New JBJ 28g LED setup checklist

[jonathanyhsu]

I am attempting to setup my first nano-reef tank. I have test kits, a refractometer, and a mixing station for the other tanks, but this is my first attempt at a reef tank. I wanted to ask everyone on the forum if they had any suggestions on equipment or categories of equipment that I require for the tank itself. The tank I chose was a JBJ 28g LED; assuming the included equipment is passable, are there any other things I should acquire for setting up the tank? I am going to assuming any included equipment is passable, so I was mostly looking for things that are not included in the JBJ package.

JBJ 28g Nano-Cube LED
Refugium light (any recommendations for Chaetomorpha?)
Sand (Live/Dry?)
Live Rock
Lighting grate

 

[ange062]

IMO, all that you need to start is the tank, water, sand, and rock!! JBJ is a good choice with lots of support around here.

For sand, CaribSea Arag-Alive is pretty popular, I like the "special grade reef" size because it doesn't blow around at much as the finer sands like oolite do. It's live sand in a bag BTW. 20lbs should be sufficient, and conveniently enough they come in 20lb bags

Live rock, go for 25-30lbs if you can afford it. If you want to go cheaper, get dry rock and seed it with 1-2lbs of LR. Cycle will take longer if you use dry rock.

After you are setup and through your cycle, you will want to add more circulation (i.e. a powerhead) for sure. Then nice things to have are an automatic topoff, skimmer, reactors, media baskets, dosing pumps, etc etc. Tons of things to add but that all really depends on what livestock you take a liking to! Just "upgrade" the tank as necessary IMO, don't rush it.

 

[rcharliesam]

What are you doing for water? Do you have an RODI system?

 

[jonathanyhsu]

I have a RO/DI system in the garage that I have been using to mix the saltwater. For a while I was buying steam distilled water from the grocery store, but that got tiresome after a while =P

 

[rcharliesam]

Then everything that ange062 mentioned is spot on.