40 gallon breeder setup help.

[RayAnthony]

Hi everyone. im new to the forum and lately i have really been obsessing over a salt water tank. I have a 20 and a 40 gallon breeder. I have a filter from the pet store that i have had for years that was specifically for my 40 gallon. i have a large 36 inch t5 light fixture that needs new bulbs. The plan is live sand, lots of live rock, then the saltwater (which i know how to mix and have a guage) then filter and heater (i have a heater). My questions are, should i do the 20 or 40? i know the 20 will be cheaper, easier, and obviously less fish and such. Then, what color t5 bulbs should i get? im not planning on getting any sps corals as of right now. what are good fish and corals should i start with? should i get/make a sump? what size stream pump should i use? usual maintenance i should be aware of? If i think of anymore questions i will be sure to post! General advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Rob.D]

I'll start off with the 20 or 40 question, a 20 gallon isn't necessarily easier than a 40 gallon. Smaller tanks are more susceptible to rapid fluctuations, I think the smallest volume of water for anyone new to saltwater is a 40 breeder.

It's up to your taste on the T5 bulbs, I know it took me almost a year of swapping to T5 bulbs to find the right color temp that appeased me the most.

There are a few really good threads in this section up top "stickied", take your time, read a lot and read.....read.....read and read some more ......We love to help and good luck!

 

[redfishbluefish]

I agree with @Rob.D about reading, reading and reading....and the stickies are a good place to start. If I had those two tanks, I'd set up the 40 as my DT and use the 20 as the sump. Pick up a Glass-Holes 700gph overflow and start from there. As far as bulbs....it is personal. I tend to like a lot of blue....and also like ATI bulbs.....but that's just me.

 

[Gabriel Garcia]

Follow the advise given and do your research. I feel like I'm a newbie in this hobby but I have been reading and doing research for about a year before my tank even got wet. There is a wealth of knowledge out there.

 

[hatrix11]

A 20 gallon sump will give you a good buffer zone as far as extra filtration and water volume. Might I suggest a refugium as well. As anew hobbyist myself I certainly appreciate it on my system. Patience and planning as well as courage to try new things will go a long way. Welcome and keep us updated! Maybe a build thread? [emoji16]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Go 20. Learn the basics there. Dont spend more than $20 on any animal. A sump is a pain if Your new. Small tanks arent hard. or harder.
My 20g was freakin AWSOME.
K.I.S.S. Method
Tank
Light
new Live Sand
new Live Rock
Lid
Aquaclear filter
ATO
Heater
1 420 Koralia
1 240 Koralia
1 red sea test Kit (never did any good when I had a problem any way)
Refractometer.
All less than 200 from local boards and craigslist.
I got a 350 led for $50 last month. perfect for your tank. jus sayin

There are 2 kinds of tanks. Ones that have crashed and ones that will crash.
Would you buy your kid a Porsche for his first car.
Buy em A VW bug, if they love it theyll rebuild it.

I have the first rock I ever bought. And my green leg hermit lived to be 6... 4 tanks later. Herb

Just sayin.

Although a 30long is actually a better tank, better aspect ratio. Like 16:9 HD

 

[saltykid96]

I would agree with using the 40, and using the 20 as your sump. If you use the 20 it won't be long before you want more space and wished you had used the 40. Also I would agree with the ATI bulbs. They look great. Good luck with the tank. When I first started I had a 75 and only 6 months later I already had a 40 set up next to it for more room

 

[smh254]

I started my 40b with 20g sump 18 months ago. I used black box led.

about 8 months in I switched to ATI T5 I use ATI bulbs 2-blue+ and 2 coral+here is the tank now

 

[Rob.D]

I started my 40b with 20g sump 18 months ago. I used black box led.

about 8 months in I switched to ATI T5 I use ATI bulbs 2-blue+ and 2 coral+here is the tank now

Sweet tank!!!!!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Sweet tank!!!!!

I agree! Very nice.....with the exception of what I believe are two.....yes two.....blue velvet damsels. Ouch! (FYI, I had one, that ending up killing three of my fish. No more damsels for me!)

 

[RayAnthony]

Wow! Thanks everyone this has really helped me a lot! I need to start gathering supplies

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I started my 40b with 20g sump 18 months ago. I used black box led.

about 8 months in I switched to ATI T5 I use ATI bulbs 2-blue+ and 2 coral+here is the tank now

you know what your doin

 

[smh254]

I agree! Very nice.....with the exception of what I believe are two.....yes two.....blue velvet damsels. Ouch! (FYI, I had one, that ending up killing three of my fish. No more damsels for me!)

Yes the damsels have been removed.

 

[kv69]

One thing I have not noticed yet. You must absolutely start with RO-DI water.. Make sure you get or diy a 50gpd setup..

 

[cheek_biz]

Hi everyone. im new to the forum and lately i have really been obsessing over a salt water tank. I have a 20 and a 40 gallon breeder. I have a filter from the pet store that i have had for years that was specifically for my 40 gallon. i have a large 36 inch t5 light fixture that needs new bulbs. The plan is live sand, lots of live rock, then the saltwater (which i know how to mix and have a guage) then filter and heater (i have a heater). My questions are, should i do the 20 or 40? i know the 20 will be cheaper, easier, and obviously less fish and such. Then, what color t5 bulbs should i get? im not planning on getting any sps corals as of right now. what are good fish and corals should i start with? should i get/make a sump? what size stream pump should i use? usual maintenance i should be aware of? If i think of anymore questions i will be sure to post! General advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

Welcome to the hobby.. That's what I went with .. It's a 40 breeder with a 29gal sump/ref.. I put a pic so u can see it.. And that t5 will be fine for now until u wanna get into some more sps.. I had them and jus switched to 120watt LED's.. Good luck with ur build!! Put pics up..

 

[RayAnthony]

Welcome to the hobby.. That's what I went with .. It's a 40 breeder with a 29gal sump/ref.. I put a pic so u can see it.. And that t5 will be fine for now until u wanna get into some more sps.. I had them and jus switched to 120watt LED's.. Good luck with ur build!! Put pics up..

[/QUOTE]
Thank you the picture helped but I still don't know the first thing about sumps and I am not buying one but I could build one. Can anybody attach a link to a thread or a video?

 

[cheek_biz]

Welcome to the hobby.. That's what I went with .. It's a 40 breeder with a 29gal sump/ref.. I put a pic so u can see it.. And that t5 will be fine for now until u wanna get into some more sps.. I had them and jus switched to 120watt LED's.. Good luck with ur build!! Put pics up..

Thank you the picture helped but I still don't know the first thing about sumps and I am not buying one but I could build one. Can anybody attach a link to a thread or a video?[/QUOTE]

You welcome.. And neither did I until I googled the heck out of it.. Lol So I built mine the way I wanted it.. Keep ur eye out on petco's dollar a gallon sale on their tanks.. That's when I started my sump.. Lol

 

[snooked321]

I started my 40b with 20g sump 18 months ago. I used black box led.

about 8 months in I switched to ATI T5 I use ATI bulbs 2-blue+ and 2 coral+here is the tank now

So your using a 36" 4x39w ATI? That's what I am planning to use with my 40B. Looks like your getting good results!!
Looks great!!!

 

[smh254]

Yes you are correct and I love this light.