Geeks never finishing reef build 40 gal Breeder

geekengineer · Feb 17, 2019

OK so if you don't succeed first time try again.. So I probably won't be able to get started for a while or if I lose the bug before I get started. lol

I was thinking of doing a 40 Gallon breeder but I'm too chicken to drill it, but maybe I change my mind. I didn't verify for sure but the 40 gal tanks I think they have a petco aren't tempered as they don't have the warning labels on them. I did find a reef ready 45 frag tank that seemed like it would be a lot easier and look more polished. I assume you could put some fish in a frag tank if you wanted to? I didn't plan on doing a whole lot of fish even in the 40 breeder.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/45-Gallon-...381?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTabs_0

As for now I was just starting to look into maybe doing a stand first after I decide what tank I want to go with.

geekengineer · Feb 17, 2019

So i went to a few LFSs today to see if I can get reef ready tank cheaper or not. So they were trying to push me more to a 65 Gallon but between me and my wife I little Leary about us trying to get it carried into the house etc. One LFS was going to dig a little to see if they could find a smaller one. The other LFS said I could just get a standard Aqueon 40 Gal Breeder drilled by them for $25 each hole. Since I not too excited about drilling holes in a tank after seeing all the things that can happen etc.

geekengineer · Feb 17, 2019

Uggg. I just found this 60 gallon RR frag tank on sale (I assume) at a company within driving distance of where I live. I worry how long that sale is going to last tho..

https://shop.pidaz.com/60-Gallon-Frag-Reef-Ready-Framed-Aquarium-With-Plumbing-Kit-AM18060.htm

geekengineer · Feb 19, 2019

Ok so I think I'm pretty set with just going with the 40 gallon breeder and get it drilled at the LFS. My wife thought it be better if I went with a smaller tank since I wasn't sure how it play out long run. I was going to do a basic stand similar to what rocket engineer's setup at RC and @Lingwendil is doing something similar too. I have a bunch of old 2X4s from an old freshwater tank I decommissioned. I was able to get the top part done tonight otherwise didn't get very far.

Lingwendil · Feb 20, 2019

That frag tank is a killer deal!!!

geekengineer · Feb 20, 2019

Yeah isn't it.. I just really didn't want to go that big.

Lingwendil · Feb 20, 2019

I would if I had the space. It's an awesome shape and size. Add a 40B sump and you're done.

geekengineer · Feb 20, 2019

yeah... ;Inpain

geekengineer · Feb 20, 2019

Ok got the frame put together. Planning on just putting some 3/4 ply for the bottom and top. Then 1/2 ply to cover around it, but I have to put a door or removable panel on the side to be able to put the sump in.

Lingwendil · Feb 21, 2019

Looking good so far. I need to stop for some clamps on the way home one of these days soon when traffic isn't atrocious so I can start on mine.

geekengineer · Feb 23, 2019

Ok so here it is with the plywood top and bottom. Next part is to add the removable panels.

geekengineer · Feb 23, 2019

Ok the removable panel idea went south. Just going to screw in the sides and add a door on one side for getting the sump into the bottom.

geekengineer · Feb 25, 2019

Well the good news is I posted on a local forum and I was able to get a 40 gallon breeder from a guy who didn't need it. I got it for $40 dollars which was cool. Only down side is it was a tetra brand and it is made with tempered glass. I haven't had any problems with my HOB overflow the last time so I not worried about it too much. I will add a DT water sensor that will cut the pump off just in case the tank overflows.

Lingwendil · Feb 25, 2019

Looking good, and nice score on the tank, 40$ is a good deal either way

Where are you located? If you haven't set it up by the time the sale happens you might be able to trade with someone for one that isn't tempered. If you were local I would, I don't plan on drilling when I grab mine.

Is it tempered on each pane? If the sides/back aren't you can drill the back wall and go that way, probably a better way to go anyways. After managing a fishroom for two years that used HOB overflows on 20X 20H tanks all on a central sump I will never run an HOB overflow on any of my systems, we had pretty frequent issues with them breaking siphon, or slowing down to where we got overflows more often than I care to recount.

geekengineer · Feb 25, 2019

Yeah I'm in Colorado so it would be a bit of a drive. lol I haven't checked the back panel yet but it looked like the front and side were tempered. I at least didn't have any problems with my HOB overflow when I had it. I've talked to others about it long time ago on Reef Central who used them and they haven't said they had problems. I think as long as you have good enough flow they work pretty well. I have the eshopps one with the tube return instead of the pump type too and I made a special return pipe so that it is quieter than stock. I will add the water sensor cut off I will be covered for an emergency and hopefully with using reef-pi I can set it up to get an alert as well. I just need to make sure I do maintenance on it every so often. etc. I can see in a area where you got lots of tank setups that they could get out of control.

Here is what I setup with my last tank so it can't overflow.

geekengineer · Feb 25, 2019

OK so here is the almost finished product. I was thinking of routeing the ends but now I thinking it would look better maybe if I just put some molding of some sort around the ends. Then it be time to stain and finish it.

Lingwendil · Feb 26, 2019

some edge/corner molding will make that look verrrrry nice, good work!

geekengineer · Feb 26, 2019

Well hopefully I'm going in a good direction, but I like the square look vs. going with all the fancy pattern molding etc. Still thinking about what to do with the doors. I need to clean out the basement too, but that's no fun.

Lingwendil · Feb 27, 2019

I like that! Simple is better on this sort of project in my opinion, otherwise it takes away from the tank. I'm not even going to skin mine lol.

geekengineer · Feb 27, 2019

I was doing some research as well and people are saying the tetra tanks from petco are only tempered on the bottom. That said I found the only way to really tell for sure is you need a ~$400 tester which I rather not have to buy. So I guess I could try to drill it on the side and see if it explodes on me. ;Nailbiting