Is this everything I'll need?

[Doughbwahh]

So I have my tank of 120litres. If someone would be kind enough to check everything for me, that would be great!
- 2 x Arcadia led stretch lights - presume this is ok for lfs and soft corals?
-fluval e series 100w heater
-reef octopus bh1000 hang on skimmer
-x2 power heads for the water flow
-refractometer
-dechlorinator
-tester kits
-RO water which I can get from my lfs for now, until I get the RODI unit in a couple of months time.


Is that everything I need in terms of equipment? If someone would be kind enough to read through and let me know that would be a massive help! Thanks all :dance:

 

[ziggy2]

Do you have any live rock?

 

[Doughbwahh]

Do you have any live rock?

I was thinking of going for dry rock? Any reason you ask?

 

[Li\/EWiRE]

Salt Mix, Bio, Mech, and Chem Filtration will be needed as well.

 

[Li\/EWiRE]

Dry rock will work fine to start out. Are you going to dose Bacteria or start and let it cycle naturally?

 

[Doughbwahh]

Dry rock will work fine to start out. Are you going to dose Bacteria or start and let it cycle naturally?

I was going to let it cycle naturally and wait a while. Is all of the equipment I need above ok or is there anything else you might recommend?

Sorry - just seen you replied above! Is there anything you might recommend for the filtration then?
I thought filtration wasn't needed if using a skimmer?

 

[Li\/EWiRE]

Everything above will work to start out. And the Arcadia led stretch lights will work if they are the marine versions. If you plan on upgrading at some point it will save you money to just save up now and start out with what you are going to want in the long run. If you need a setup now to get by while you save up you can get something like a Fluval Evo 5 for under $100 or even a 12 for under $200

 

[tjm9331]

What brand of powerheads are going to use.

If you have enough flow (10-20 times turn over rate) and a large enough skimmer and rock with a lot of surface area for biodiversity then you really shouldn't need much else.

That said it wouldn't hurt to have some form of mechanical/chemical filtration on hand should you need it for carbon to remove something from the water.

 

[dustinkimpel]

Don't forget mixing containers. 22 gal rubbermaides can be found at walmart for cheap.

 

[Doughbwahh]

I just spoke to a reputable company here in England on the phone and they said a canister filter is perfectly fine to run the tank on instead of using a skimmer. He said they have a few display tanks running canister and I'm welcome to view them, so I might check that out first. I find a lot of information varies within this hobby and I'm getting confused. I've been reading until my head hurts and I still feel like I'm no further along lol :uzi:

 

[Li\/EWiRE]

There are many options in the hobby for sure. Canister filters are great if you keep them clean. Otherwise they turn into Nitrate factories.

 

[Doughbwahh]

There are many options in the hobby for sure. Canister filters are great if you keep them clean. Otherwise they turn into Nitrate factories.

Ok cool, but you said above about needing the filtration along side the skimmer and powerheads?? So now I'm even more confused.

 

[Li\/EWiRE]

If you are planning a Reef tank I would recommend a skimmer and a filtration system with that skimmer. If you want to be successful I would make sure to have Bio, Mech, & Chem filtration on the system. Even if you use a large HOB filter that has a Bio wheel with a filter insert that has carbon in it is better than just using a skimmer alone IMO. You can use a Canister filter if you plan on cleaning it out every 5-7 days but most people do that a couple weeks and then put it off longer and longer till things start going bad. The easier you make it to do maintenance the more likely you will do the maintenance. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jon0807]

You'll need an extra heater and circulation pump for mixing and warming fresh saltwater for water changes

 

[Jon0807]

And thermometers

 

[fishchef]

I just spoke to a reputable company here in England on the phone and they said a canister filter is perfectly fine to run the tank on instead of using a skimmer. He said they have a few display tanks running canister and I'm welcome to view them, so I might check that out first. I find a lot of information varies within this hobby and I'm getting confused. I've been reading until my head hurts and I still feel like I'm no further along lol :uzi:

A canister does not replace a skimmer.

 

[tjm9331]

I agree with fishchef, in no way does a canister filter replace a skimmer. yes they can be used in conjunction with a skimmer but not in place of.

To me the absolute bare minimum essential equipment are a skimmer, a heater, a thermometer to monitor the heat, a refractometer, a test kit for the water and a device to create flow be it a power head or a gyre.

now of course you'll need other stuff too like the rock, substrate, salt mix and RODI water but I'm talking just everyday equipment that will be running on the tank pretty much 24/7

 

[Doughbwahh]

I agree with fishchef, in no way does a canister filter replace a skimmer. yes they can be used in conjunction with a skimmer but not in place of.

To me the absolute bare minimum essential equipment are a skimmer, a heater, a thermometer to monitor the heat, a refractometer, a test kit for the water and a device to create flow be it a power head or a gyre.

now of course you'll need other stuff too like the rock, substrate, salt mix and RODI water but I'm talking just everyday equipment that will be running on the tank pretty much 24/7

Thanks for replies people. Yeah that's great - I'll look at using a filter system with a skimmer then. I appreciate all of the input and I'll let you know how it goes!