Red Sea Max S400

[mmontag]

I tried this hobby about 10 years ago with really cheap equipment and failed. I finally have the time and the means to get back into it, so I purchased a Red Sea Max S400 with the LED lights in hopes of setting top a reef system.

Here is the plan....

1. Purchase an RO/DI system
2. Set up Tank
3. Fill Tank with RO/DI
4. Mix in Reef Salt
5. Add 90lbs Live Rock
6. Add Sand
7. Cycle for 6-8 weeks until we are back from a vacation

Here are my questions....

1. What other equipment should I add immediately?
2. Should I go right to a controller for heaters?
3. Dosing pump?
4. Refugium with Cheato?
5. Calcium Reactor

I just want to make sure I start with the proper setup that I can grow into instead of letting the aquarium grow out of the standard setup and constantly playing catchup.

Thanks!!

 

[TimFountain]

Well you didn't mention it, but #1 on the list should be a skimmer....
Also an easy way to do water changes will encourage the right activity from the get go. I'd also say an Apex Aquacontroller would be a good investment. I'd also invest in a quality titanium heater. I have a Red Sea 350 with a reef octopus skimmer, LED's, GFO reactor, carbon reactor, a completely automated auto topoff fed from directly from the RODI filter, redundant undersized heaters, a chiller and and Apex aquacontroller. IMHO CA reactor and fuge can come later, just plan for them now!

BTW I do not think that going on vacation when the tank is new and cycling is a great idea. Things break or don't work right, especially with a new setup....

 

[mmontag]

It does come with a skimmer now. I'll look into the controller as well. It will be up and running for 3 weeks at least before I go on vacation, so hopefully the problems happen then.