help me build this tank... 40B with 20L sump

[Lusus_Naturae]

I have been asked by a friend to build her tank for her. She wants a reef style tank with anemones, clown fish, and eventually corals and such.

So far she has bought a 40 breeder for the tank, and a 20 long for the sump, and some lighting (no idea, I didn't look)..

1. She wants the white pretty beach type sand, I'm not sure how that will work as I've always been told to go aggregate for buffering purposes. There will be live rock - so what is preferred or what should I avoid?

2. Planning to cycle with some dry rock, and some cycled live rock? Any advantage to buy more live rock to cycle faster, like 'scape the whole tank right away? Or is it better to add some more after a few weeks in? This is more of a budget question regarding buying it all at once...

3. I been reading some lively discussions on skimmers. I do have the room for one in the sump technically, but do I really need to have one? Secondary to that - if I do - can I delay purchasing one and for how long? I think she would enjoy feathers, macro algae, and such but I'm not sure how long it will take for her to stock it. Mostly it will be a couple clownfish to start. I don't want to set up her system only to have it fail...

4. To drill, or? This tank doesn't have anything drilled and I was considering using a HOB overflow. I really don't want to, but I'm not sure about drilling the tank either. She may not even want to. Thoughts? Size? I was thinking a slightly oversized Eshopps would be ok - aiming for 350-500 gph I think. Opinions?

Add anything else you want to. I don't have the final choice here though.

 

[dallen2233]

1. I have white sand and I find it hard to keep clean.
2. Use some live rock at the beginning and watch for the tank to cycle. It shouldn't take long.
3. I would recommend getting a skimmer, it reduces the amount of filtration load on your bio-filtration.
4. I'd drill it, but I'd be paranoid about the HOB stopping in the middle of the night and having all of your sump water on floor the next morning.

Make sure your sump return line has either a check valve or anti-siphon hole(s) in it. Get a heater controller especially if you're using cheap Chinese heaters because they do fail and will fail eventually( not necessarily in the off position).

 

[Cu455]

1) Sand is a personal preference. I like dark sand but have light sand in my tank and it is pretty clean. I have a lot of sand shifting snails that can be why. Look into Figi pink sand a lot of people like that. I wouldn't worry about the sand acting as a buffer. If needed you can throw a bag of crushed coral in the sump.

2) If you are on a budget start with all dry rock and a few pieces of live rock. It will take longer for your reef to look established but you will save a lot of money. Billy Reef Connection has dry rock on sale pretty cheap and free shipping. Sometimes you can find cheap live rock on your local forum. If you can find that it might be the way to go. Make sure the rocks have no aiptasia.

3) A skimmer isn't necessary. Over the passed few years my opinion on skimmers is that they are very overrated.Growing macro and having filter feeders in your sump will be fine. If you decide to get a skimmer later get one. This is just my opinion. The skimmer debate is one of those debatable things. Starting with well established rock will reduce you need for a skimmer because you will already start with organisms pulling things out of the water. Best thing to do is test the water, watch your coral and let that decide if a skimmer is needed or not. It is defiantly something that can wait.

4) I would drill it. Glass overflows is popular and pretty cheap. It will cost just as much as a HOB overflow. If you do you the HOB route don't get one that is a size larger. Get one that is the right size. If you don't have enough water flow the siphon won't hold.

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

Thanks for the advice guys! I know I haven't been back to respond, but it helped a bit.

1. Well, she wanted the whitest sand possible and I wanted a good base to start from. In the end, we went with CaribSea live sand that had been preconditioned. I never used the stuff before, usually opting for "cured" live rock and dry sand. It really is a nice way to start and although it looked more tan at the store, it is a nice white color under the LED lighting.

2. I got an awesome deal on dry rock and I was able to play with a huge amount at a store and 'scape a dummy tank to see how it would fit together. She was able to swing that cost so its done. There's 48 pounds of dry live rock in there now and a fake seaweed plant for some green detail.

3. No skimmer - for now. This can stay on the table for future discussion, but we'll see.. I am running a 8x8x4 block of Marinepure Cermedia in the sump right now in the compartment I made for a skimmer.

4. I wanted to drill it, but I gave her the options and she went with the Eshopps PF-800. I have it dialed back for about 400 gph flow rate to keep it quiet and that is plenty of flow for this tank. It balanced nicely with the sump I built.

On issue that has come up which is my fault to a degree is we have a leak. I guess the pvc glue cured with a bubble or something but I have a coupler I need to go back and cut out of the return line because it's dripping. For now I put a garbage bag sling on it to run the drip water back into the sump and keep it off the floor. Monday is surgery day. Crossing my fingers for am easy fix.

.. and it wouldn't be a build thread without a picture...

 

[Carolina Cichlid lover]

That’s a Beautiful Tank my friend