Best purchase for a newbie is...

AZDesertRat · Jul 30, 2013

RO/DI.
Water is the single largest ingredient in a reef system by far and everything depends on its quality and its stability. Having ultimate control over your water quality goes a long way towards long term success. I usually recommend buying a RO/DI system even before the tank or rock so you are not tempted to fill it with tap water in the beginning. If its worth doing, its worth doing right the first time!

All Delight · Jul 30, 2013

Best thing was my ATI powermodule. But probably the most important was a good reliable refractometer.

Ditzy3 · Jul 30, 2013

glb said:
Auto top-off. It automatically adds topoff water to your tank so you don't have to.

Oh ok, I need that.. And ro/di system... I know I still sound stupid but what is the system? I know what ro is ..

CoryC · Jul 30, 2013

I have two tunze ATOs for my frag system and my display tank, tried float valves but i dont trust them. doesnt matter how many you have, what could make one fail will almost certainly make the others fail. The tunze ATO uses an electronic eye to "see" when the level drops instead of using mechanical switches. yes it's still an electronic switch, could fail but i've never read of one failing. An ro/di filter is a special filter that basically just has holes large enough for a water molecule to pass through, osmotic pressure forces the water from your sink(there are adapters the fit onto your kitchen sink) through a gallery of carbon blocks, particle filters, and finally through the ro membrane and a deionization medium. giving you 99.99999999999% pure water. There may be some other elements in there, but nothing like the heavy metals and chloramines that are in tapwater. Books that you see in LFS's are often old and outdated material, the internet is much more up to date. just do your research before you even buy anything. Three places you should not skimp and try to save money are 1. protein skimmer 2. light source 3. pumps (returns and powerheads) youll pay for it somehow if you do.

Zero Nitrates · Jul 30, 2013

Read this book

Jenaleigh1 · Jul 31, 2013

Neither of mine are regarding equipment, but I am new as well and have found that:
Amazon and some other online retailers are MUCH cheaper than my LFS for the more expensive things like pumps and other more specialized stuff, so you should always research and never impulse buy.
Join a reef club in your area. The one thing that goes crazy and does well in your new tank might be something you can frag and trade for other new things for your tank instead of spending more and more money. Clubs always have people who are wanting to trade up or down in size and you can typically get things used much cheaper. Make sure you ask someone who knows what they are doing for their opinion on whatever it is you think you are getting a great deal on. They also know how not to spend money on stupid things you don't really need.