1st saltwater 40gal breeder tank build

I was going to start with a 20gal Nano build. I then read closer to 55 would be easier to maintain. I then found a deal on a 40gal "breeder" tank. I thought this would be good cause I can run a 36" light and it has good surface area. Then use the 20 as a Sump/Refugium.

I want to start off as a FOWLR then slowly move into coral.

Proposed setup is:
-40gal (36L x 18W x 16H) main tank
-20gal (24L x 12W x 16H) sump/refugium
-HOB overflow
-sump or HOB protein skimmer in sump
-36" LED
- 50/50 Live rock, dry rock. Dry rock for base. Live rock for seeding and coraline display.

I'm still deciding on the rest. So, suggestions and recommendations are welcome. I am more concerned with keeping the recurring costs low month to month then the cost of the initial investment. Why the LED setups has me interested.

As for fish I am interested in a pair of clowns, aBangaii Cardinal and various Blennies and Gobies. Open to suggestions, should be reef safe for the future.

The only thing that has me worked up now is while visiting the local LFS. The employee said that the breeder would make the perfect frag tank and I should set it up for that and get another tank. I dunno if this was an attempt at an upsale or a random thought or my setup is flawed from the get go.

 

40g with those dimensions is a very common tank used for fragging. The 16 inch height allows you to use a less powerful lighting fixture (less expensive), yet still get very good coral growth. So no, your tank is not flawed at all. Wide (18 inches) and shallow (16 inches) is the way to go.

 

I'm doing a frag tank out of a 30 gal (36x12x16), I think it was just his opinion. Just remember to ask any and all questions here first, then to the LFS...knowledgeable people on here without a bias to make a profit off of you.