One of the prerequisites for successfully breeding fish is to provide them with the ideal environment, and a 40-gallon breeder tank just so happens to accommodate most freshwater species and certain saltwater fish.
Breeding fish, however, does not come easy, at least when it comes to the majority of fish species out there. It takes a lot of skill and patience to maintain the ideal environment.
It’s even more challenging if you’ve never had any experience with breeding fish before.
When it comes to breeding, the general rule of thumb is to provide your fish with a large enough space. Of course, a 40-gallon breeder tank is overkill for certain species, like the guppy and molly since they’re livebearers,
But the tank’s size becomes especially important when you are breeding fish such as clownfish and cichlids. Other fish you can breed with this include the armoured catfish and the Driftwood Catfish.
The best part about this tank is that it also provides an ideal environment for invertebrates such as Ghost Shrimps and Cherry Shrimp.
In this guide, we will give a brief overview of some of the best tanks we came across and which fish are ideal to breed in an aquarium of this size.
What are 40 Gallon Breeder Tank Dimensions?
You must be wondering how big is a 40-gallon breeder tank. The exact measurements of each 40-gallon aquarium will vary based on the manufacturer. Most tanks should be 18″ wide, 16″ tall, and 36″ in length.
In the case of the regular non-breeding 40-gallon tank, you can get away with a shorter height.
In some cases, you may have to adjust the tank’s water levels, so the breeding tank’s exact dimensions will differ. They are, for the most part, bigger in height.
Let’s start with the three best tanks for breeding.
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Aqueon 40 Gallon Breeder Tank
The Aqueon 40 gallon breeder aquarium is usually recommended by experts as an excellent starter choice. It’s ideal for fishkeepers who plan to add their own equipment and are fairly barebones at a cursory glance.
Judging from its build quality, this tank is designed to last for decades. It comes equipped with a very durable glass that can take quite a beating.
The edges are reinforced with silicone to prevent any chances of a leak. All in all, this is an extremely durable tank that will last you several years.
Its manufacturer, Aqueon, has acquired a pretty good reputation among fish breeders as the go-to solution for tanks of all sizes and styles.
The 40 gallon variant of this tank can be purchased with an oak or black trim. Moreover, it features a braced frame in the middle of the tank to minimize tank bowing chances.
Pros
- It is pretty tall, which allows you to alter the water levels according to your species
- It doesn’t feature any extra equipment allowing you to add your own items to it
- It comes in two different colour choices
- The manufacturer is known for producing high-quality goods
Cons
- The price tag may be too steep for beginners
- The tank does not come with a lid, and that can be a deal-breaker for most aquarists
Click here to check out prices on Amazon.
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40 Tank Combo Set by SeaClear
This 40-gallon breeding tank comes with all the necessary tools built into it. This includes lighting and a reflector. It’s defining quality is the build quality of the glass, which is made from acrylic.
The result is more durable while being exceptionally lightweight. This tank is more clearer than traditional glass because of the acrylic material.
In general, acrylic tanks are much more durable and can withstand all kinds of damage. The glass is very resistant to cracking and chipping. This is a valuable quality in a breeding tank since it’s always under inspection by fishkeepers, which may increase the chances of damage.
This tank can be used for both freshwater and saltwater species.
The main reason for recommending this fish tank is the warranty by SeaClear, the manufacturer – this product boasts a lifetime warranty. This means your investment is safe for years to come.
Pros
- The acrylic glass is far more superior to traditional offerings
- It comes with a lifetime warranty, which can secure your investment
- Improved visibility
- You can buy this tank with three background choices
Cons
- There are two openings on the top of this tank, which can become a problem if your fish are known for being jumpers.
Click here to check out prices on Amazon.
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40 Gallon Bow Front Aquarium
Thanks to the unique bow shape, the 40-gallon bow front tank is a little bigger than your regular ‘flat’ tank. Traditional tanks haven flat fronts and feature a square or rectangular shape. But this tank features a curved front, which may be a good choice for you.
The bow front offers a bulging effect of the inside of the tank. This provides a unique inside view of the tank and looks a lot cooler in any room. There is one drawback, though. Most cameras will struggle to try to capture high-quality photographs.
From the perspective of a breeder, this tank makes your job a lot easier because you’ll have an easier time keeping track of breeding, eggs, and fry fish.
Furthermore, the tank can be used for both saltwater and freshwater fish species.
The manufacturer SeaClear is known for providing high-quality tanks and a generous lifetime guarantee.
Pros
- Visually better than most tanks thanks to the bow front
- Seamless corners that make breeding easier
- The tank is made of acrylic, which is more durable and lightweight
- The tank is less likely to chip or break than a traditional glass tank
Cons
- The top is not fully covered, which means your fish are more likely to escape
- The tank does not come with light fixtures
Equipment for a 40 Gallon Breeder Aquarium
The type of equipment you introduce into your tank will play a monumental role in inbreeding. Any resulting fry or juvenile fish from the breeding process will need a place to call home, so investing in the right equipment is key here.
Let’s get down to brass tacks.
Filter
The most important piece of equipment you should invest in is the filter. It creates the ideal environment for fish and gets rid of the bioload generated over time (thus keeping a check on the nitrate levels in the tank).
More importantly, the filter regulates the distribution of nutrients in the aquarium to create a proper nitrogen cycle.
The filter is also important because it can be used to create flow in the tank. It can create movement in the water, which is very important for certain breeding species.
One good place to start is the C Power Filter by Fluval. It has the capacity to work a 70-gallon tank.
Aquarium Heater
The temperature can make or break your breeding cycle. In most cases, the ambient temperature won’t provide your fish with a consistent temperature.
This becomes even more important during the breeding seasons and necessitates an artificial way to influence the temperature. It is worth noting that some saltwater and freshwater fish won’t start to breed until the tank’s temperature is increased to a certain point.
This is where a heater comes in.
Before choosing a heater, make sure that it can provide your specific fish species with the ideal temperature. Not all heaters are built the same. Some are good at extremely different ranges. Bonus points if you can invest in a heater that allows you to adjust the temperature with the click of a button easily.
Our recommendation for a 40-gallon breeding tank is this E Electronic Heater by Fluval. You can buy it in three different ranges, 100 watts, 200 watts, and 300 watts. Moreover, it features an LCD temperature display that can show the temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, at ranges from 68 to 93 degrees.
It comes with fast heat technology with a safety shut off, thus protecting your fish from overheating should the device malfunction (not that it ever happens).
Click here to check out this device on Amazon.
40 Gallon Breeder Tank Stand
The tank stand is a fundamental piece of equipment used to provide stability to the tank and contributes to the décor.
More importantly, it provides storage space for your foods, chemicals, plumbing, and equipment.
Aquarium stands come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you should be able to find the right one for the tank. It is worth noting that they take up a lot of space and you’ll need more room to keep them in.
Here is our recommendation for the aquarium stand.
It features solid construction and can support a 40-gallon tank.
40 Gallon Breeder Tank Lid
As you may have already noticed, a typical 40-gallon breeder aquarium does not come with a lid by default. They’re either completely open or feature small openings.
This increases the possibility of your fish escaping from their enclosure and dying as a result. But there’s more to a lid than merely blocking your fish’s escape route. For instance, they can be used to provide shelter to the fish from excessive lighting.
A lid becomes particularly necessary in tanks where the fish are stressed out and are prone to jumping out.
Which Fish Can You Breed in a 40 Gallon Tank?
Your 40-gallon aquarium should create the ideal environment for breeding, for certain species, of course. At this size, you can breed some of the most challenging species.
Most fish classified as ‘small’ can be bred in this tank, including a few larger species. This applies to both freshwater and saltwater fish.
Should you choose smaller fish, it is worthwhile considering the use of dividers to divide the tank into various sections to give you more options.
Examples of small fish you can breed this way include the Guppies, Bettas, Swordtails, and Danios.
Some of the larger fish that you can breed include catfishes, cichlids, and even shrimps.
The main advantage of buying a 40-gallon tank is that you can introduce different species and keep them under similar conditions, all the while ensuring they have enough space to roam around.
This is guaranteed to make your tank look stunning and productive, and it will also increase the success rate of breeding.
Every fish species has its breeding conditions. Make sure you refer to those before adding them to your tank. Also, make sure they’re compatible with their tank mates.
How to Set Up a Breeder Tank
Creating the ideal breeding environment requires you to pay a bit more attention. You have to clean the water and remove dust build-up. All the steps you take will have to be aligned with the species you plan to breed in the aquarium.
The most important aspect of your tank is the filtration system, substrate, heater, and lighting. In a non-breeding tank, these conditions remain unchanged throughout the day, but in a breeding tank, you will have to adjust the default settings depending on the day’s time.
Let’s start with the substrate. This is important because certain fish species will swim to the tank’s bottom to create their nests and lay their eggs. The substrate should not contain any sharp edges that could hurt these fish.
More importantly, sharp edges on the substrate could easily kill fry because they will spend most of their time at the lower columns of the tank.
With the substrate in place, it’s time to choose the right decorations. This depends entirely on the species you plan on breeding. Some fish need tanks populated with dense plantations and lots of rockwork and caves to hide. Simultaneously, others may only require lots of swimming space and a soft substrate to land on.
Once you’ve decided on the decorations and substrate, it’s time to install the heater and the filter. Every filter has its own installation instructions, so make sure to read them before installing the filter in the tank. In the case of external filters, you’ll have to take care of a few plumbing errands. By contrast, internal filters will usually only have one power cable.
Now, for the most important part: adding the water. The water level depends on the type of fish species you add to the tank. Some fish species prefer an increase in the water level during mating, while others require shallow conditions to stimulate spawning.
Finally, it’s time to install light fixtures and a lid. Some lids come with lights attached, while others don’t.
Once all your equipment is set up, switch the heater, filter, and lights on and allow at least 1 month for the tank to properly establish a nitrogen cycle before adding your fish.
A Word on Temperature for Breeding Tanks
This section requires an article of its own, but we thought it’s important to include a few common smaller fish that aquariums will likely try to breed.
Ideal Breeding Temperature for Guppies Breed
Guppies prefer temperatures ranging from 73 to 77 Fahrenheit. To stimulate spawning, increase the temperature of the breeding tank to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This will encourage breeding. Keep the same pH level.
Ideal Breeding Temperature for Tetras
Neon Tetras prefer the breeding water temperature to be around 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Their pH should be slightly lowered to between 5 and 6. Special care should be given to the lighting requirements for the fish and their fry.
Ideal Breeding Temperature for Goldfish
To initiate the breeding process in Goldfish, you should target temperature in the range of 69 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
Caution: Make sure you increase the temperature in small increments to get to your target threshold. Do not increase more than 2 degrees a day because fish are notoriously vulnerable to large temperature changes.
For a goldfish, this means having to wait at least 10 days to increase the temperature to stimulate breeding conditions. But this is better than having to kill the poor creature! When you take your time to increase the temperature, you’re also giving your fish’s biological system to properly adapt to the task.
Get a Cheap Quarantine Tank for Sick Fish
If you’re serious about breeding your fish, you will have to buy a quarantine tank because certain fish will species get sick from time to time. It is important to isolate them from one another to prevent the spread of disease. Do not use your 40-gallon tank to quarantine your fish or care for sick fish.
It is not wise to administer medicine to the entire fish stock if they’re not sick, not to mention that it can completely ruin the breeding environment. For best results, get a cheap quarantine tank to be prepared for sick fish or fried fish.
