Hello folks, I'm planning my first reef setup and I hope you're all willing to give me some help in making sure I don't miss anything and make the right decisions/purchases/etc. Basically, I just want to keep all my ducks in a row and make sure I'm not missing anything when it comes time to get the tank wet.
So, here's my list:
Tank: 90g AGA (48Lx18Wx24H) - having this drilled in the next few days. Would single or dual overflows/returns be best? What size should they be?
Stand: to be built from RocketEngineer's plans over in the DIY forum.
Sump: 29g, I'll probably add a seperate refugium eventually.
I've also got a 20L ready to be set up for QT.
I already own all of the above (well, the stand isn't built yet, but I've purchased the lumber
) Now for the stuff I need...please feel free to tell me if I'd be making a huge mistake with any of the below purchases.
Refractometer
Salifert test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium (I skipped the phosphate test because my experience with FW planted tanks has taught me that it's pretty easy to test for phosphates by looking into the tank and seeing if there's algae growing or not)
pH monitor - because I despise pH test kits
RO/DI system
32g Brute can for water storage, big pile of buckets for water changes/emergencies/etc.
Bottle of Coral Rx for the eventual additions
Skimmer: Super Reef Octopus XP2000
Heat: 2x 300w heaters w/ controller. I'll likely add a third 300w heater (eheim jaeger, since I have a spare) for backup
Return pump: I have absolutely no idea. Suggestions are welcome, encouraged even
(I'm assuming an internal pump, since I don't wish to drill the sump)
Powerheads: 2x Hydor Koralia 3 - would 4's be better? (I can't afford vortechs)
Lighting: Tek 6 bulb 54w T5 fixture - my intention is to keep mostly zoanthids, ricordea, and a few LPS, but I'd like the option to add some SPS to the "top" of the reef at a later date if I so desire. Can I do that with 6 bulbs over a 24" deep tank?
ATO system - I've also got a maxi-jet 500 to do the water-moving.
Rock: 120lbs or so, I'll probably buy the 22 lb. box here, add another 40lb or so from a few different shops locally, and fill up the other half with dry rock (I've got ~100lb of base rock sitting in the garage from an old FW cichlid tank)
Sand: Think I'll be ordering from MarcoRocks, I plan on running a DSB...so probably the 160lb batch?
And, of course, a couple buckets of salt, thinking reef crystals to help minimize kalk/mg dosing.
Have I missed anything? Am I making dumb choices anywhere? Am I the greatest newbie who ever newb-ed? Please, share your thoughts and opinions
So, here's my list:
Tank: 90g AGA (48Lx18Wx24H) - having this drilled in the next few days. Would single or dual overflows/returns be best? What size should they be?
Stand: to be built from RocketEngineer's plans over in the DIY forum.
Sump: 29g, I'll probably add a seperate refugium eventually.
I've also got a 20L ready to be set up for QT.
I already own all of the above (well, the stand isn't built yet, but I've purchased the lumber
) Now for the stuff I need...please feel free to tell me if I'd be making a huge mistake with any of the below purchases.Refractometer
Salifert test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium (I skipped the phosphate test because my experience with FW planted tanks has taught me that it's pretty easy to test for phosphates by looking into the tank and seeing if there's algae growing or not)
pH monitor - because I despise pH test kits
RO/DI system
32g Brute can for water storage, big pile of buckets for water changes/emergencies/etc.
Bottle of Coral Rx for the eventual additions
Skimmer: Super Reef Octopus XP2000
Heat: 2x 300w heaters w/ controller. I'll likely add a third 300w heater (eheim jaeger, since I have a spare) for backup
Return pump: I have absolutely no idea. Suggestions are welcome, encouraged even
(I'm assuming an internal pump, since I don't wish to drill the sump)Powerheads: 2x Hydor Koralia 3 - would 4's be better? (I can't afford vortechs)
Lighting: Tek 6 bulb 54w T5 fixture - my intention is to keep mostly zoanthids, ricordea, and a few LPS, but I'd like the option to add some SPS to the "top" of the reef at a later date if I so desire. Can I do that with 6 bulbs over a 24" deep tank?
ATO system - I've also got a maxi-jet 500 to do the water-moving.
Rock: 120lbs or so, I'll probably buy the 22 lb. box here, add another 40lb or so from a few different shops locally, and fill up the other half with dry rock (I've got ~100lb of base rock sitting in the garage from an old FW cichlid tank)
Sand: Think I'll be ordering from MarcoRocks, I plan on running a DSB...so probably the 160lb batch?
And, of course, a couple buckets of salt, thinking reef crystals to help minimize kalk/mg dosing.
Have I missed anything? Am I making dumb choices anywhere? Am I the greatest newbie who ever newb-ed? Please, share your thoughts and opinions
