Getting started!

RootDirectory

RootDirectory

New Member
Hi guys,
My name is Stella, and I've been planning my first reef tank for a couple months now. While I've done TONS of research, I have absolutely no firsthand experience. Here is a complete list of the equipment I'm planning on using and my actual game plan for getting this tank up and running. If you guys could take a look and let me know what else I'll need, and/or if anyone sees any issues, I would really appreciate it! I want to start off strong and make as few mistakes as possible.

So far, all I have is a standard 125 gallon tank (72 x 18 x 24), and a 30 gallon quarantine tank with an extra heater and a good sized filter that I'll let run in the big tank until I need it. It will take me about 2 months to save up for all the equipment I need, so I just plan on buying one or two things a week until I have everything I need. After it's up and running and cycled, I plan on keeping it empty for a good while and dosing it with fish food to make sure that I can at least keep stable parameters in an empty tank! Next, I'll add a coral (star polyps?) and try to keep it alive lol. If I manage that for a month or two, I'll add some more hardy beginner corals (one per week?), and then let those guys live by themselves for a bit as well. I haven't planned out the actual fish yet, but I'm sure this will probably take me a good 6 months if not more, so I've got plenty of time to figure it out. I'm planning on adding the most peaceful, hardy reef safe fish I can find lol (one species a week, with a 7 day quarantine period?) but I'll come back later with more questions about that!

Anyways, here is my equipment list.

RO/DI Filter: LiquaGen 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis/Deionization - Aquarium Reef Water Filter System, 75 GPD (https://www.amazon.com/LiquaGen-5-Stage-Reverse-Osmosis-Deionization/dp/B01FNAPGPA/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAjwza_mBRBTEiwASDWVvtrTO0m0HZbllIwP495XQJCwPd4zGj_B46ctIIHkYznDUIpWg3e31xoCbYgQAvD_BwE&hvadid=320744743604&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003398&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=17043021679642128247&hvtargid=aud-676677759484:kwd-601237031226&hydadcr=24656_9648981&keywords=ro/di+filter+system&qid=1556916942&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1)

Salt: Instant Ocean Reed Crystal Reef Salt for Reef Aquariums
I'll by a few 200 gallon bins to get started.
https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Ocea...locphy=9003398&hvtargid=pla-307954085239&th=1

API Master Test Kit - Reef
https://www.amazon.com/API-MASTER-Aquarium-Water-1-Count/dp/B001D6Z7QW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1XKARXODZ65BC&keywords=api+reef+master+test+kit&qid=1556917577&s=gateway&sprefix=API+ree,aps,139&sr=8-3

Current USA Orbit IC LED - Loop Compatible (72 in.)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M6ZIGPP/?tag=reefsanc-20

Sicce Voyager 4 Power Stream Pump, 1600 GPH
https://www.amazon.com/Sicce-Voyage...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B003C1W89U

Unfortunately it'd be tricky to afford live sand and rock, so I'll just have to make my own! I'm in no rush to cycle the tank anyways. If you guys think it'd really be worth the money, let me know.

For sand I'm hoping to use standard pool filter sand:
Fairmount Minerals Pool Filter Sand #20 Grade Silica Sand 50 lbs
https://www.amazon.com/Fairmount-Mi...l+filter+sand&qid=1556918728&s=gateway&sr=8-3
I know there's a lot of debate on silica in aquariums, and since reef tanks are super sensitive, I'd love it if you guys could give me your two cents on that or offer a good alternative!

For rocks:
https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Reef-Rock-30-lbs/dp/B06XP8JYJZ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=reef+dry+rock&qid=1556919707&s=gateway&sr=8-4&th=1

I'm also planning to maybe add one 20 lb bag of natures ocean and one live rock that I'll find at my LFS just for ***** and giggles (can't hurt, right?)

For my sump system, I've decided to just buy a sump tank since I'm no good with DIY.
Pro Clear Aquatic Systems Freedom Reef Sump - 400 gal
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072M5J9KL/?tag=reefsanc-20

I'm not sure if the heater will fit in the sump, but I'll have:
two Fluval E 300-Watt Electronic Heaters
https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-E-300-Watt-Electronic-Heater/dp/B001VMSK0I/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1QRN4G7G6AB3O&keywords=fluval+e+300-watt+electronic+heater&qid=1556929929&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=fluval+e+,pets,144&sr=1-2
(Heaters are so finnicky!! Even the really trusted brands have like 30% bad reviews that say that they killed everything)

SCA-302 180 Gallon Protein Skimmer (In Sump)
https://www.amazon.com/SCA-302-Prot...otein+skimmer&qid=1556930188&s=gateway&sr=8-6
Let me know if you think this is big enough I'm really not sure.

CPR Aquatic CS202 Deluxe Siphon Overflow w/ Lid & Aqua Lifter Pump (1500 GPH)
https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Delu...s202&qid=1556916462&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

EHIEM Compact+ Pump 5000 for a return pump (1320 GPH)
https://www.amazon.com/EHEIM-Compact-Pump-Gallons-5000L/dp/B0018CDWL8/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=eheim+compact++5000&qid=1556930381&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-3-fkmrnull

I'll have a refugium with live rock, sand, and a bunch of Cheato, and another small light for that.

And for maintenance I'll get some kind of magnetic algae scrubber and obviously a python.

I figure I'll have to wait until I figure out what's in my tank before I can figure out dosing?

Also a good set of probes for temp, salinity, ORP and pH? Does anybody have any recommendations for that? I really don't have a clue.

Thanks so much to anybody that made it through that! Please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong, forgetting something, or even if there's just something you would do differently! I'm so excited to join the world of reef aquariums and I want everything to go as smoothly as possible for my future marine friends!
 
D

DaveK

Well-Known Member
You did the best thing you could, asking about what you plan to purchase, before you spend any money.

Now this post is going to sound like I'm blasting you for just about everything. I'm not trying to play "crush the new person" but you have made a lot of selections that I think could be much better.

The RO/DI unit your looking at has a rather small DI section. Consider something like this - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-stage-value-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html Note the much larger area for DI resin. You'll find that you will change this more than anything else, and having it a standard size lets you easily drop in a new cartridge. It's worth spending the extra $10 for the 100 gpd model.

I would also recommend getting a TDS meter to go with the RO/DI unit. Here is an example - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/dual-inline-tds-meter-dm-1-hm-digital.html It's inexpensive and lets you know the exact quality of the water being created.

The salt you want to use is fine. Everyone has their own opinion on the best salt, and it's not uncommon to see "salt wars" on forums about what salt is best. I think your good with any quality brand.

API test kits are ok to get you started, but long term you may want something better. Many like Sailfret, Elos, or Seachem test kits. Getting a refractometer to measure SG is a much better alternative to a hydrometer.

The lighting your looking at, despite what the vendor says, is only 63 watts of LED light. This really isn't enough for a reef system, if your keeping corals. Just to give you an idea, I use 4 AI Hydra 52 fixtures on my 125 gal reef. Each fixture is 135 watts LED lighting. You don't need to go anywhere near that high, but you should consider much better lighting. Lighting selection can be very tricky because you need to balance price verses features, quality, and parts availability. If I were doing your tank, I'd use something like 3 or 4 AI prime fixtures. Other vendors also make good lighting. Here is an example of an AI prime - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/prime-hd-led-module-black-body-aqua-illumination.html Yea, I know the price is about 3 time what you were planning, but don't skimp on lighting, especially if you want corals.

You will likely want two of the Sicce Voyager pumps, since you will have a long tank.

Avoid the silica sand. Get aragonite sand. It's not that expensive if you shop around. Since it's heavy, look for it locally at your LFS. Keep in mind that you will only need to get this once.

Dry reef rock is a good choice. You'll want about 125 lbs.

The sump looks fine. You could consider a smaller one, as long as the skimmer you want will fit.

Your way too big on the heaters. You only need about 2 watts per gallon. If you want two heaters, get ones about half the size your looking at. Also get a heater controller. This solves the usual heater problems of it sticking on. Yes, heaters are about the worst general aquarium product out there. Here is an example of a heater controller - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015E2UFGM/?tag=reefsanc-20 I use one of these myself. It's a vast improvement over just the aquarium heater. With a controller you can also use a much less expensive heater, such as eheim jager. You net cost will be about the same, but you'll have a lot less problems.

The skimmer you want is a bit small but otherwise ok. You want to choose one rated for a tank that is about double the size you plan to use it on, so you want a skimmer rated for about a 250 - 300 gal tank. Skimmer manufacturers tend to be "very optimistic" when it comes to rating their products.

Avoid the CPR overflow at all costs. I can't say enough bad things about it. The CPR overflows look nice, but they have multiple design defects that will cause major floods. If your interested in the gory details, I'll go into them in another post. The best choice here would be to get a reef ready tank, with a built in overflow. If that isn't possible the next best choice for an overflow is a Lifereef prefilter. I use one on my 125 gal reef. Here is the link - http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html Yes, they are a bit more expensive, but you will not have them causing a flood.

The Eheim pump, by today's standards, is not the best choice for a return pump. Consider one of the DC controllable pumps such as these - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pumps-plumbing/submersible-aquarium-pumps/reef-octopus.html You'll be able to dial it back if you don't need all the flow, and it's easy to turn off for feeding. Typically they will also consume far less power.

You will not need a python, as this product is for doing water changes in FW systems. You just need a length of tubing for a siphon.

Don't worry about dousing at this stage. You really need to have a running tank to see what you actually need. You may not need much at all. Don't go crazy over dousing. Water changes will go a long way.

Save your money on temp, salinity, ORP and pH probes, meters and so on. If you get the Inkbird temp controller mentioned above, you'll have a temp probe built in. Get a refractometer for measuring SG (salinity). pH and orp probes are usually used with a controller. You don't need a controller at this point. Maybe in the future you might want one, and a controller has it's uses, but skip all that for now.

This should get you going. Good luck.
 
Uncle99

Uncle99

Well-Known Member
Welcome to Reef Sanctuary

Move sequencially, buy only what ya need

DaveK had covered off all things and his advice is always on point

Fluval E series heaters are excellent,
Smart and digital, like the cobalts, way ahead of all others. I’m ok with the wattage.

Avoid silica sand
 
GoVols

GoVols

New Member
Be sure to get an ATO, like the Tunze 3155

For Testing:
API is fine for calcium

But...
I like the Hanna dkh checker for Alk

Salifert for Mag

Salifert for nitrates

And the Hanna ULR checker for phosphates.

Just tossing it out there... :)
 
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