SPS in a 40 breeder?

[Dave3112]

Is anyone out there keeping SPS in a 40 gallon breeder tank? If so what kind? I have one that is not being used and 2 175 MH lights so I was just wondering what kind to put in it if possible. I was thinking that it is really shallow and the corals would "out grow" the tank pretty quick. But who knows:wink: Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

[wicked demon]

sounds like you should be fine, as long as you can control the temp with so much light on a small tank.

 

[Dave3112]

I can control the temp I was just wondering about the types of SPS I could keep. Green Slimer would grow WAY to fast in my experience/opinion. Monti caps too. It would be pretty sweet looking though, Oh what the heck. I might start a build thread soon!

 

[Tenacious716]

Absolutely! If you search around there are quite a few really nice SPS-dominated 40Brs, great dimensions! :)

 

[firsttime]

I think you can grow all SPS in a 40Breeder, some may grow fast and some slow. What would be nice is if you can stay away from the fast growing ones then you will be able to enjoy working on the tank for a while before its get full. I think one 175W should be enough.

 

[pisces4u]

Here's my SPS dominant 50 breeder under 6x39w ATI Sunpower. 40br will be fine just a bit shorter. I recommend scaping low and leaving lots of space for SPS to grow up.

 

[Dave3112]

If I do set this up I will only have a small "island" of Live rock and most likely be bare bottom to maximize the space and flow. It will share a sump with my 65 so I'm not really worried about the bio filtration. I just have to plan out where to put things........

 

[roscoe]

Here is my old 40b. I grew all kinds of SPS in it. I had it up for over 3 years and took it down about 6-8 months ago and transfered everything into my 270g. It was a really simple set up with no sump and my most successful. I used a Bak Pak skimmer with a modded MJ1200. For flow I used a K4,3 and 2 after about 2 years I switched over to Vortec MP40 and for my light I had 250w halide under Lumenarc stealth reflector driven by a IC ballast. I top off with kalk and that kept my alk, calcium and PH in check. I miss my 40b. It is a great FP for a small tank.

 

[m and m]

Stands up and raises hand. I have a 40g breader, with a 40g breader sump, BK skimmer and love it. The dims are a hate it or love it dimes. Me personaly i love the shallow but lots of depth look. I stock it with alot of high ends sps, chalice and a few high ends zoas. Im might upgrade in the next year to a 36x36x18 or 24 just because i love the breader look so much.

 

[Dave3112]

roscoe, that tank is beautiful! How high was the light above the water? I want to go with the 2 175's for more even coverage.

I have the back drilled on each side with 1" bulkheads and was thinking of doing a CTC overflow. Any drawbacks to this? Besides the use of space in the tank.

 

[AlexStinson]

Ive got a 40b with mostly sps, sorry not a recent pic tho

for lighting i have a luminarc mini with 250watt radium on icecap ballast
4x 39w t5's overdriven on icecap ballast
halide is about 5" off the water, t5's are about 15" off the water
(figi purple, 2x giesman blue + 1x giessman actinic plus)
octopus ddnw-250 skimmer with a 20l as a sump
mp40w on full reefcrest mode and a couple koralia nanos behind rockwork
and a Geo610 ca reactor
no chiller :) everything is cooled by 3x 6" clip on fans

no problem at all keeping sps colored up

 

[butts182]

I don't have a 40 breeder, but instead a 29g that is just not as deep as a 40b, but I have sps in it also. Just need to put a little bit of rock in there.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss154/butts182/IMGP5758.jpg

 

[butts182]

 

[rvlockhart]

I have a 50gal. 36x18x20 with dual 150w three inches above water surface and getting good growth & color.

 

[DBarsotti]

crappy picture but you get the idea. My 40breeder

 

[BlazinNano]

Worse that can happen is your corals grow to fast and reach the top of the water. they will stop growing up. Then all you have to do is trim them back and sell or trade for new corals. I mean it would suck to have a tank so full of SPS that it looked like it wanted to come out of the water. Build it and they will grow! DO IT!

 

[TANKSALOT]

Light cycle and distance will have a lot to do with placement.
We recently had a behind the scene tour of the reef tanks at Sea World Orlando and they had SPS under 1000w Mh and they were growing with the tips out of the water.

It all comes down to care.

TANKSALOT
aka - Steve

 

[RZ5T]

Gotta love those 40 Breeders.

 

[Schmitty]

YES! Im looking for a SPS coral that grows more vertical and not so wide, possibly at a slow pace and that's a different color from green. Any suggestions. I currently have a birds next...