Ryan's New 40g Breeder Tank

[Der ABT]

when you think of overflows you need to think of the return as well, if your return comes over the edge of the tank it makes the screen top a pain in the butt

 

I actually ahve a frame with clear mesh you could try out to see if you like it before buying some. i dont need it since there are no fish in my frag tank at the moment but would want it back since i plan to have fish in there again at some point.

 

I love the external overflow boxes because they dont intrude on the interior of the tank and if you cut a small slit it gets some great surface skimming. The frag tank i have has an internal box that isnt too bad, i could just see it being hard to get and overflow hole drilled in as well.

 

I think you will be fine with 2 mp10s, if you hadnt already ordered them id let you borrow one of my mp40's to see how it would work...i think the 2 mp10s will be better cause you can customize the flow a little more.

 

sounds like your making some good progress and doing some good research...wish i could be more help with the skimmer. Im running and ASM g3 now and love it, i know they made some smaller ones.

 

 

For the light rail there are a couple of people that have done one for pretty cheap that looks nice....i think bn251 and i cant remember who else. basically taking a piece of metal and bending it...wouldnt think it would be tooo hard to add a little heat. especially if you have a local mechanic (or let me know and i can ask mine to help you out)

[Reefs]

I am leaning towards the marco combo, since the live will seed the dry rock, but I really love the pukani. Do any of you have the marco dry rock? Or punani rock? Thoughts?

I am using mostly Pukani rock in my 40 gallon, they are light weight comparing to other rocks, so you end up paying less and reducing some stress on the stand.

[Ryan S]

I didn't want to spend toooo much on this tank. I was thinking because it was smaller, it wouldn't have as much start up costs... But now I'm starting to wonder if I should NOT setup the 40g breeder and just buy a complete system when someone leaves the hobby, that already includes everything... So far I've only purchased the tank, light, and vortechs, but need to buy everything else below...

 

40g Tank and 20g Sump - $60

2 Vortech MP10w ES - $400

Current USA Nova Extreme Pro 6 x 39watt T5HO Light - $200

Glass-Holes.com Overflow and Return Kits - $125

Stand and Canopy - $200

Ehrim 1260 Return Pump - $100

Refractometer - $25

40 lbs Marcorocks Sand - $30

40 lbs BRS Pukani Rock - $125

Skimmer - $100

Heater - $20

aquacontroller - $100

2 BRS dosers - $150

calc/mag/alk - $50

RO/DO unit - $140

rough total - $1825

 

People sell complete setups for a lot less than $1825 right? Not sure what to do... :(

[BowieReefer84]

I didn't want to spend toooo much on this tank. I was thinking because it was smaller, it wouldn't have as much start up costs... But now I'm starting to wonder if I should NOT setup the 40g breeder and just buy a complete system when someone leaves the hobby, that already includes everything... So far I've only purchased the tank, light, and vortechs, but need to buy everything else below...

 

40g Tank and 20g Sump - $60

2 Vortech MP10w ES - $400

Current USA Nova Extreme Pro 6 x 39watt T5HO Light - $200

Glass-Holes.com Overflow and Return Kits - $125

Stand and Canopy - $200

Ehrim 1260 Return Pump - $100

Refractometer - $25

40 lbs Marcorocks Sand - $30

40 lbs BRS Pukani Rock - $125

Skimmer - $100

Heater - $20

aquacontroller - $100

2 BRS dosers - $150

calc/mag/alk - $50

RO/DO unit - $140

rough total - $1825

 

People sell complete setups for a lot less than $1825 right? Not sure what to do... :(

 

Honestly, You are going to spend more than $1,825 on what you have listed. You have underestimated the cost of the Skimmer, heater, brs pumps, and controller of some sort. If I were you I would skip the controller and dosing equipment in the beginning, and invest in an auto top off system. Wait until your system NEEDS dosing, which will be months away. Than, you will want to put livestock in the tank... The sky is the limit on that one.

 

As far as buying a complete setup it has pros and cons. Used equipment will not have the full lifespan of buying new. Hard to tell you what to do here.

 

This is just my opinion of course. Do what you want.

[Ryan S]

Honestly, You are going to spend more than $1,825 on what you have listed. You have underestimated the cost of the Skimmer, heater, brs pumps, and controller of some sort. If I were you I would skip the controller and dosing equipment in the beginning, and invest in an auto top off system. Wait until your system NEEDS dosing, which will be months away. Than, you will want to put livestock in the tank... The sky is the limit on that one.

 

As far as buying a complete setup it has pros and cons. Used equipment will not have the full lifespan of buying new. Hard to tell you what to do here.

 

This is just my opinion of course. Do what you want.

 

Oh, I was totally low-balling some of the figures, no doubt. I don't want to skimp and go cheap, I want to get the best equipment, so I can use it on future systems and all, but at the same time, the $40 40g breeder at petco that I snatched up -- will end up being the cheapest thing I'd need to buy to get the tank up and running! $2000 is a lot up front... And I left out several things too, like any livestock, salt, food, new RO filters, new T5 bulbs, the ATO unit, plumbing, BRS dual reactor for carbon & GFO, fuge light, etc etc. :(

[Chad]

^as is often the case! One of the reasons that I recommend splurging a bit on the tank itself... it is one of the least expensive parts of the system, yet the one you see most often.

 

Buying the complete setup of someone getting out of the hobby can lead you to find some good deals. After watching these types of posts for many years, rarely does a "out of the hobby" post contain high end equipment (there are some, but few and far between) - mostly these are folks who spent a year or two in the hobby, came in with low-mid line equipment to "check things out" and then they move on.

You can find nice equipment for sale, but you need patience to do it. This is a very "gadget" oriented hobby, and there are definitely those who need/want the newest gadget out there, keeping an eye out for these can yield better than retail deals... but these folks usually are financing their next purchanse, know the worth of what they have, and attempt to get the most they can for it.

 

My advice would be to start with the basics (perhaps the basics could be attained via a full "out of the hobby" purchase - skimmer, PHs, heater, lighting), and upgrade systems (dosing, controller, etc.) as you go.

[trockafella]

I agree with Chad. Get what you "need" first, then add on what you "want".. You can go without vortechs to start (buy used tunzes or koralias, then resell later), you can go with a dosers to start (especially the first 1-2 months), you dont need the gfo/carbon reactor to start (just hang mesh bags in your sump), a controller is a must have to get going either, along with a few other things. You should consider the first month the tank is running to be your cycle period, then the second month is when you start stocking, so your tanks needs and demands are fairly low to start.. I think that 2 months give you some time to do some upgrades as well as watch for some good deals.. Right now there is a nice ac3 with accessories for $225 (great deal), a RO/DI going for $50 (saw an AWI on the boards too), I have a skimmer forsale for $40 (good deal).. You can build a nice system for a decsent price, but it may take time to find those deals.. I would just focus on what you need to start it up and get it running. Then you can collect as you go..

[AcePuck35]

Ryan, you are bumming me out man! HAHA. I was trying to do the same system, setting it up right but on a tight budget and according to your list you got me spending around $2,000. HAHA. Some people are saying you have some of your costs to low, I am also saying I think you got some of them too high, or at least I hope so. I think you can do the over flow for less then $125. I am looking at drilling the tank and hooking up some PVC pipes, I was at Home Depot yesterday and the PVC fitting and things were not that expensive. Also, $200 for the stand

[Ryan S]

Ryan, you are bumming me out man! HAHA. I was trying to do the same system, setting it up right but on a tight budget and according to your list you got me spending around $2,000. HAHA. Some people are saying you have some of your costs to low, I am also saying I think you got some of them too high, or at least I hope so. I think you can do the over flow for less then $125. I am looking at drilling the tank and hooking up some PVC pipes, I was at Home Depot yesterday and the PVC fitting and things were not that expensive. Also, $200 for the stand

[AcePuck35]

Ryan, I sit behind a desk all day too, it does suck. I also did not take shop class I kind of have a backwards approach to things where I buy things like tools that I have never used before and figure it out. That is how I started snowboarding. Anyway. If you stick with the 40 breeder I will help you with the stand and canopy if you want. Like I said I bought the 2x4s for the stand frame. I will take pictures if the stand as I go and if you like it we can work something out. I am going to keep looking for cheaper ways of doing things if I find anything I will let you know.

[zygote2k]

you need a tank, stand, light, return pump, sump, salt, hydrometer, sand, rock, fish, corals, skimmer, plumbing, electric to get going. Everything else is just a luxury item.

[AcePuck35]

Ryan how is it going? Just checking to see if you are making progress I just picked up a mag 9.5 ( thanks banky) return pump for $50. I am normally the type of person who has to buy new and buy the best. Luckily I have not gone down my usual path for my aquarium and am picking up slightly used things at great prices. So far when I have posted that I am looking for things there have people that have responded and responded quickly! By doing this I have saved a bunch so far. Anyway, i hope you are not still bummed out. That is my 2 cents for the day!

[Ryan S]

I still haven't decided if I will stick with this 40g breeder. It's just sitting on the floor for now. In the mean time I did buy a couple of toys to go with it, or another 36" tank.

 

First, I got a great deal on a 36" Current USA Nova Extreme Pro T5HO 6x39w fixture w/ 6 blue LED lights retrofitted:

 

 

Second, I got a great deal on 2, 3 month old, Vortech MP10w ES's:

 

As of right now, I'm holding off on buying anything else, and keeping an eye out here, on reefcentral, and craigslist, for someone selling a whole tank package. If the right package goes up for sale (something in the 40-100g range), I may pounce on that and not pursue this 40g breeder. So I guess we'll see...

[trockafella]

The deep blue 57g rimless is a very nice 36" tank. Price is bad either.

[Chad]

^I second that (although I would say the price isn't bad )

[Ryan S]

I'm having a hard time debating rimless tanks. On the one hand, I've seen some GORGEOUS rimless tanks. They are like an art piece. I love how clean they can be. On the other hand, I'm afraid of fish jumping out of the open top! I'm also used to normal tanks with canopies, that keep the light contained, the fish inside, and allow for vortechs at each end. A rimless would like bad with vortechs on the sides and not all 3 viewing sides clean/clear for viewing.

 

With that said, there is a 100g rimless, and a 45g rimless, in the wts forums, and I'd be lying if I wasn't thinking about them as my display tank. Either way, it would be a lot easier, and cheaper, that buying a custom 40g breeder stand, drilling it, installing overflows and locline returns, building a sump out of the 20g L, etc etc. You know?

[Ryan S]

I've decided not to pursue this 40g breeder tank. It will cost too much to turn a $40 tank into a nice reef tank. I'm going to wait for someone to sell a complete setup, and get back in the hobby at that time.

 

I'll keep an eye here, RC, craigslist, etc. I'm leaning towards a 70g, 93g, or 150g DD marineland cube tank. But the rimless tanks are nice too.

 

-Ryan