Inheriting a 90g - Where to put my money?

[laeelin]

I'm inheriting a 90g tank - see this thread for more information on it.

TLDR;

While moving the tank I plan on doing a 100% water change, and replacing all the live sand.

I am setting up the tank in my office (a converted garage with carpet and central air)

I do not plan on adding any new life (coral / fish) to the aquarium for a month or more, and I want to spend my setup money wisely.

Over the next year or so I would like:

• Soft Corals - Nothing that requires MH.
• Some Fish - A school or two of something small, and a few other things (all researched first)
• A Deep Sand Bed.
• Refugium
• More Live Rock ( Probably from Tampa Bay Saltwater )

Things I'm thinking about spending my money on - I'm trying to keep everything under $400:

1) Water Testing Equipment - What should I start with - is there anything I should get a digital tester for? ( Note: I know I need ammonia, SG, temperature, and alkalinity. )

2) Large container for storing mixed saltwater - What is the best way to handle this?

3) RO/DI Unit - I'm hoping that my dad still has his unit and that I can just replace all the filters and save some money that way.

4) Live(?) Sand - If I start with a 1" shallow sand bed, is changing to a deep sand bed as simple as adding another 3" of live sand 6 months down the road?

5) Fix / Replace dads sump, and add a Refugium.

6) Skimmer?

7) Calcium Reactor?

8) DIY Auto top off?

I have everything listed in what I assume is the correct order of importance, but feel free to move things around.

Anything I should hold off on?
Anything important missing?
Any suggestions on places to save money?

Note: Just in case it's not clear, I know I'm not getting all of that without blowing my budget. I'm just trying to prioritize correctly.

 

[Shewillbemine]

My general piece of advice is for you to buy most of that stuff used either through this website, Craiglist or local reef clubs to you. That's especially because you want to stay under a specific budget.

Water Testing Equipment for sure.

If you plan to be around the tank at least for the first few months consistently, you can do manual topoffs until you get a sense of how much evaporation your tank goes through. You wouldn't want to make a DIY topoff system only to find out your reservoir is too small and needs to be filled too often (that would be just like manual topoffs).

If I were you, I'd learn the "habits/characteristics" of the tank first before the calcium reactor. A skimmer is always a good idea but again, buy a used one.

 

[laeelin]

Have you been talking to my wife?

Buying used makes so much sense - even if I always want shiny new stuff.

I'm just excited and making plans!

Thank You

 

[CStrickland]

Just some random thoughts

If there's anyway to take the carpet out from where the tank will go you will be very glad you did. There will be spills. A lot of spills.

It's hard to get fish to really school in our tanks, that's how they run from predators in the wild so hopefully they won't need to in your tank.

The deep sand bed is worth reconsidering, or at least putting in a separate section than the display so you can cut it off if it goes south, these are called remote or RDSB. It can be as simple as a 5 gallon bucket. Unless you have a fish in mind that needs it like a jawfish, it's not a necessity and can cause issues. Just make sure you read up on some recent ideas about them, there's a lot of old info out there that makes them sound better than they are.

Calcium reactors not a must at all. If you find your ca dipping a little kalk in your topoff will probs do the trick until you get way into coral.

Dry sand (yes, get new sand) and dry rock will save you cash too, since the rock you've got is old so it probs has a really healthy population that will just spread onto the dead stuff. Why are you thinking you need more rock anyway?

Generally speaking, I would prioritize rodi, skimmer, tests, and lights. That's going to get you close to $400. The eBay LEDs that I have are a great beginner light for $80, you can search for "marsaqua 165w full spectrum" they cover a 24" square so you will need 2
everything else is optional and comes way after those IMO

 

[CStrickland]

Also, Black Fridays coming so you might catch a good sale

 

[Nuluxe]

I'd go with used as well, most of the newer equipment these days are valued at quite a bit. Maybe when you're ready for SPS's and high light requirement corals, brand new high end equipment would be worth a gander.