29 vs 40 Breeder for a simple salt setup?

[Slammed01]

Hi all!

Looking to invest in a aqueon 29 or 40 breeder from petco since they have the aqueon for 1/2 off. May store it in a closet and piece together a setup for assembly in a year. Coming from salt reef just no time or $$$ with toddler and infant. Planned cichlids but a simple salt and soft corals. I don't think would be too bad and much funner! (Had 55, 29g, 46 bow, 75, 90, 46 bow)

Only thing that concerns me is 40B has no center brace but opens up many livestock options.

. Had a 46 bow I scored used but just sold as I didn't want to have it sitting in the garage in the heat. Trying to wait a year so our son will be 2 and tank will be in living room (main room with him crawling, in cruiser crashing into things currently lol)



Looking at

40Breeder

Petsmart 50/65 Marco stand (heard same dimensions as 40B)

Sunsun canister to save room from spacing from wall 6" or so (model undetermined)

Heater (undetermined)

Pool sand

36" aqueon modular led light or current USA?

Hydor power heads? Necessary in FW?

Any good job skimmers?


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[haanstang]

40b....
Bigger is easier to keep water parameters stable.
The 40 b is short enough that it doesn't need a center brace.
Idk about putting a canister on it... you may be cleaning it out every other day.

 

[Mr. Bill]

+1... 40B.

It's wider front-to-back, which makes aquascaping much easier.

I would strongly recommend against pool sand. Just had this discussion last week and someone posted lab test results- silica-based sand does indeed leach silicates into saltwater. It's also sharp and coarse, which means it can injure burrowers and sifters. Dry reef sand is fairly cheap compared to live sand and would be your best option.

 

[Oceanwave45]

40 gallon!!! Whatever you do DO NOT use pool sand the worst kind of sand you can get! It's also horrible for those sand sifting fish and inverts! If you use pool sand you might as well not even have a tank!

 

[Mandrew]

Go 40g for sure I have a 29 now and I'm planning an upgrade to the 40B. Don't make my mistake lol

 

[timrocks311]

I had this exact dilemma. Several years ago I bought a 29g display with a 29g sump and most of the equipment for it. I never set it up because I didn't have time to build the stand and get it going. I'm doing it now and I decided to abandon the 29g display and change to a 40 using all the other equipment I already have. I like the depth of the 40 a lot more. So I'd definitely do a 40 if I were you.

 

[Slammed01]

Thank you all! Sorry, set out to do cichlids but hard to go back to FW after having salt so many years!! That's kind of where the pool sand came from as salt id grab some live with dry. How about canister vs hob? Had a emperor 400 on my other tanks minus 54 corner without issue.

 

[Austin R]

If you could a sump would be ideal even if you don't by one plenty of diy videos to do it using a 10-15 gallon tank

 

[Slammed01]

Sump would be awesome liked my 54 corner w sump but that was a RR tank. Idk if I'd wanna drill myself, those rr tanks are nice. [emoji51]

 

[tdileo]

I can't reccomend a canister filter, they end up needing to be cleaned multiple times a week. You don't need a filter for saltwater tanks, your live rock does it all. However a skimmer will keep it even cleaner but is not necessary if you do water changes often. There are HOB skimmers if you can't get a sump, or you can design a false wall for the back like the all in one tanks have!

 

[Slammed01]

Yea, I had no issues with my emperor 400 for 90, 75 and 46 bow but that was with well established Fiji live rock. Rather do that than drill to play it safe. Prob a few fish, no overstocking with frags like polyps and some live rock.

What's a good HOB skimmer? Had a old seaclone that was good for a few years not modified then kinda went downhill lol.

 

[Devaji]

here's what I would do....

go with the 40br DT and a 4obr sump you can get a 40/40 metal stand from petco/amazon or DIY one out of wood its not that hard and there are lots of plans out there.

sumps are the way to go. if you dont want to drill get a lifereef overflow box. all the equipment will be in the sump nice and clean.
sure you can do it with out a sump and ppl have done some nice tanks like that. but I feel having a sump is better.
for HOB skimmer look in to the aquamax something or other..haha or reef octopuss also would got with a aqua clear 70 or above with intank media basket.

good luck! and happy reefing!!

 

[Slammed01]

Thank you! Honestly I have no desire to do a sump unless it was drilled and RR. With kids and life just want to keep it simple haha, built 3 canopies before but most likely won't even do that for this one as they had a center brace.

Would love to find a good deal on a pine aga stand tho! Hate the Marco has only 1 door and the metal open isn't an option with a toddler and infant along with animals lol. Out of sight out of mind kinda.

 

[AdamNC]

Go with the 40. I have a 29 and it's a pain to scape with only 12". That extra 6" I wish I had.

 

[Slammed01]

So skimmer Recommendations and good filter Recs as well! I had emperor but was noisy so will definitely look into the AC filters.

I did buy a glass top to prevent random things like plastic balls or random kids toys in tank lol.

However I always ran a open tank with wood canopy. Anyone run a screen top or eggcrate?

What about a 36" LED light for some polyps and simple corals?

 

[haanstang]

So skimmer Recommendations and good filter Recs as well! I had emperor but was noisy so will definitely look into the AC filters.

I did buy a glass top to prevent random things like plastic balls or random kids toys in tank lol.

However I always ran a open tank with wood canopy. Anyone run a screen top or eggcrate?

What about a 36" LED light for some polyps and simple corals?

I have the glass top one of mine and open on another. When my upgrades are done I'm going with the screen. Less glass to clean all the time. But there will be added evaporation.
Did you mention what you are doing for fresh saltwater and top of water? Tap/Rodi?

 

[Devaji]

if your got time I would just wait and see what comes up for sale in the local cragslist/ fish forums ect. there are always good deals to be had.
just get an idea of your budget and tank you are looking for then let the fun start...

 

[Slammed01]

I have the glass top one of mine and open on another. When my upgrades are done I'm going with the screen. Less glass to clean all the time. But there will be added evaporation.
Did you mention what you are doing for fresh saltwater and top of water? Tap/Rodi?

RODI, had one previously but once 1st daughter was born sold it all![emoji51]

 

[Slammed01]

if your got time I would just wait and see what comes up for sale in the local cragslist/ fish forums ect. there are always good deals to be had.
just get an idea of your budget and tank you are looking for then let the fun start...

Def want new tank as this one will stay awhile, just sold for a 46 bow I got off Facebook from a divorce/moving sale but made money off it. Plan to wait it out and find a good deal in a stand now while son gets his outta his little cruiser and starts walking.

 

[Saltyanimals]

+1 on the 40b. But don't be afraid to drill it yourself and drop in some bulkheads. I was afraid at first too, but it was super easy with youtube. Hand drill and diamond bit over running water. Piece of cake nothing fancy. Do it. Everyone is doing it. Don't you want to be cool like everyone? lol j/k