Breaking into the salty side: 40 breeder reef tank

[Fishbike13]

Initially i felt that i didnt have the experience or time/money to properly care for a reef tank, so i put it on the back burner until about a year ago when i started my first freshwater tank. Since then i contracted multiple tank syndrome and ended up with a 40 breeder planted tank, and a 55g mbuna cichlid tank. Both tanks are about 8 months old and maintenance has been much easier than i expected with the planted tank really only needing a 30% water change every other week and ferts once a week, and the cichlid tank gets a 25% water change weekly combined with some buffers and cichlid salts to keep the lil ones happy.

As far as the reef tank goes i have only just begun collecting equipment starting with a 40 breeder tank and a 20 long for the sump. I also built my own stand.

The front is held on with magnetic catches so that i dont have to work around a door, i can simply remove the entire front panel and have full access to the sump.

Currently on the way is an amazon TDS meter, as well as a BRS 4 stage value plus RO/DI system.
I dont know much about what is in my water other than its PH is 7.6, and there is very little buffering capacity (hence the cichlid buffers) decided to go the safe route with RODI.

I suppose my first questions would be for recommendations on figuring out the baffle sizes i would need to cut for the sump, or any kits for a 20L that members have had success with.

Also would i benefit more from a refugium? Or would dropping the coin on a skimmer be easier to care for?

Unsure what i am going to use for an overflow, likely something from Glass-holes herbie style, draining into filter socks before flowing through a small block of marine pure.

My plan is to build this tank over the course of a few months, planning it out before i even start cycling, to reduce the amount of redundant equipment i have after rounds of "upgrades" I do eventually want to utilize a controller of some sort so that i dont have to be married to the tank.

What i do know:
Livestock:
at least one oscellaris clown (maybe a pair) with an anenome to host if possible, more research required.
1 firefish goby
cleaner shrimp

Kind of cookie cutter, but i really like how they look. Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, fire away!

 

[LBReefer]

I'd try to do the skimmer and refugium if you can fit it. They serve different purposes and I've found both to be valuable.

 

[Fishbike13]

I'd try to do the skimmer and refugium if you can fit it. They serve different purposes and I've found both to be valuable.

I have a feeling space will be limited if i put a skimmer in for a useful refugium. I have also breifly looked into the Carbon/gfo reactor from BRS. If that does the same thing as a refugium then it may be easier to do because i can mount it on the side rather than in the sump and only need space for a pump to feed the reactor. I will look into the footprint and water level requirements of skimmers to see how much i can cram into this sump while keeping it all effective.

Is there any calculators, or articles i can go to for calculating the baffle sizes etc for making the sump? I can handle installing baffles, i've re-sealed a few tanks successfully, i just need to know how tall they need to be as well as spacing for good flow, dwell time and water levels.

 

[LBReefer]

You're probably right on the room issue. I've struggled with that each time.

The refugium does give you the advantage of providing a host for copepods which are nice to have if you are looking at a Mandarin or other picky eater down the road.

The height of the baffles will depend on the specs for your skimmer and return pump. If I were you, I'd check for the specs on a similar sized factory sump.

 

[Fishbike13]

So ive begun the planning for the 20L sump, wondering how many filter socks i should be using? this tank will be relatively lightly stocked as far as fish and shrimp are concerned, so can i get away with one sock, say a 4"x 9" sock? If this will be sufficient coarse filtration then i can fit the sock and skimmer in one compartment, leaving me quite a bit of room for a refugium. The skimmer i am looking at is the Reef Octopus classic 110SSS 5"

I am also assuming that the skimmer must be before the fuge so that any pods arent removed by the skimmer before making it to the tank.

On my freshwater tanks i prefer to feed lightly to reduce the amount of nutrients in the tank, which is why i chose a smaller skimmer. Faults with this view?

These are what ive come up with, I'm thinking option 2 just for ease of access to the socks and skimmer

 

[Fishbike13]

Option 2 will also allow me to run any power cables out the back ti help keep them managed reducing the risk of bumping something, as well as making it better suited to implementing an apex controller or similar down the road.

I go back to work for a few days, so any comments/criticism are welcomed. I enjoy any DIY solutions over retail options because it helps me learn how something works as well as the important qualities over bling factor. Thanks everyone for input thus far, I will probably be using this thread to talk about stuff that i liked because my friends and co-workers quickly get tired of hearing me talk about fish related things

 

[NY_Caveman]

I am not an experienced sump user, but I would agree, skimmer before refugium. Yes because of pods, but also because a skimmer will remove organics only and will provide gas exchange.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Nice, following!

 

[Johnson556]

I would go skimmer, fuge, return. Pick out a skimmer and return, then make the chambers according to size making the fuge as big as possible.

For filter socks, just order a holder off amazon for about $8 and have the pipe running towards the bottom of the sock with a union for easy removal.

Also need to think about an auto top off and dosing. Two things I couldn't even comprehend doing manually.

 

[Fishbike13]

I would go skimmer, fuge, return. Pick out a skimmer and return, then make the chambers according to size making the fuge as big as possible.

For filter socks, just order a holder off amazon for about $8 and have the pipe running towards the bottom of the sock with a union for easy removal.

Also need to think about an auto top off and dosing. Two things I couldn't even comprehend doing manually.

Yeah im still weighing whether i want to shell out the coin for one of the apex systems, most likely the EL. ALso researching the triton method, even though thats a long way off. It will take me a few weeks to get the stand finished:

Today i stained it

Tomorrow will be the first coat of urethane, and friday the second. For the inside i will be painting it will killz and then more urethane.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I believe Triton method requires a certain set up in your sump... Be sure to look into it before you finalize and build the compartments... the order of each step changes with Triton. (I think)

 

[DeniseAndy]

I run a 40g lps system with a 20l sump. I drilled the 40g for overflow and use a Custom Aquarium H2Overflow sytem. Works well, but you do need to do regular maintenance to keep the algae build up from blocking flow on the skimmer part.

I did not put baffles in the sump. Too lazy. I have a HOB skimmer (because that is what I happen to have laying around) on the sump, an algae reactor, and return pump. This is also hooked to a 20l with kids traveling items in it. Both filter down into a sock.

So far it is fine having the sump not separated. However, if you can I would. Certainly a better option. Just throwing the HOB skimmer out there if there is space for it opposed to the internal. I ran one for a while, but it was old and broke (pump).

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Here is one of the Triton Sump threads that will help you.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/triton-sump-design.375809/#post-4594498

 

[Johnson556]

Highly recommend the apex, I honestly couldn't imagine having a reef without one. Makes everything so much easier. Where in mass are you located?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Highly recommend the apex, I honestly couldn't imagine having a reef without one. Makes everything so much easier. Where in mass are you located?

I'm in western mass, do you use bostonreefclub.com or whatever? how is it?

 

[Fishbike13]

I believe Triton method requires a certain set up in your sump... Be sure to look into it before you finalize and build the compartments... the order of each step changes with Triton. (I think)

Yes I believe they prefer no filter socks to allow detritus to break down and feed the fuge, and they have the fuge being fed by the overflow, then water flows to the skimmer. I need to do more research on what types of corals i want to keep, so i have an idea what kind of dosing regimen i need to look at.

Triton is attractive to me because of the reduced water changes, and it seems like the process could be somewhat automated with an apex system. I work night shift and have limited time to sleep while at home, so being able to adjust dosing and other controls over my phone seems to make a lot of sense.

Is this overkill for such a small tank, or are most reef tanks the same, the only thing that changes is the volume of water and area of aquascape? My only experience thus far is with freshwater, where water changes are the main export of nutrients, and much more forgiving of the parameter swings that accompany them. I tend to overthink stuff, so please let me know if i am haha.

 

[Fishbike13]

Highly recommend the apex, I honestly couldn't imagine having a reef without one. Makes everything so much easier. Where in mass are you located?

I'm on the south shore, and the apex is very attractive, im just trying to get over the sticker shock.

 

[Johnson556]

Yes I started out on BostonReefers but soon ventured here and do not visit that forum as much anymore. I have dealt/met with a lot of great people through the forum, but have dealt with an equal amount of sh!theads that are some big time keyboard warriors.

 

[Fishbike13]

Alright making a snails pace of progress, but as stated above, i intend to be finishing up this tank to begin stocking some time this winter. That being said, the stand is finished. 3 coats of poly on the outside, and a coat of kilz and spar urethane on the inside.

I am now looking at the sump. I found the 20 long kit by exotic marine, and am about to pull the trigger on it because i like the adjustable skimmer baffle, and i think i can work in a fuge if i remove the filter socks. Does anybody have experience with this kit?

I also like their overflow boxes because i can get a 24 or 35" slim box with 1" drains for the bean animal i want to run, so i believe i can throttle the siphon back so that it is not overkill (they are rated up to 1500GPH)
The bean animal is appealing to me because i like the triple redundancy, seeing as when things go wrong at my house, they are catastrophic.

Input on this thought process? I would like to order the sump kit this week, so that I can start silicone next week and begin to plan out plumbing, maybe end up drilling the tank mid september.

 

[Deiblerj]

Like the stand! What did you wrap the frame with? I was going to go tongue and groove on mine but it’s getting costly adding up my materials list.