Preparing for a 30 Gallon...need advice. Thanks!

[Au_ThatHurt]

Hey everyone. I am beginning to make a list of the necessary parts and pieces required for a 30 gallon. I have been reading as much as I can in fear of running into unforeseen problems with the tank and I plan on making sure the tank is in the best condition it can possibly be in before putting a pair of clowns as well as some type of goby in it. I am fully prepared to cycle this tank for 6 months if that is what it takes to have a stable system going. I plan on having a variety of LPS and soft corals as well.

The List
30 gallon tank w/ 30lbs of live rock
LED lighting - 120watt ReefBreeders Light
Skimmer - Hydor SlimSkim Internal Skimmer
Heater - ViaAqua Titanium Heater
Powerhead - ? ; i know the vortech mp10 is amazing but obvi quite costly
Refugium w/ activated carbon chamber and chaetomorpha - ?
Return Pump - ?
Auto Top Off System - Tunze Osmolator ATO
Overflow Box - ? (overkill? i know this can be very helpful in power shortages)
RO/DI system - ? (so many out there...could use some help on this one)

Ok. Sorry for the wall of text that is my list lol...Here are some areas in which I need the most help with.

1. I would love to own a vortech mp10 but I think I may have to wait on that one and have a different powerhead until I can afford it. any suggestions for a SOLID placeholder until I can purchase it?

2. I am not sure what size refugium would be best with a 30 gallon :/ I plan on putting the heater and skimmer down there so I know that will affect the size. Could especially use a recommendation for this one as they can be quite pricey.

3. I need some insight on the gph for the return pump.

4. Should I have an overflow box with the ATO :/ ? If so, any suggestions?

5. Would love to be able to have an RO/DI system to reduce my trips to the LFS. I saw some cheaper models but this is not a system I would want to take a chance on. Suggestions for this guy?

I really do appreciate the help that may come my way after posting this. I have been lurking on RC for some time now and am finally s'urchin (no pun intended for the answers that have been in the back of my mind. Also I would greatly appreciate tips and comments that may come to your mind after reading this, knowing I am a newbie to the hobby. If you have any comments regarding the items I have already chosen, throw them my way btw!

Thanks again everybody!!! I look forward to talking with you all from here on out!

 

[ColinAbi]

Hey everyone. I am beginning to make a list of the necessary parts and pieces required for a 30 gallon. I have been reading as much as I can in fear of running into unforeseen problems with the tank and I plan on making sure the tank is in the best condition it can possibly be in before putting a pair of clowns as well as some type of goby in it. I am fully prepared to cycle this tank for 6 months if that is what it takes to have a stable system going. I plan on having a variety of LPS and soft corals as well.

The List
30 gallon tank w/ 30lbs of live rock
LED lighting - 120watt ReefBreeders Light
Skimmer - Hydor SlimSkim Internal Skimmer
Heater - ViaAqua Titanium Heater
Powerhead - ? ; i know the vortech mp10 is amazing but obvi quite costly
Refugium w/ activated carbon chamber and chaetomorpha - ?
Return Pump - ?
Auto Top Off System - Tunze Osmolator ATO
Overflow Box - ? (overkill? i know this can be very helpful in power shortages)
RO/DI system - ? (so many out there...could use some help on this one)

Ok. Sorry for the wall of text that is my list lol...Here are some areas in which I need the most help with.

1. I would love to own a vortech mp10 but I think I may have to wait on that one and have a different powerhead until I can afford it. any suggestions for a SOLID placeholder until I can purchase it? Look up the Jebao wp-10

2. I am not sure what size refugium would be best with a 30 gallon :/ I plan on putting the heater and skimmer down there so I know that will affect the size. Could especially use a recommendation for this one as they can be quite pricey.Biggest sump you can fit down there. You should also build your own sump.

3. I need some insight on the gph for the return pump.Some people say 6 to 10x of tank volume is fine.

4. Should I have an overflow box with the ATO :/ ? If so, any suggestions?

5. Would love to be able to have an RO/DI system to reduce my trips to the LFS. I saw some cheaper models but this is not a system I would want to take a chance on. Suggestions for this guy? Buckeye Hydro is a great brand and Russ is a great guy to deal with.

I really do appreciate the help that may come my way after posting this. I have been lurking on RC for some time now and am finally s'urchin (no pun intended for the answers that have been in the back of my mind. Also I would greatly appreciate tips and comments that may come to your mind after reading this, knowing I am a newbie to the hobby. If you have any comments regarding the items I have already chosen, throw them my way btw!

Thanks again everybody!!! I look forward to talking with you all from here on out!

 

[Au_ThatHurt]

Thanks for the insight colin! I appreciate you takin the time to read the post! The Jebao wp10 is exactly what I was looking for to hold me over and I think I am definitely going to go with the Buckeye RO/DI unit...cannot get any better than having a person behind the product who shows a strong care for their customers.

Also, how would I go about building my own sump? Do you just use some sort of silicon aquarium sealant to attach the acrylic partitions?

 

[ColinAbi]

Thanks for the insight colin! I appreciate you takin the time to read the post! The Jebao wp10 is exactly what I was looking for to hold me over and I think I am definitely going to go with the Buckeye RO/DI unit...cannot get any better than having a person behind the product who shows a strong care for their customers.

Also, how would I go about building my own sump? Do you just use some sort of silicon aquarium sealant to attach the acrylic partitions?

Yea Russ is a great guy with great customer service.
I built my sump by going on craigslist, I bought a 60 gal glass tank(make sure you get a tank that will fit under your stand) went to a glass shop and had them cut the baffles to the dimensions I needed. Went on amazon and bought some aquarium safe silicone http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G0YLXA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00and I siliconed the baffles in place. Altogether, mine costed me 70-80 (60 gal tank= 50$+ baffles= 5$ each). I saw sumps at the lfs for triple that and they weren't very big. BTW Acrylic baffles on a Glass sump and Glass baffles on an acrylic sump does not hold well

Welcome to Reef Central

 

[Au_ThatHurt]

Yea Russ is a great guy with great customer service.
I build my sump by going on craigslist, I bought a 60 gal glass tank(make sure you get a tank that will fit under your stand) went to a glass shop and had them cut the baffles to the dimensions I needed. Went on amazon and bought some aquarium safe silicone http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G0YLXA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00and I siliconed the baffles in place. Altogether, mine costed me 70-80 (60 gal tank= 50$+ baffles= 5$ each). I saw sumps at the lfs for triple that and they weren't very big. BTW Acrylic baffles on a Glass sump and Glass baffles on an acrylic sump does not hold well

I think I am going to end up going with a 30 gallon sump. Going to go with glass on glass (thanks for the tip btw) and have the glass cut at this local framing shop. Man the prices of these pre-built sumps are absurd! I am about to quit my job and make a living off of building sumps :hammer: lol!