Nytelighter's 40B FOWLR

[Nytelighter]

Just wanted to introduce the gang to my 40B FOWLR which has been up and running since June this year.  This is my second saltwater tank; first one running a sump.  I cut my teeth in the hobby with a 20L w/two Koralia 425 pumps, running an AC50 with filter floss and chemipure elite.  This tank was my labor of love and I learned a lot from it.  However a tragic run in with a 4 year old while I was at work crashed the tank.  He was visiting with his parents and decided that my fish looked extra hungry so he dumped two full bottles of flake food into the tank.  By the time I got home it was game over.  Anyways, lesson learned, keep crap locked up when you’re not home.  So I decided to rebuild bigger and better with the knowledge I acquired along the way and jumped when the next dollar per gallon sale came at Petco.

 

DT: Aqueon 40 Breeder w/Bean Animal Overflow System (1” PVC)

Circulation: (1) WP25, (1) Vortech MP10WES

Lightiing: Coralife 36” 4 Bulb T5 Fixture

Dry Rock: BRS Pukani / BRS Reef Saver

Substrate: Caribsea Fiji Pink Arag-Alive

Sump: DIY 20L Sump (BRS Felt Filter Sock/Chemipure Elite)

Skimmer: Bubble Magus Curve 5

Heater: Eheim Jager 150W

Return Pump: Eheim Compact Plus 2000 (3/4” Return w/Locline)

ATO: Tunze 3155 Osmolator (5 Gallon Bucket Reservoir)

Stand: DIY 2X4 Custom Stand

Tank Cover: DIY Screen Kit with ¼ Screen from BRS

RO/DI: BRS 4 Stage Value Plus w/150 GPD Upgrade Kit w/  ¼” Aquatec 8800 Booster Pump.

 

Future Plans:

Neptune Apex Controller

(2) Ecotech Radion XR30W G2

Sell MP10WES and get one more WP25 so I can run them on the APEX with custom program.

 

Here are a couple pics of her in the beginning stages of the build:

 

Building the stand.

 

She's level….pretty close at least.

 

Mock up.

 

Aquascape #1

 

Aquascape #2

 

DIY Light Hanger

[Nytelighter]

More build pics:

 

Drilling the tank.

 

Bean Animal Build

[Kallor]

Looking great so far! I love all the pics! Also, sorry about your previous loss, but you have a great attitude about it :-)

[Nytelighter]

Thanks Kallor.  Took me a month or two to bounce back from that first loss but I was determined.  Lots more pics to come!!!

Edited October 30, 2013 by Nytelighter

[TheyCallMeMr.703]

Following to see this one grow...

[Origami]

Really great photo-documentation. Looking forward to it taking shape.

 

Sent from my Rezound on Tachyon using Tapatalk

 

 

[Jason Rhoads]

Great job on this! I really like the overflow box you built. What silicone did you use?

[Nytelighter]

I used the 100% Silicone that comes in a small red tube taht you get at home depot right next to the glass cutting station.  I'll post a pic of it later when I get home.  For everything else I use the Aqueon Aquarium silicone that they sell at QR.

[howaboutme]

Very nicely done!

 

Are you going corals later? If not, you can probably save a ton of $$$ if you chose a different light.

[TheyCallMeMr.703]

... I know you put it as FOWLR, But maybe you want to throw a Kenya and or Paly in there??? Cannot kill them.lol

[Nytelighter]

I have been thinking about doing corals but wanted to wait till I move early next year (military). What kinda lights would you recommend howaboutme? D120's?

[howaboutme]

I have been thinking about doing corals but wanted to wait till I move early next year (military). What kinda lights would you recommend howaboutme? D120's?

 

Well, you'll get different opinions but if you've read past threads, you'll know the many members (including me) are big supporters of Evergrow lights. But if you know for sure you are not getting into anything that's photosynthetic, even the D120 is overlighting your tank. The 2 bulb T8 (I think) that probably came with your petco tank will be fine for a fowlr. If you're on the fence and won't rule out corals, then any Evergrow light will work since it won't set you back a ton and you will be able to grow any SPS, anemones and clams. However, if you're set on all the bells and whistles and want the big brand name, then I don't think anyone will give you a hard time if you decide to get Radions.

 

If you want programmability, the Evergrow IT series can do that. For a 40B, you can do 2 D120's or IT2040s or 1 IT2080 for complete coverage or 1 IT2060 with shadowing on the ends. There are more experts here other than me. Monkiboy (Marco) is close with Evergrow and he can hook you up with good pricing since any direct group buys with the manufacturer have ended. Good luck!

[Der ABT]

i have 1 d120 over a 40 breeder and took off the optics....jsut the corners are alittle shaded ...still have light but a little shaded so you could easily start with one and be more than happy then go to 2 if you really feel the need. i have sps growing all aorund the tank with this

Edited October 30, 2013 by Der ABT

[Nytelighter]

Well, you'll get different opinions but if you've read past threads, you'll know the many members (including me) are big supporters of Evergrow lights. But if you know for sure you are not getting into anything that's photosynthetic, even the D120 is overlighting your tank. The 2 bulb T8 (I think) that probably came with your petco tank will be fine for a fowlr. If you're on the fence and won't rule out corals, then any Evergrow light will work since it won't set you back a ton and you will be able to grow any SPS, anemones and clams. However, if you're set on all the bells and whistles and want the big brand name, then I don't think anyone will give you a hard time if you decide to get Radions.

 

If you want programmability, the Evergrow IT series can do that. For a 40B, you can do 2 D120's or IT2040s or 1 IT2080 for complete coverage or 1 IT2060 with shadowing on the ends. There are more experts here other than me. Monkiboy (Marco) is close with Evergrow and he can hook you up with good pricing since any direct group buys with the manufacturer have ended. Good luck!

I'll definitely check those Evergrow units out.  Right now I have a 4 Bulb T5 HO unit from Coralife with two white and two actinics.  Just haven't run the actinics at all since I've had it.  Yeah, I've been eyeballing Radions for a while now.  

[Nytelighter]

Some of my goodies when they came in.  Notice the Mag 5 (Got used one day and I immediately knew I had to spring for an Eheim or Sicce pump for the quiet setup I wanted).

 

Temporary 20H Sump with extra live rock, Tunze Osmolator, and Eheim Compact Plus 2000

 

DIY 20L Sump. Intake/Fuge/Return

 

Bubble Magus Curve 5

 

Jebao WP25

 

FTS

Edited October 31, 2013 by Nytelighter

[YHSublime]

Looking really good. Awesome DIY along the way.

[Nytelighter]

@howaboutme: Thanks for pointing me to those Evergrow units!!!!  They are looking like a pretty more wallet friendly option at the moment; just need to research more about the possibility of running them off of an Apex.  Not overly interesting in simulating storms and lightening but sunrise, sunset, clouds, and maybe lunar cycle for moonlights are on my list of wants.

 

@Sublime: Thanks Bro.  Some trial and error involved but it helps when I see so many good examples from folks on the forums.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Nytelighter

[Cliff Puckstable]

Looks pro. Good job

[howaboutme]

@howaboutme: Thanks for pointing me to those Evergrow units!!!!  They are looking like a pretty more wallet friendly option at the moment; just need to research more about the possibility of running them off of an Apex.  Not overly interesting in simulating storms and lightening but sunrise, sunset, clouds, and maybe lunar cycle for moonlights are on my list of wants.

 

@Sublime: Thanks Bro.  Some trial and error involved but it helps when I see so many good examples from folks on the forums.

 

There are a few people on the forums, including our own AlanM, trying to figure out how to control a D120 via an apex. But I don't believe any have a final product as of yet. If you get the IT series, you technically don't need to run them via apex as they have their own built in programming.

 

YHSublime has 2 IT2080s on his and can attest to the coolness of the ramp ups and downs and coverage as well as programming. Check out his build thread for picts. There are others in WAMAS as well that can attest.

 

I agree that the Evergrows are much more forgiving on your pocketbook, especially if you're still on the fence regarding any photosynthetic livestock...

[Nytelighter]

There are a few people on the forums, including our own AlanM, trying to figure out how to control a D120 via an apex. But I don't believe any have a final product as of yet. If you get the IT series, you technically don't need to run them via apex as they have their own built in programming.

 

YHSublime has 2 IT2080s on his and can attest to the coolness of the ramp ups and downs and coverage as well as programming. Check out his build thread for picts. There are others in WAMAS as well that can attest.

 

I agree that the Evergrows are much more forgiving on your pocketbook, especially if you're still on the fence regarding any photosynthetic livestock...

 

Can you shed some light on the cooling system noise wise?  Are the fans loud?  My system right now is pretty silent with the bean animal, BM Curve 5 skimmer is pretty quiet as well.  My only beef right now is that my MP10 is not as quiet as I thought it would be....go figure.

[surf&turf]

Looks very nice!!

[Nytelighter]

Thanks surf&turf.

 

So here is the livestock that livestock:

 

Randalls Goby

 

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

 

Ocellaris Clown Pair (1 BW and 1 Regular)

 

Hermit Crab

 

Firefish (Iggy)

 

Top Shot

Edited November 1, 2013 by Nytelighter

[Nytelighter]

I also have:

-Trio of Blue/Green Chromis

-(1)Randalls Pistol Shrimp (he is actually paired up with the Randalls Goby and tears up the sandbed like there is no tomorrow)

-(1) Fire Shrimp.

[howaboutme]

Can you shed some light on the cooling system noise wise? Are the fans loud? My system right now is pretty silent with the bean animal, BM Curve 5 skimmer is pretty quiet as well. My only beef right now is that my MP10 is not as quiet as I thought it would be....go figure.

I can't speak for the IT series but the d120 is very quiet. When I bought it as part of a group buy, a heatsink was optional but that's a no-brainer to me. They may be standard by now. So it has a heatsink and fans and stays cool after a full light cycle for me. I don't think you will hear the fans even with a quiet tank.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

 

[monkiboy]

I can't speak for the IT series but the d120 is very quiet. When I bought it as part of a group buy, a heatsink was optional but that's a no-brainer to me. They may be standard by now. So it has a heatsink and fans and stays cool after a full light cycle for me. I don't think you will hear the fans even with a quiet tank.

the d120s are no longer manufactured by evergrow and has been replaced with a fixture called the d2040 at the same price point! the heatsinks are standard now, indeed. you also get a choice of black or white, the "premium"/IT series hanging kit, and it comes in the IT series case (without the controller of course). they are very quiet like jack said - the same as the d120s as all components are the same with the addition of the heatsinks.