Getting Back Into Hobby

[wilkinkc]

Hello! Looking at getting back into the hobby after 12 years or so of a break. I used to have a 90g with 55g sump that my cousin helped me with most of it. I got a parasite off of some live rock I bought and it spread like wildfire which led me to selling everything lol. Looks like a lot has changed in terms of technology.

I am wanting to do a mixed reef tank with sump. Couple ideas I'm kicking around below, and my concerns with both. Open to any and all suggestions. Doing all my research prior to buying anything.

- Pro Clear Rimless 150 - I like the looks of rimless a lot. I am concerned I'm not going to like the sump though as I want to include a refuge. Is there room for refuge? Considering going with this setup but building my own sump or buy a different one.

- 75 or 90 gallon traditional with wooden stand/canopy. 40 breeder or 55 gallon DIY sump. Possibly buy a RedFlex Reef Sump.

Wanting to add in as much automation & smart devices as practical. Couple things that I have seen that I'm wanting to do this time around that I never did in the past nor have any experience with; Dosers, ATO, Controller, anything else I might not know of that makes the tank better and easier to maintain .

 

[griss]

Not familiar with Pro Clear but, I always recommend you get the largest tank you can afford and have room for. That way you’re not constantly upgrading tanks

For the Pro Clear sump, you could always add a remote fuge. I’ve got a 5 gallon remote fUgh on my current tank.

For automation, there’s a lot of options out there. I’m currently running a pre-owned Apex I bought a while back. But, I’ve heard good things about Reef Kinetics and Hydros.

 

[Reefing102]

Welcome back!

I’m not familiar with the proclear brand either. However there’s the remote sump option, or could add a HOB fuge to the sump? Just thinking outloud.

If you do 75 or 90 and do a custom stand, could upgrade the sump to a 60 breeder. Again just thinking outloud.

For controllers there’s a lot of options. From preset up systems like Apex and Hydros to DIY like ReefPi and a newer one coming named Aqua pi.

I personally run an apex and once you get to learn it, it can be used for everything from dosing, to testing, to auto water changes, etc. I only use mine for basic dosing, mainly cause I’m a cheapskate on add ons lol