hello my name is Justin , and I’m getting ready too build a salt water set up for my 20 year old daughter. I’m new to salt water never had a marine aquarium before, but I do have 8 fresh water tanks running and stocked, and am very into the hobby my 12 year old calls me a fin attic. But here’s my question I really would like too use a 40 gallon breeder, and would like too build a Refugium but I’m not sure if this will be the best rout as I’m going too be learning all about anything marine and teaching my daughter and her boyfriend, so I’m hoping for a low maintenance set up when I am done, and would like it to be a reef tank with mixed corals, where after the tank purchase should I start , I will start buying and collecting equipment and materials this weekend after next pay day. Any advice would be great, I’m looking to make this as low maintenance as possible
Hello I could use some advice
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Reeferdood
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First of all...
Are you wanting to use the breeder for the main display of build a refugium with it? If you are planning on trying a breeder for the main display is would try to talk you out of it. Reason being, there are no internal overflows, and I am not really a fan of externals. I have had the syphon break on one and led to a flood issue.
So, tell more about what you are planning with the breeder and we can all try to get you started. You will learn a great deal here so you came to the right place.
Are you wanting to use the breeder for the main display of build a refugium with it? If you are planning on trying a breeder for the main display is would try to talk you out of it. Reason being, there are no internal overflows, and I am not really a fan of externals. I have had the syphon break on one and led to a flood issue.
So, tell more about what you are planning with the breeder and we can all try to get you started. You will learn a great deal here so you came to the right place.
ihavecrabs
2500 Club Member
I actually started out with the same size tank (40 breeder) and it was one of my favorite dimension of tank. My LFS cut a single overflow into the bottom and put a standpipe in (not the best solution. If I were to do it all over again, I would add a Eshopps eclipse overflow box or similar. @Reeferdood was referring to the external hob overflows which have tubes going over the top. I agree completely.. Losing siphon on one of those and your sump will empty all over your floor. Never had one, never wanted one.
As far as a refugium goes, it depends on why you want one.. If you want to safe haven for fauna, then great. To reduce nitrates and phosphates, it will likely have to be a very large one with some good macro algae growth. I'd personally skip it and add a skimmer.
Good luck with your build and #WelcomeToR2R
As far as a refugium goes, it depends on why you want one.. If you want to safe haven for fauna, then great. To reduce nitrates and phosphates, it will likely have to be a very large one with some good macro algae growth. I'd personally skip it and add a skimmer.
Good luck with your build and #WelcomeToR2R
Jason mack
Monti madness
Welcome To R2R .. this should help abit ..
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
redfishbluefish
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Welcome @Just1 to R2R.
I too always loved the 40B. In fact, for me, an ideal setup is a 40B DT (display tank) with a 40B sump....gives you plenty of volume, and a sump with loads of room.
The first thing that hit me in reading your OP was how "DIY" are you? That can cause for different direction as to whether you'll simply buy stuff (a stand, canopy, sump), or go build it yourself.
I'm in agreement with an internal overflow. I started the hobby with an external HOB, and after two floods, I was sold on drilling a tank and putting in an internal overflow. If DIY'ing (which I recommend, if for any reason that the overflow will be much smaller than those behemoth commercial ones), you have a number of choices. I'd actually start a post asking for suggestions....because I'm particle to Glass-Holes.....but some have complained about noise with them.
Your comment about "low maintenance" was cause for a little chuckle. Saltwater is pretty demanding. However, if you automate, you greatly simplify your time spent doing maintenance. Things like automatic top off (ATO), dosing alk, calc and mag, turning lights on and off, even doing water changes.
Again welcome, and ask away! We love specific questions.
Oh, and one more thing, don't know where you live, but look into joining a local club.....advice, used equipment for cheap, frags, etc.
I too always loved the 40B. In fact, for me, an ideal setup is a 40B DT (display tank) with a 40B sump....gives you plenty of volume, and a sump with loads of room.
The first thing that hit me in reading your OP was how "DIY" are you? That can cause for different direction as to whether you'll simply buy stuff (a stand, canopy, sump), or go build it yourself.
I'm in agreement with an internal overflow. I started the hobby with an external HOB, and after two floods, I was sold on drilling a tank and putting in an internal overflow. If DIY'ing (which I recommend, if for any reason that the overflow will be much smaller than those behemoth commercial ones), you have a number of choices. I'd actually start a post asking for suggestions....because I'm particle to Glass-Holes.....but some have complained about noise with them.
Your comment about "low maintenance" was cause for a little chuckle. Saltwater is pretty demanding. However, if you automate, you greatly simplify your time spent doing maintenance. Things like automatic top off (ATO), dosing alk, calc and mag, turning lights on and off, even doing water changes.
Again welcome, and ask away! We love specific questions.
Oh, and one more thing, don't know where you live, but look into joining a local club.....advice, used equipment for cheap, frags, etc.
Fudsey
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Welcome to R2R ! ! !
@Crabs Mcjones has a beautiful 40B reef and there is a thread on here for 40Bs as well. I'll see if I can find it.
Found it
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/let’s-see-your-40b-set-ups.408907/
@Crabs Mcjones has a beautiful 40B reef and there is a thread on here for 40Bs as well. I'll see if I can find it.
Found it
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/let’s-see-your-40b-set-ups.408907/
Last edited:
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Welcome to r2r!!
Fudsey
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I had a glassholes overflow on my 90 and it was completely quiet. You really have to dial in your return to quiet them down, but once done, it is silent. And I'd be careful drilling the bottom of any off the shelf tank. More than likely, the bottom is tempered and cannot be drilled.
tiggs
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I'm also a big fan of the 40B dimensions and agree that getting an internal overflow is best. External overflow boxes have come a long way in the past decade, but they still scare me. For your refugium, you can definitely get a second tank and DIY one (if you're so inclined) or they also have really nice pre-made sumps these days with large compartments to create a refugium. Welcome to the dark side (and the forum) and if you think you're an addict already, just wait until you see how salt makes you. lol
Crabs McJones
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Welcome to R2R and the 40b club 
and thanks for introducing yourself
and thanks for introducing yourself
Welcome to R2R! Looking forward to watching your build!
Welcome, you have come to the right place for help!
As with most projects, the first step is in clearly defining what success looks like. You mentioned "low maintenance" a couple of times in your post - what are your expectations with respect to this?
As with most projects, the first step is in clearly defining what success looks like. You mentioned "low maintenance" a couple of times in your post - what are your expectations with respect to this?
Welcome aboard!
I too have a 40b reef. You will find there are many different ways of achieving lower maintenance and many are correct.
Best advice i can say is read whatever you find reviews, suggestions, other’s builds. Find the setup that fits your life. And setup wire management when its dry lol.
And make a build thread when starting so we can glare at it
Like water change every two weeks, if it were going too be a tank for me I’d say bring it on I’m used to tank maintenance but since it’s for my daughter I want it to run as simply as possible so I’m looking to stream line anything I can
Yea thanks I will post the build. I love 40b just the room you have inside of them and the depth they’re a perfect beginner tank
Welcome aboard!
I too have a 40b reef. You will find there are many different ways of achieving lower maintenance and many are correct.
Best advice i can say is read whatever you find reviews, suggestions, other’s builds. Find the setup that fits your life. And setup wire management when its dry lol.
And make a build thread when starting so we can glare at it
Sorry I haven’t given any updates lately, I got slammed at work 70 hour work weeks , but good news is I will be able too afford what I think is best when I start the build, so I bought my first 40g and I’m going too pick up a 2nd next week, I would this week but somebody put a crack in my 50 g angel fish tank so I have to replace that, but I was wanting to start building the refugium I think I am going to use a twenty long does anyone have plans or have you built one , I have aquarium safe silicone and a ton of plexiglass, I’d like too build my own, and also could some one explain what I am looking for in led lighting for the tank and refugium please. Thanks everyone
redfishbluefish
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The plans for your sump are ideally determined by the size of the equipment you wish to put there. SO decide things like, do you want socks? or will you be running reactors?
Now your skimmer is the one where you need that first so you can determine baffle locations. Also make sure you have enough room to remove the skimmer for cleaning (taking into account the height of the stand, and clearances).
As far as using acrylic baffles in a glass tank, there is only one type of silicone that I'm aware of that has great adhesion to plastics and glass....and can be found at HD.....in the acrylic sheet isle. It looks like this:
Now your skimmer is the one where you need that first so you can determine baffle locations. Also make sure you have enough room to remove the skimmer for cleaning (taking into account the height of the stand, and clearances).
As far as using acrylic baffles in a glass tank, there is only one type of silicone that I'm aware of that has great adhesion to plastics and glass....and can be found at HD.....in the acrylic sheet isle. It looks like this:
Fin
Professional Procrastinator
40B is a great size and even more affordable if you grab one during a PetCo dollar a gallon sale. Most bottom panes on them are tempered, so they cannot be drilled. Sides are generally non-tempered, but always check before drilling. Check YouTube for videos to show you how to tell if glass is tempered using a laptop screen and polarized sunglasses.
I would use a Glass Holes, or an Eshopps Eclipse overflow, drilled through the back glass (if not tempered). Glass Holes will send you the glass bit and template to drill, which is not that difficult.
One thing I would recommend is having your daughter and her boyfriend get involved with the build too. They need to know how everything functions and being involved from the beginning would be a help.
Good luck with the project!
I would use a Glass Holes, or an Eshopps Eclipse overflow, drilled through the back glass (if not tempered). Glass Holes will send you the glass bit and template to drill, which is not that difficult.
One thing I would recommend is having your daughter and her boyfriend get involved with the build too. They need to know how everything functions and being involved from the beginning would be a help.
Good luck with the project!
