Mike's 40 Breeder

[shookONES]

What's up guys? My name is Mike and I've been a long time lurker on a lot of the better reef forums on the internet. For years, I've admired reef tanks from around the globe, but have always been too attached to my FW monsters to take the plunge. That all changed when I bit the bullet and set up my first reef tank. I've done a ton of research, but experience will prove the best teacher, for sure.

I guess the best place to start a build thread is with a quick run down of equipment, so here goes nothing!

Tank: AGA 40g breeder tank 36x18x16"
Sump: AGA 20g long 30x12x12"
Return Pump: Eheim 2000+
Lighting: Tek 6 bulb T5
Skimmer: SWC120
Flow: Koralia 1050 (hoping Santa brings an MP10wes)
Substrate: 40lbs Carib Sea Fiji Pink
Structure: ~35lbs Carib Sea 'South Seas' reef rock (+LR)

I started the tank on October 1, 2012. I'll spare you guys the super early picture because, well, they're boring! Here are some FTS taken on November 27th. The tank has gone through its cycle and coraline is starting to spread. I'm dealing with some nuisance algae at the moment, but will be ordering a reactor and pump to start GFO this weekend. I suspect the base rock may be leaching some phosphates into the water

That GIANT Eheim Jager heater will be replaced and relocated to the sump as soon as my Dr Foster Smith box shows up! And while we're on the subject, here's a quick snap of the sump. It was a DIY that turned out much better than I had expected. The chaeto has only been in there for a few days, so it should really be taking off any day now.

 

[mnat]

Looks great and welcome to the club.

 

[Classklown90]

Wow that looks awesome especially for a first tank. It's nice to see another 40B in the club. Certainly keep it updated. I just upgraded to my 40B about 3 days before you started yours.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2

 

[downbeach]

Looks like a great start Mike, welcome to the club.

 

[kevin]

Welcome to the club! Tank looks very nice & clean!

 

[shookONES]

I appreciate the warm welcome. I'm looking forward to the next few months with this tank. I am having some issues with nuisance algae right now. Coraline is spreading nicely, but I'm also starting to see hair algae and red slime algae popping up on the rocks and glass. A friend said my base rock might be leaching phosphates into the water. He suggested I set up a reactor with GFO? Any thoughts?

 

[shookONES]

Since everyone likes pics, here are some coral close ups I shot the other day.

Sunset Montipora

Magician Paly

Fire/Ice Zoa

Frogspawn

 

[mnat]

Have you tested for nitrates and/or phosphates at all? What does your water change schedule look like? What fish/inverts do you have in there and how often do you feed and what are you feeding?

Hair algae and cyano feed on nitrates and phosphates so what you want to do is find out the sourece of those things and then eliminate it. It could be your rocks, it could be something else and it could be your tank getting cycled out completely.

Reactors with GFO will keep your phosphates down but again finding the source of the phosphates is the issue.

 

[downbeach]

I usually take a more holistic approach to these type of problems. There are many factors that can contribute to this problem. Although one may be the overriding factor, you should address each one of them to insure that you have solved this problem. The use of "red slime removers" will work, but if you don't resolve whatever caused it in the first place, it will simply keep reoccurring. Here is a good article that will help explain the cause and some of the remedies:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

 

[shookONES]

Have you tested for nitrates and/or phosphates at all? What does your water change schedule look like? What fish/inverts do you have in there and how often do you feed and what are you feeding?

Hair algae and cyano feed on nitrates and phosphates so what you want to do is find out the sourece of those things and then eliminate it. It could be your rocks, it could be something else and it could be your tank getting cycled out completely.

Reactors with GFO will keep your phosphates down but again finding the source of the phosphates is the issue.

I usually take a more holistic approach to these type of problems. There are many factors that can contribute to this problem. Although one may be the overriding factor, you should address each one of them to insure that you have solved this problem. The use of "red slime removers" will work, but if you don't resolve whatever caused it in the first place, it will simply keep reoccurring. Here is a good article that will help explain the cause and some of the remedies:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

I've been changing 5g every two weeks for the last month. I'll bump that up to once a week once SPS fills up the tank. Livestock is limited to my pair of clowns, a bicolor pseudo, cleaner shrimp, and a handful of snails/hermits. I feed sparingly once a day and its usually flakes or pellets. From what I understand, the hair algae is normal in a relatively new tank, but the red slime algae will be an issue. I added the macro algae to my refugium less than a week ago, so maybe that will help once it takes off? I'm ordering test kits this weekend so we'll see what I find out.

 

[shookONES]

I'm mildly obsessed with these clowns. Easily my favorite addition to the tank so far!

 

[Chillwill007]

Realy nice. I am looking into staying a 40 breeder tank to once Petco had there $ 1 per gallon sale. I just have been back and forth about building a sump or using the cpr aquafuge hang on back refugium. If I go that route I was gonna throw on the aqua c remora S and if I went sump I wanted that same SWC skimmer. How do u like it? How was set up? Have any pics or a how to on ur sump? Can u get better close up pics of it

 

[shookONES]

Realy nice. I am looking into staying a 40 breeder tank to once Petco had there $ 1 per gallon sale. I just have been back and forth about building a sump or using the cpr aquafuge hang on back refugium. If I go that route I was gonna throw on the aqua c remora S and if I went sump I wanted that same SWC skimmer. How do u like it? How was set up? Have any pics or a how to on ur sump? Can u get better close up pics of it

This is my first reef tank, but the overwhelmingly unanimous consensus when it comes to HOB is its garbage. Do yourself the favor and go with a sump, I'm running a 700gph Glass-Holes overflow with 3/4" return. Drilled the tank was a breeze, as was building the sump. I had a local glass place cut the baffles and siliconed everything in place. I actually used DVD cases to space and gap everything accordingly. Here's a shot of the sump after I had let the silicone cure. If you're close to me, I could help you out for sure!

 

[shookONES]

As far as the skimmer goes, the SWC120 is a beast. I got it for a steal on another forum. After a nice vinegar bath, it cleaned up like new. Its a little louder than I had expected, but nothing to write home about in the slightest. I try to skim on the dry side and it still pulls a ton of nasty skimmate out of my water. I'd highly recommend it. I was also looking into Vertex IN100 and Eshopps S120. You can't go wrong with any of them, IMO.

 

[shookONES]

EDIT****

This forum is so strange. After every post, it says a moderator must approve, and then it doesn't show up for a day! What gives?

 

[Chillwill007]

I love in Vineland and I have no idea where totowa is. I live more in the south of jersey like 30 minutes from wildwood or 40 minutes from Philly. Those clowns are beautiful I want one of them and one naked clown. I think the naked clowns look so odd that they are goofy looking and fun. I would definitely love some help from any one

 

[reefsandrotts]

making me want to setup the 40 again

 

[mnat]

You are clear now, our anti spam software auto moderates people with really low post counts especially when they have links or pics in it. You should have no problems now.

Your clowns are awesome by the way.

 

[shookONES]

I love in Vineland and I have no idea where totowa is. I live more in the south of jersey like 30 minutes from wildwood or 40 minutes from Philly. Those clowns are beautiful I want one of them and one naked clown. I think the naked clowns look so odd that they are goofy looking and fun. I would definitely love some help from any one

I'm about two hours north of you, so that idea is a wash! As far as clowns go, I've got a great source up near me, but he doesn't really ship. Its worth the trip though.

making me want to setup the 40 again

I was torn between setting up a 40b or a smaller cube tank. I'm glad I went the route I did.

You are clear now, our anti spam software auto moderates people with really low post counts especially when they have links or pics in it. You should have no problems now.

Your clowns are awesome by the way.

Awesome, thanks! I've been noticing them clearing little craters in the sand. A sign of breeding? Or just clown goofiness?

 

[shookONES]

I'm seeing great polyp extension on the three SPS corals I've got. I can't wait to add more! Anyone in north NJ have a nice SPS tank due for some fragging? I'd love to buy local.