Need Help Setting Up A 40 Gallon Breeder

[Pazzoman]

Hey Everyone,

Recently there will be a hold on the 210 gallon project in order to make the patio outside an all season room since the folks want the tank to be outside. This has led me to the fact of taking apart my freshwater 40 gallon breeder and sell of the fish since it will be awhile. I don't want to get rid of the 40 gallon just yet and decided I would like to run a saltwater tank. The tank that I will be running will be a FO as Im not wanting to spend too much since this will only be temporary. I have run a 72 gallon saltwater tank in the past however I had a sump so now Im stuck on filtration as I don't want to run a sump since its only temporary.

Here is what I want to do with the tank, specs, ideas...

-40 Gallon Breeder Tank
-I would like to keep it as "Fish Only"
-Have just scooter blennies and mandarines possible pipefish
-Would like to just run sponge filters if possible since I will be hatching baby brine shrimp to slowly wean them off
-5 Gallon water changes every week or bi-weekly.
-Will siphon out debri during water changes

So basically I'm just trying to get the filtration together. Can I just run sponge filters, I have never used them but I see many lfs using them. I was thinking of buying 2 or 3 Pro 5 Hydro Sponge filters:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3584+23702&pcatid=23702

Most likely the second or third one will be from an established marine tank.

Also does it matter what size pump I use for the sponge filters? How many scooters and mandarins you think can be kept as well as pipe fish?

Thanks A Million!

 

[KathyC]

I'm sorry to be so negative, but most everything you propose is a bad idea and you will end up with dead animals


First you need to figure a month to cycle the tank ..
Mandarins & pipefish need an established tank to be able to find the food they need..especially the Mandarin. The ONLY way to wean a Mandarin off the pods it requires is to have it in a tank WITH pods and hope that it catches onto eating freshly hatched brine - which usually doesn't happen and we have another dead mandarin Once they stop eating, they usually do not start again - even if they are in water with 1,000 pods in it..and starve to death.


Sponge filters..forget them..they are for FW tanks and do nothing to 'filter' the water. All they will do is keep the garbage in the tank and raise your nitrate levels.
You would need to run a HOB power filter to clean the water or a HOB skimmer.
You would also need to provide an air source and heater to the tank.


For a tank that would only be temporary..my suggestion would be to just skip it entirely as it will be a money pit and difficult to maintain.
Sorry to be such a kill-joy

 

[Pazzoman]

Its ok completely under stand able. Probably will use it just to hatch brine shrimp even tho its such a large tank for a hatchery. I brought up the sponge idea simply just because I notice it in some tanks at my lfs which happens to be maximum reef aquatics.

I already have a heater and air source forgot to mention it. Thanks will wait it out than.

 

[piranhapat]

I would add live rock and change your fish. Adding live rock will be like a filter and your bio load. You can add hangon filter instead of sponge filter. With water changes and better section of small and hardy fish you can run 40 breeder with success. MR reef is running sponges in there tank. But that's not they filter system. That's just add on. Their system runs downstairs. Ask then to see it and you would understand it a little better.