1. tank. The larger the tank, the thicker the glass should be. When you hit 50 gallons, 1/2" thick is the best, if you can get it. Acrylic can be thinner. Glass is easier to clean. Acrylic is easier to lift and cheaper. Do not disdain second-hand tanks, but go take a look at the drilling and piping of a high-end, reef-ready tank, and use that knowledge when inspecting a tank you propose to buy. Likewise, white vinegar can dissolve the white crud and spots that make a used tank look used. What it can't help is scratches on acrylic. Larger tanks are easier and more chemically stable than little tanks---100 gallons would be a lovely size for a tank that would last you a while, and will handle most species you'd like to keep. Small tanks are restricted in species. Monster tanks require a lot of water-hauling, but are very stable and can keep almost anything. And for a starter, if you have a choice between a 20 and a 30, go for the 30, a 40 if you can manage it. 40 is probably one of the most popular starter sizes, for good reasons including stability. THere are also good 30 gallon all-in-ones, which have miniaturized support systems and are, as implied, turnkey---but to go larger you have to rebuy your skimmer, pumps etc. My advice is buy EQUIPMENT for the tank you look to have next---within likelihood and sanity. That way you don't have to buy equipment twice.
2. equipment: you need a heater, skimmer, downflow box, piping (durso or the like), hose (spendier than you'd think), skimmer pump, return pump. You do not need a canopy, but if you have one, you may want canopy fans. You need lighting, and a standard light fixture won't do. If you're keeping fish, ok, but why spend twice? Get a T5, which can be either fish or reef. LEDs, lovely, but pricey, to get one that can handle corals, and fragile: water can damage them. You also need a sump to hold the skimmer and return pump and skimmer pump. You need 2 lbs of live rock or holey limestone per gallon, and aragonite sand to match---don't get the fine, get medium. If you are doing a fish only you can get by with a large canister filter and bioballs and that sort of thing, but those don't work for a reef, so if you want to transition from fish to reef---don't buy a canister: set up with a sump. You also need ample salt (the price diff is between reef salt and fish-only salt.) You need a refractometer, some test strips, to start; and once the tank cycles, you need alkalinity test with buffer; and if a reef, you also need calcium test/supplement; and magnesium test/supplement. You need a 5 gallon bucket or several. And you need a ro/di filter, 4 stage recommended. You need a quarantine/hospital/observation tank of about 10-20 gallons, and a pump and filter for that, with a jump screen and heater. I'd add, get a topoff bucket and an ATO (autotopoff unit.) It'll save your sanity.
GET THE EQUIPMENT AND GET SET UP. Your first 4 weeks past cycle, concentrate on your rockwork and your snails and crabs, maybe a couple of hardy corals, before you even start on fish. Yes, it's slow. Yes, it's what we call 'deferred gratification,' but it's something you need a lot of in this hobby. Anything that goes fast can toboggan to bad places. Take it slow. Used is perfectly fine in any equipment except your heater. Get a new one and get a top of the line one: cheap heaters are a fire hazard in your house.
Hope that helps. Suggestions welcome. You do not need a turnkey shiny 500 gallon reef-capable with controller and every whistle and bell known to the hobby--I'm automated, but I use nothing but hardware timers and a float switch, and do corals just fine, with a little extra hands-on: my sump is not a beautiful well-organized area, but it functions. Question is how much do you need to automate re your life style, disposable income, and time you've got to devote to the details: that's a personal decision.
2. equipment: you need a heater, skimmer, downflow box, piping (durso or the like), hose (spendier than you'd think), skimmer pump, return pump. You do not need a canopy, but if you have one, you may want canopy fans. You need lighting, and a standard light fixture won't do. If you're keeping fish, ok, but why spend twice? Get a T5, which can be either fish or reef. LEDs, lovely, but pricey, to get one that can handle corals, and fragile: water can damage them. You also need a sump to hold the skimmer and return pump and skimmer pump. You need 2 lbs of live rock or holey limestone per gallon, and aragonite sand to match---don't get the fine, get medium. If you are doing a fish only you can get by with a large canister filter and bioballs and that sort of thing, but those don't work for a reef, so if you want to transition from fish to reef---don't buy a canister: set up with a sump. You also need ample salt (the price diff is between reef salt and fish-only salt.) You need a refractometer, some test strips, to start; and once the tank cycles, you need alkalinity test with buffer; and if a reef, you also need calcium test/supplement; and magnesium test/supplement. You need a 5 gallon bucket or several. And you need a ro/di filter, 4 stage recommended. You need a quarantine/hospital/observation tank of about 10-20 gallons, and a pump and filter for that, with a jump screen and heater. I'd add, get a topoff bucket and an ATO (autotopoff unit.) It'll save your sanity.
GET THE EQUIPMENT AND GET SET UP. Your first 4 weeks past cycle, concentrate on your rockwork and your snails and crabs, maybe a couple of hardy corals, before you even start on fish. Yes, it's slow. Yes, it's what we call 'deferred gratification,' but it's something you need a lot of in this hobby. Anything that goes fast can toboggan to bad places. Take it slow. Used is perfectly fine in any equipment except your heater. Get a new one and get a top of the line one: cheap heaters are a fire hazard in your house.
Hope that helps. Suggestions welcome. You do not need a turnkey shiny 500 gallon reef-capable with controller and every whistle and bell known to the hobby--I'm automated, but I use nothing but hardware timers and a float switch, and do corals just fine, with a little extra hands-on: my sump is not a beautiful well-organized area, but it functions. Question is how much do you need to automate re your life style, disposable income, and time you've got to devote to the details: that's a personal decision.
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