Why is it called "breeder"?

[MizTanks]

Why is a 40g called a *breeder*

[larryandlaura]

Breeders are shallower and wider then standard tanks. I thinking they are called breeders due to they were used for raising fry.

[Paulo]

More surface area for gas exchange. Important for fry when you cannot use filter. I believe that is why they have the different dimension not 100 percent sure.
Paulo

[larryandlaura]

More surface area for gas exchange. Important for fry when you cannot use filter. I believe that is why they have the different dimension not 100 percent sure.
Paulo

Yes Paulo you are correct!

[MizTanks]

Would it make a nice reef tank? 24x24x17

[Sir Patrick]

A "Breeder", typically, is a tank with a 36"x18" footprint. Some of the "breeder" tanks smaller than 30 gallons and larger than 70 gallons will have different footprints.

My 67 gallon "breeder" isnt shallow at all, but is in the 36"x18" footprint, and is technicaly a breeder tank.

[rcombs]

i have a 40B and it is a nice tank for starting out, not the biggest one i have but its def got some room for a begginer, just to shallow to do much aquascaping is the only downer

[Paulo]

breeders are good b/c thier depth per gallon ratio is low allowing light to reach coral easier. Coral love life as we all know lol.
Paulo

[larryandlaura]

That is a great size Jamie. Look at Troys cube! And the shallow depth will give your corals plenty of light!

[MizTanks]

The shallow part is what I'm not liking. Hmmm...

[larryandlaura]

Are you upgrading?

[jimsflies]

Would it make a nice reef tank? 24x24x17
Unless all of your equipment would work with it, I don't think it is enough of a size upgrade to be worth your while. If you can make your lights and other equipment work, then it would probably be worth it. If not, you might as well jump up to a 50 breeder which is a very common size for a reef.

[MizTanks]

Making sure everything I have fit the tank was my first thought. Especially the lights! But the AI Nano I'm considering buying would cover up to a 50g, so no worries there. The fuge I have would work also but it would only be temporary, as I'd be wanting to go with a sump/fuge. I'm truly thinking this all through :thumbsup:

[jimsflies]

Making sure everything I have fit the tank was my first thought. Especially the lights! But the AI Nano I'm considering buying would cover up to a 50g, so no worries there. The fuge I have would work also but it would only be temporary, as I'd be wanting to go with a sump/fuge. I'm truly thinking this all through :thumbsup:

You mean 40g,right?

[MizTanks]

Nope. I'm looking at a 40g but the AI Nano will cover even a 50g fine. Just responded to your mention of a 50g is allz

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Sir Patrick is correct about the breeder designation. 24"x24" is what I would consider a cube.

Cubes are nice tanks but I agree with Jim... go bigger! I think the 50 would be a great size for you. I've had mine for 12 years and am finally ready to upgrade :big_grin:

[EMUreef]

that nano fixture will not be nearly enough to light a 50g reef tank.

10 leds for a 50g, my 12g nano has more than that.
the ai fixture is using the xm-l's but i just feel like ur going to have trouble providing light to all the corals.

[creefer]

Am I correct in thinking that the only difference between a 40b and 50b is height and that they share the 36 x 18 foot print? Reason I ask is that I have a cube now that I'm considering converting to a frag tank and getting a rimless breeder (currently evaluating the 40b based on depth....I like shallow tanks:)) for my display and have the 2 share a sump. I really like the 36 x 18 footprint and, contrary to what rcombs says, I think you have plenty of good aquascaping options with that footprint. Alternatively, I may set up the breeder and sell the cube and get a more shallow frag tank, or DIY one.

[MizTanks]

that nano fixture will not be nearly enough to light a 50g reef tank.

10 leds for a 50g, my 12g nano has more than that.
the ai fixture is using the xm-l's but i just feel like ur going to have trouble providing light to all the corals.

Please read: AI Nano LED radically redesigned and release announced for the end of July (http://reefbuilders.com/2011/07/13/ai-nano-led-release/)

Just in case you don't: "Aqua Illumination says they’ve been running a single AI Nano over a 50 gallon reef tank for six months, in which case the AI Nano is quite a bit more than a nano LED light, more like a small metal halide replacement. The AI Sol now uses just 35 watts of the highest quality LED components and we hope it will land for the same original pricing of about $350. Aqua Illumination just announced that the AI Nano will be ready for distribution by the end of the July and we greatly look forward to seeing the new LED beast in person.

Also, not all corals need the same amount of light. So having areas where you can put corals that fall into the lower end bracket of light needed would be a plus.

[Sir Patrick]

Am I correct in thinking that the only difference between a 40b and 50b is height and that they share the 36 x 18 foot print? Reason I ask is that I have a cube now that I'm considering converting to a frag tank and getting a rimless breeder (currently evaluating the 40b based on depth....I like shallow tanks:)) for my display and have the 2 share a sump. I really like the 36 x 18 footprint and, contrary to what rcombs says, I think you have plenty of good aquascaping options with that footprint. Alternatively, I may set up the breeder and sell the cube and get a more shallow frag tank, or DIY one.

Yes, the only difference between a 40B and a 50B is the height.

---------- Post added at 11:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------




Also, not all corals need the same amount of light. So having areas where you can put corals that fall into the lower end bracket of light needed would be a plus.

Very true, not to mention, shaded ends kinda looks cool! I have set up longer tanks with a single MH this way in the past, and liked it.