The 40B Build-it-yourself Upgrade!

[LiveRockDaddy]

A few weeks ago, my wife said to me - "These fish need a bigger tank."

My current setup is a Biocube 14/16 AIO (see current thread under u/n).

I took advantage of PetSmart's 1/2 off sale on aquariums and got the 40-gallon breeder. I'm really going to take my time with this and design the aqua-scape to the best of its ability. I want to utilize negative space and avoid having just a pile of rocks, as I currently do. It's gotta have pizzaz! My first thing to do is build a stand. I plan to do it this week and start preparing it.

I also have a 10g tank laying around. It needs cleaned, and I ordered a sump kit from Jax Racks. The next purchase is an eShopps Eclipse overflow (oh no! drilling!). I did confirm with Marineland that the sides are NOT tempered, only the bottom as labeled. The return pump i'm not set on. I have an AI prime 16HD light, and would love to keep the return pump AI, but I'm open to suggestions.

My biocube had a huge algae outbreak a few months ago as well, so utilizing rock from that tank probably isn't the best idea. My local FS has dry and live rock for basically $1 a pound - sounded skeptical, so I'm going to ride out there this week and check it out. This will determine if I need to cycle or have an "insta-tank".

Anyways, I'll update as I can!

TLDR the Thread for Equipment:

Parts list:
Tank
Marineland 40g Breeder
Eshopps Eclipse M overflow
40lbs Caribsea Fiji Pink Arag Alive sand
50 lbs(?) of mixed dry/live rock
Hygger HG042 powerhead x2
2x AI Prime 16HD light, BRS specs
Custom lid from Clear View Lids

Sump
20Gal high with Jax Racks kit
Hygger 300w heater
Inkbird ITC-306
Jebao DCP-4000 return pump
F-Zone ATO with Resevoir

Inhabitants
Fish
Pair - clown fish
Royal Gramma
Diamond Watchman Goby

CUC
Halloween Banded crab
Numerous blue and red hermit crabs
2XL Mexican Turbo Snails
1SM Mexican Turbo Snail

Corals
Green Devils Hand
Pulsing Xenia
3x GSP
Utter Chaos Zoa
Magician Zoa
Fruit Loop Zoa
Rasta Zoa
Red Panda Asian Acan
Rainbow FL Ricordea Mushroom

Wishlist
Anacropora
Birdsnest

 

[Amstar]

sounds like a good start -- what are you going to use for a stand? If you could/can I would go with a 20 long for your sump and have Jax Racks send you a kit for a 20L

 

[UncommonSense]

The next purchase is an eShopps Eclipse overflow (oh no! drilling!)

Good choice on overflow!

— is it worth looking into a 20g long, or 29g long tank for your sump, just for the bonus water volume and working area?

Regarding drilling, here’s a great thread where I detailed my process:

Drill time!

I am drilling my 60g 24" rimless cube today! I have drilled only one hole, in a 20g aqueon, so I am nervous. I heard thicker glass should make it easier but I have some large holes to drill. With only 24" my space is really tight. My overflow has two - 2 3/8" - holes and I would like a dual...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[PPBlimpy]

I would look into a 20g long for sump over a 10G
Keep your rock, algae or not its established and better then dry!

Ad another AI16hd to help with lighting and I like cheap jebao return pumps off amazon. I prefer to run two small pumps as returns and RFG nozzles.

To help with biological diversity I would look into gulf live rock or TBS and get 5lbs rock and sand from either of these places. Will help jump start the tank.

When I had a 40G breeder(long time ago) I built my stand to hold a 10G above the tank and ran it as a refugium. If I were to do a tank that size again today I would do the same but with a bookshelf style tank hidden in a smaller canopy. One of my returns went to the 10G and that overflowed into the 40G and the other return went directly to the 40G.

 

[revhtree]

Upgrade!?!? Yes!!! Congrats!

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

sounds like a good start -- what are you going to use for a stand? If you could/can I would go with a 20 long for your sump and have Jax Racks send you a kit for a 20L

The 10 gal is ready and available, so im sticking with it for the time being.

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

Keep your rock, algae or not its established and better then dry!

I plan to use it in the sump, at the very least. It wont fit with my idea of the aquascape.

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

Water heater - I have two options -

250W single, in tank, or do two smaller ones in the sump - or 2 150W (one in chamber 1, one in chamber 2? Thoughts? I'm looking to invest in an inkbird and eheim heaters.

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

sounds like a good start -- what are you going to use for a stand? If you could/can I would go with a 20 long for your sump and have Jax Racks send you a kit for a 20L

I'm building my own stand. I'll get the skeleton in place for setup, and close it in as I see fit and make sure it has the style I'm looking for. We will be redoing the floors in a couple years, so this is another thing I have to take into consideration.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm building my own stand. I'll get the skeleton in place for setup, and close it in as I see fit and make sure it has the style I'm looking for. We will be redoing the floors in a couple years, so this is another thing I have to take into consideration.

Ooo I love a good DIY stand!

 

[UncommonSense]

I'm building my own stand. I'll get the skeleton in place for setup, and close it in as I see fit and make sure it has the style I'm looking for. We will be redoing the floors in a couple years, so this is another thing I have to take into consideration.

Here’s a fun idea I’ve been wanting to try out on my next stand build:

— skinning the stand in thin, large format stone tiles (such as 2’x3’x3/8” marble wall tiles), glued to plywood backing!

— I seem to recall the math coming down to a full 2’x3’ door weighing something like 25lbs… not unreasonable!

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

Made some progress this week:

Got the tanks cleaned and leak tested.
Drilled me a hole for the overflow.
Painted the tank. I did 1/2 (back and side) since it’s stuck in a corner of the house.
Overflow installed
Stand frame built.

Some pics.

Time to work on the sump baffles.

 

[Amstar]

very clean and nicely done -- off to a great start

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

very clean and nicely done -- off to a great start

Thank you! I really want to take my time and get it done the way I want. The rock structure is going to be the bane of my existence, but it’ll be perfect.

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

I don’t think I can get it any more level than this from opposite corners

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

Picked up dead rock today. Sorted what I wanted, came up with a few ideas. Now soaking in a bleach bath. The rock was out in the elements and had some cruddy stuff growing on it.

Pics of what I got with it.

 

[UncommonSense]

Now soaking in a bleach bath. The rock was out in the elements and had some cruddy stuff growing on it.

The 10% bleach bath is the way!

I actually just started bleaching a bin of gross old rock around 45mins ago!

Here’s how it looks already:

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

Trying to figure out how this critter is surviving a bleach bath

 

[LiveRockDaddy]

Did some rough plumbing today. Left line is the main, other is emergency. 1” schedule 40. I left the emergency drain higher than the water level to hear it splash.

Next will be the return line. I have 3/4” pipe. Now I’m debating if I should go 1/2”? Thoughts?

Pics, of course.

 

[UncommonSense]

Next will be the return line. I have 3/4” pipe.

Go 3/4”!

1/2” is just painfully restrictive… it leaves you less room for future updates, too!

As they say; “better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!”