Reef tank checklist

[Ryan15236]

I am getting so close to starting construction on my 125 gallon reef tank. I am wondering what all I may be missing here to get this tank running and atleast cycling for awhile so I can start adding corals and some inverts. Here is a list of the things I have so far
125 gallon RR tank and stand
55 gallon DIY sump and baffles
aquamaxx EM 200 skimmer
Tunze osmolator 3155
2 Koralia 1150s
150 lbs Marco rock
few heaters
Mag 18 return pump (probably going to be switched for eheim 1262 soon)
plumbing (PVC)
Refugium lighting
Salt, fish meds and food
20 gallon long QT tank
spectrapure RO/DI (ordered)
some filter socks
skimmer stand
I need a hydrometer and some good test kits (I have some API ones)
besides that I am not sure of anything else I need except lighting when the time for coral comes. I know I will want to upgrade my flow as well. Do i need to get any reactors or anything? Apex is also on the want list.

I have things that need to be upgraded I am just looking for some basics I am missing, thanks.

 

[soulpatch]

you want a refractometer and not a hydrometer.

You also state you have the QT tank but do you have filtration for it as well? A seperate heater, filter, ect? You want to leave everything for the QT as QT and not use on your DT.

You going bare bottom?

 

[scooter31707]

Good point Soulpatch..also if you are doing a reef tank, you will need another QT with the proper equipment for corals. I also would recommend the Aquamaxx EM300 for that amount of water volume.

 

[Johnseye]

Not day one, but at some point I suspect you'll want a GFO and carbon reactor. As you increase the bioload phos will become a factor.

Glass cleaner/scraper

Some eye openers for me were the amount of evaporation when not using a glass top. That led to me constantly making water. I then automated with water storage containers, an ATO (Spectrapure) and also an auto water changer (LiterMeter 3).

Then to dial in the water chemistry when having corals. I started by adding kalk to my ATO water. That kept my PH steady but Alk and Cal was still low. I then added a DOS which I can control with the Apex. My water chem is much more stable now.

 

[Ryan15236]

Yeah I meant refractometer my bad. And yeah I have all the equipment for QT seperate than DT equipment.

Do you QT corals or just dip them and put them in the DT

I wish I would have got the aquamaxx EM300 initially but I already have the 200 so I will just use it till I need to upgrade when bio gets heavy

I will be getting some sort of sand substrate for the tank.

I would love to come up with a water change system and connect RO to ATO reservoir but I'm sure that will come when I get more comfortable with this stuff and knowing how my tank runs.

 

[soulpatch]

I check my corals and dip using bayer pesticide then place them in my DT. It does open me up for bugs and such as I had a black bug issue a couple weeks ago but at the same time it is a pain for a coral QT in my house... I can only have so many tanks running.