1st reef tank setup help

Nickh517 · Feb 21, 2016

I have had several freshwater tanks and am making the jump to saltwater.

I have recently purchased

- 28 gallon nano cube intermediate
-JBJ true temp heating kit
-nano cube protein skimmer kit
-JBJ NanoZapp Inline UV Sterilizer

What other equipment will i need before i begin setting it the tank?
Any links to 1st time startup would be appreciated.

Thanks for the help in advance!

MikeyAl · Feb 21, 2016

I am a big believer in either having a fuge with chaeto, or an algae turf scrubber for nutrient export.
A small reactor would also be good- you can get a min tumbler with NP Active pearls or a small reactor from BRS for running gfo or carbon. Check sellers forum.just my opinion.

GROSSR · Feb 21, 2016

You need to figure out what you want to keep? Fish only, fish with live rock, coral - softies, LPS, SPS??? Please let us know.

you will need RO/DI. to start.
I don't currently use UV, and I have been doing this 30 years. Others have different opinions.
methods to create water changes, a few buckets
Test kits - nitrates,etc. you can search for a basic test kit to start with.
Salt
method to measure salinity,
pumps for mixing

I run a Turf scrubber, and love it.

And of course, the plastic colored coral, and the diver who goes up and down with the air pump

rich

WVReefJunkie · Feb 21, 2016

Reef crystals 200 Gallon salt mix
Red Sea Refracometer
RO/DI Filtration
Ato
Ammonia Source
Nitrifying Bacteria

MikeyAl · Feb 21, 2016

All good adds.
Of course all equipment for water changes, buckets, pump, etc.
You can buy water from your LFS but in long run its better to mix your own. So RODI is a must.

MikeyAl · Feb 21, 2016

GROSSR said:
You need to figure out what you want to keep? Fish only, fish with live rock, coral - softies, LPS, SPS??? Please let us know.

you will need RO/DI. to start.
I don't currently use UV, and I have been doing this 30 years. Others have different opinions.
methods to create water changes, a few buckets
Test kits - nitrates,etc. you can search for a basic test kit to start with.
Salt
method to measure salinity,
pumps for mixing

I run a Turf scrubber, and love it.

And of course, the plastic colored coral, and the diver who goes up and down with the air pump

rich

Did you build your own ATS. I built a waterfall and have loved it.

GROSSR · Feb 21, 2016

Yes, I did. I did a couple of iterations. First was a rubbermaid container with the lights inside the container, this last one was a very narrow Acrylic box with the screen inside, and LED lights on the outside.

Nick, I hope you have been doing lots of reading. The hobby has changed quite a bit. It all depends on what you want to do. Until you answer that question you are going to get answers from the least technical to the most involved. Ammonia Source and bacteria, canister are all good things, but not needed if you want only fish and no live rock. Now if you want live rock and/ or coral, then yes. So until you tell us more you are going get lots of good info, but might not apply to you.

You want to seed a tank, buy a blue devil damsel and wait.

Nickh517 · Feb 21, 2016

I plan to have live rock, coral and fish
I have a ro system and refracometer

Still in the process of acquiring supplies. Currently doing tons of reading on r2r.

So much information and options.

MikeyAl · Feb 21, 2016

Have a plan. It's all about the plan and research.

One small piece of advice (and this Justin opinion) don't rely solely on flake food. A feeding strategy is important for the longevity of your inhabitants. Know what your fish need. I have seen so many people fall in love with and purchase a mandarin, for example, only to find that they will only eat live pods and they don't have the pod population to sustain it.

Some good foods are Cyclop-eeze, baby brine shrimp, rods foods, reef plankton.

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

MikeyAl · Feb 21, 2016

Nickh517 said:
I plan to have live rock, coral and fish
I have a ro system and refracometer

Still in the process of acquiring supplies. Currently doing tons of reading on rare.

So much information and options.

What kind of corals? For beginner stick with zoas, mushrooms, softies, some leathers. What kind of light do you have?

Nickh517 · Feb 21, 2016

14K daylight and 456nm Nite-Vu moonlights
Two 266 gph Accela powerheads with directional flow nozzles controlled by the Ocean Pulse Duo alternating wavemaker.

The tank is setup to allow conversion to refugium rather easily