What do I need in addition to a tank?

dj777

New member
I am planning on buying a 125g all-glass reefready tank.

What additional equipment would you suggest as mandatory to set up a reef? Also what brands/providers/capacities/models?

Is there a thread on the site with the info already?

I would imagine I need at least the following is needed:
1. sump
2. protein skimmer
3. pumps/powerheads,etc.
4. heater
5. live rock
6. substrate
7. lights and fixtures
8. stand & canopy
9. salt
10. ro/di unit
11. possibly a ca reactor

Thanks for all advice in advance.
 
It's all a matter of preference and what livestock you will keep. For a general Mixed Reef, this is what I would do.

125g Reef Ready Tank
Good, open hefty stand and canopy
Sump with a large refugium
Mag 12 Return pump split to both ends of the tank
A Tunze on each end of the tank (Or Seio for those watching their wallet
ASM G3 Skimmer
(2) 100w Heaters
~200lbs of good, light, porous live rock or same amount of base rock seeded with live rock
~3-4" Deep Sand Bed of Aragonite Sand
Good ~100 GPD RO/DI unit with a good rejection rate.
Either 4-8 5ft T5HO or 3 250w MH with supplemented actinics
Instant Ocean/Oceanic Salt (Mixed together at 1:1 ratio)
Sailfert Test kits for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, pH, Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium
Autotop off system
A digital, regular, and instant read thermometer
a refractometer

That should get you a complete set up for anything you want and it would be pretty top of the line.
 
I second what travis said. And also, theres stickies at the top of the forum for begginners. Those will have pretty much everything you need to know to get started, but there are a fair few uncovered things still.
 
Unfortunately most of the things you learn can't necessarily be taught. There is a lot of hands on experience things that you will have to learn for yourself.
 
Re: What do I need in addition to a tank?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8129877#post8129877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dj777
I am planning on buying a 125g all-glass reefready tank.

What additional equipment would you suggest as mandatory to set up a reef? Also what brands/providers/capacities/models?

Is there a thread on the site with the info already?

I would imagine I need at least the following is needed:
1. sump
2. protein skimmer
3. pumps/powerheads,etc.
4. heater
5. live rock
6. substrate
7. lights and fixtures
8. stand & canopy
9. salt
10. ro/di unit
11. possibly a ca reactor

Thanks for all advice in advance.

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

Travis posted a good list - a lot of these items can be purchased second hand - if you have a local reef club they would have some sort of bulletin board for selling and trading

I would go further on the sand and recommend Caribsea sugar fine oolitic if you're going with a 4 "deep sand bed

He recommended 2 small heaters rather than 1 big one because if one fails "off", you still have one going for back up so the tank doesn't get too cold so fast and if one fails "on" at least it's a small heater and less likely to quickly cook your tank
 
and if they both get stuck on at the same time..you're pretty much just screwed lol :) but ya 2 heaters is a good choice. Not too expensive either, specially when compaired to everything else in this hobby.
 
I second Travis. You don't need a reactor yet: that will come after your corals start to grow and you find yourself dumping in calcium by the jar-full. The other things are a very good idea. Get as large a sump as you can possibly, remotely possibly manage in your underpinnings, and see if you can reserve part of it for a refugium [pod production area.] Leave room for a reactor, and consider whether your skimmer should be insump or not. With a 125 you may want to go exterior. Should be a great system: you're starting right.
 
I would not recommend a mag 12 as the return pump. I would think something that pushes about 600 gph would be good.

I personally have the Eheim 1262 on my 125 and wish I had purchased the 1260.
 
Hello I am also starting to really get into the hobby. I have just purchased a AGA 95 wave I thinking of starting with a simmilar list to start with but not sure what lights or how much I should have currently I have a compact with 4 65 bulbs.
 
i think soaking up as much knowledge as possible is more important than anything, good luck and keep researching and welcome
 
someone had a photochopped picture of a Kent Marine additive...it was called "Patience"...lol...i can't stress how true that is
 
Have you had your head examined lately?:rollface: Anyone getting into this hobby must be a little krazy!! Just kidding. It's one of the most enoyable things I've ever done. Have fun.
 
Herr Stevens or anyone else for that matter, what is the advantage/reasoning behind mixing Oceanic salt with Instant Ocean???
 
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