40 gallon breeder build

I am thinking about starting a new build, I just wanted to bounce around ideas. DT will be a standard 40 gallon breeder drilled with two overflows and one return. I will also be building a custom stand, with two shelves and a top. on the top shelf will sit the 10 gallon refugium and a 20L for a sump on the bottom. The flow from overflow "A" will go to refuge and overflow "B" will go to the sump. I will also drill the refugium which will flow into the sump as well. This will allow for less flow in the fuge and eliminate the need for a second return pump.

I plan on eventually getting a vortech (don't we all) but for now a maxi jet 1200 Mag 5 for the return pump and my old red sea Skimmer good for 250 gallons. Bio-pellets not sold on any one reactor yet and GCF hooked up as needed. I have also been looking at the Spin Stream return nozzle. I will definitely be going LED on this later, as tech changes I will wait and decide then.

As far as stocking goes it will be lps and softies mainly with the stock from my old tank
(1) Occy. clown
(1) Clarkii Clown
(1) Firefish
(1) Coral Beauty
(1) Lawnmower Blenny
(1) Yellow Watchman Goby
(1) Blue-Green Chromis
(1) Six-line Wrasse
[STRIKE](1) Rose Bulb Tip Anemone [/STRIKE] died in DEC '12


Please let me know if i am missing anything as I am still pretty new to this fast addicting hobby.

 

sounds like a great start, you've certainly done some homework! I love the stunner strips I have the magentas they really set of the color, but in retrospect I wouldve gotten blue/magenta.

 

Definitely thinking the blu/magenta strips. Thanks for the input.

 

Just a suggestion, if you are going to do ALL that work, why don't you go with a larger tank? In the long run you will be happier that you can put more "things" (for lack of a better word lol) in to the tank. Maybe go with like a 40 gallon? Just a suggestion because i have always felt that the smaller tanks don't need a sump and all that, and with all the work a larger tank will feel more rewarding;]. Other than that, looks like a cool project
Would love to see it when it is completed

 

Thanks mbuck I'm actually going with the 40 B now.

 

Currently filling the tank and adding live stock from my old 54 gallon. I debated on going bare bottom and decided a shallow sand bed instead ( I have a lawn mower blenny and YWG so I think they will appreciate having some sand. All params are good except the salinity got up to 1.028 while in the smallertankbut as I add new water I will bring it back down a bit. It is still cloudy, I will add pics in a bit.

 

Got the wife an awesome looking RBTA today at the lfs and after a few minutes it started opening up. I also got a mystery bluish acro (yeah my first sps) it was well encrusted and had good color on it. Pics are sooo bad, total white-out even after adjusting my camera. :-/

 

Dropped my T5 in the tank... The one channel is fine but my second is totally burnt out total bummer. I will be using my par 38 bulb to keep things happy, until I find a new light or fix this one. Does anyone think I can replace the one channel and while I am at it convert my who knows what brand of fixture to a six bulb unit?

 

That sucks about your T5 fixture. Would love to see some pics of the tank though!

 

I will post em this evening