First Tank Setup, advice requested!

[KingfisherNB]

Hi All,

Im new to marine aquariums but i am planning on starting one up soon. I am working on figuring everything out and planning but would like some advice on equipment. I have put together a list of what i am looking at purchasing, but would love for feedback and reccomendations on what i could change or would be better.

I already have a 40g Breeder for display tank and a 20l for a sump and i built a stand for both. The list below is what i am looking at purchasing and i have a budget of 2000.00 to get going, but i am looking at getting the vast majority within the 2k and then adding in smaller items later if needed. The 2000 does not include livestock, i want to focus on getting the setup right and running and then later ill add in fish and corals as finances recover

I would like to eventually have a reef tank with fish and corals and i would like the option of having soft or Lps/SPS corals in the future.

1. Lighting - Hydra 52 - 600$
2. Powerheads - (2) Jebao SW-8 120$
3. Return Pump - Syncra Silent 3.0 714gph - Sicce 100$
4. Heater - Eheim Jager 150w - 28$
5. Skimmer - Eshopps Axium X-120 - 210$
6. Refractometer - BRS 36$
7. Controller - Reefkeeper Lite PLus - 279$
8. salt - red sea coral pro salt 175gal - 66$
9. Dry Rock - Pukani 30lbs? - 102$
10. Sand - Fiji Pink Arag-Alive Live reef Sand, 60lbs - 105$
11. RODI System - BRS 75gpd - 170$
12. Test Kits, Red Sea marine Care and REd Sea Reef Foundation Pro - 90$
13. Overflow Kit - Synergy 16" Overflow Kit and Hole Saw 190$
14. Extra power head for mixing water/curing rock - Jebao - 45$

Total - 2141$

So im already overbudget and i know there are more items i will need that arent listed, Pvc pipe for plumbing into the sump etc. I probably need a light for the sump as well if im going to make it a refugium and grow algae or put some live rock in it as well right?

The biggest ticket item is the lighting and im really not sure on it, is the Hydra 52 enough? Is there a cheaper option that will work just as well/better?

Am i missing anything critical? Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[RogueGrown]

I'd think about doing two light instead of one.... I have the hydra 26 on a 20 long and plan on adding a second. I also have the plan to move to a 40b. After running a single 26 for the past 5 months I feel the smaller light has more than enough power to penetrate the low depth of a 40b and with two lights should have the spread needed to cover the tank. When its all said and done for 2 of the 26s and the mounting arms you'll be at $500. Hope that helps.

 

[KingfisherNB]

I had looked at the 26s and would prefer to run 2, but im only seeing them for 349$ each, which would put them at 700$ for both :/ Is there a cheaper place to buy them?

 

[rjjr1963]

I put two AI Prime HD's on my 40b. Looks great but I don't know about coral growth yet. Nice thing is they are about 225 each. You don't need a controller and software is great.

 

[KingfisherNB]

Nice!, maybe i should consider the AI primes. I dont really like the look of the light itself but it looks like you get nice coverage and the savings would be nice.

 

[RogueGrown]

I apologize I meant the prime HD!!! I have one for now and will be getting a second one. I toyed the idea of the hydra and went with the prime. I dont think youd be dissapointed with that choice. like I said before buy 2 and 2 arm mounts and it comes to $500 unless you can find a sale on one, and if you do let me know!!!!

 

[KingfisherNB]

Well I am saying Ron's words here, if you can go for Chinese black boxes like Mars Aqua leds, you can save a ton on the lights. They are pretty good.

Also live sand is not a must, save some by getting dry sand and add some more rocks if possible.

Just my opinion though.

Hey i appreciate the advice! i will definitely look into just using dry sand and more rock.

I was actually lookint at Reefbreeders photon v2 as well. Its quite a bit cheaper and ive seen a couple threads where people say it works fine for a 40b.

 

[Xandernfs]

You could get away with one for now (2 would be optimal) Chinese Black Box and scrap the Reefkeeper (for the moment) since it's not a necessity. This would save you $680 and bring your budget down to $1761.

 

[TokiHacker]

You could get away with one for now (2 would be optimal) Chinese Black Box and scrap the Reefkeeper (for the moment) since it's not a necessity. This would save you $680 and bring your budget down to $1761.

You could even do the two Chinese Black Box and no longer need it. and you are running at the same price.