 gallon breeder but i do not want to use a sump right now because of all the plumbing and stuff

 

[EricR]

i am probably going to get a tidal 55 and a fluval 150w

Seachem Tidal 75 is usually only like $10 more than Tidal 55 and has a bit more room for media, plus more flow. Just thinking aloud. (If I have to replace either of my power filters and stick with HOB, I'd probably buy the Tidal 75)

On heaters, I agree with Elaine123, I'd ideally rather have titanium over glass but mentioned the Eheim 'cause they're super cheap and seem to have a reputation for being reliable.

...leaving you alone now
Good luck and let us know what you end with when you're all set up.

 

[gavinc123]

Seachem Tidal 75 is usually only like $10 more than Tidal 55 and has a bit more room for media, plus more flow. Just thinking aloud. (If I have to replace either of my power filters and stick with HOB, I'd probably buy the Tidal 75)

On heaters, I agree with Elaine123, I'd ideally rather have titanium over glass but mentioned the Eheim 'cause they're super cheap and seem to have a reputation for being reliable.

...leaving you alone now
Good luck and let us know what you end with when you're all set up.

thank you! i will need to check the dimensions for the 75 because im not sure how long it will go into the tank because the breeder is wide and long but not as tall as others.

 

[gavinc123]

Seachem Tidal 75 is usually only like $10 more than Tidal 55 and has a bit more room for media, plus more flow. Just thinking aloud. (If I have to replace either of my power filters and stick with HOB, I'd probably buy the Tidal 75)

On heaters, I agree with Elaine123, I'd ideally rather have titanium over glass but mentioned the Eheim 'cause they're super cheap and seem to have a reputation for being reliable.

...leaving you alone now
Good luck and let us know what you end with when you're all set up.

also! one last question, should i just get one wavemaker that can do around 2300 for a tank or should i get two that are around 1600

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I bought a small Sicce powerhead. I would get only one until you get more coral and decide if they really need the extra water flow.

 

[EricR]

thank you! i will need to check the dimensions for the 75 because im not sure how long it will go into the tank because the breeder is wide and long but not as tall as others.

Tidal 75 will fit top-to-bottom easily (inside the tank). It has a telescoping intake tube that goes way shorter than what my 2 current HOB tube lengths (in 40B) are set at,,, if that's what you mean.

I'll defer to others on power head / wave maker suggestions.
Interested in seeing what you get and how you like it.