40 Breeder Rack Build Thread

[cmantis]

I am finally ready to start documenting my 40g breeder rack build. This consists of three 40g breeder tanks on industrial shelving. The two DT tanks have internal weir/external overflow's. They are each drilled for two one inch drains and two half inch returns. Another is used as the sump/refugium.

Equipment:

2x Eheim J?ger 200w heater
4x Koralia Evolution 750
Ocean Runner 3500 return pump
Tunze 9020 skimmer
2x custom d120 led's
Neptune Aquacontroller III
- 2x energy bar 8
- Temp probe
- pH probe
- ATO
Pacific Coast Imports CR-70 calcium reactor
- GX CO2 regulator
- Milwaukee MC122 pH Controller

Pics:

 

[cmantis]

Special thanks to Richie (rkaragozler) for working his magic on the overflows and for the sump. He was also nice enough to come by and help with the setup before I had to move but at least I knew how everything was supposed to be again.

 

[FocusReefing]

So the top 2 are going to be display tanks? What do you plan on keeping? Reef & fowlr?

 

[cmantis]

Top two are display tanks and they will be reef. I have some fish and corals already in those rubbermaid holding tanks you can see on the ground next to the tanks. My focus with these two will be on coral. I also have a few other tanks that need to get stocked.

 

[rkaragozler]

Looks good so far, let me know if you need anything else

 

[cmantis]

To help distribute the weight on the shelves I cut 3/4" plywood and put tack paper on it:

I drilled all the holes myself (first time):

Richie made and helped install the overflows:

Black vinyl was used on the back and overflows:

Loc-line fittings and valves for the returns:

Plumbing pics:

 

[strgazr27]

Looks good but what's going on with the sump? Is the system shutdown in the picture of all 3 tanks?

 

[DRENALYN9]

I am jealous

 

[cmantis]

Looks good but what's going on with the sump? Is the system shutdown in the picture of all 3 tanks?

Yes the system was shut down so that the sand could settle. The water level was a little high in that picture also. You can see two lines drawn in marker the bottom is the level when running and the top when powered off.

Sand - check
Salt - check
Rock in sump - check
Shrimp - check

...Now the waiting game...

 

[cmantis]

Picked up my rock today now to start aquascaping:

 

[dubs]

Yo guy what u doing that system looks like something dubs would get his hand dirty in keep up the good work buddy and great jobs on trying to build something a little different lmk if u need anything

 

[cmantis]

Critique my aquascaping:

1)

2)

(One issue I am facing is that I already have some live rock with corals in my holding tanks but this is dead and tanks are still cycling)

 

[SteveZ15]

Are you glueing these together?

 

[cmantis]

No just stacking them. Was thinking of using waterfall foam but wasn't sure if it was permanent. I want to be able to re-scape down the road if I decide to. For now I have setup scape #1. Still 'kicking rocks' on #2.

 

[cmantis]

Got the rocks in and setup. I kept #1 and reconfigured #2 a bit (made it into an elbow on one side) and will add more rock on the empty side. I will post some pics when the water is a bit clearer. I put my lights up over the tanks and it looks like I am going to need more lights. It would certainly work but the ends could use more.

 

[cmantis]

So I have decided to put two custom d120 led's over one tank and just picked up a 36" Aqualight Pro 150W HQI by Coralife from a member here for the other. Should make for a nice experiment.

 

[cmantis]

I need a clean up crew recommendation please.

 

[cmantis]

Update (fish and coral in):

 

[cmantis]

So the middle tank is starting to grow algae while the top tank is clear. I did add some rocks and corals from my holding tanks that had an algae problem. Is this something that I should worry about or is there anything that I can do? I can't upload pictures right now as I am out of the country but will when I return.

 

[SteveZ15]

Are each tank for specific coral or are they all mixed?