Equipment for a new tank

[fishmandan]

When setting up a new tank from scratch, how would you source your equipment? Get everything from brs, piece it all together from local shops, or what do you recommend? I have our tanks but no extra equipment after I sold all of the freshwater equipment not wanting cross contamination.

 

[G Santana]

Some things you can get used, some new.
Lights and pumps I'd buy new.
Hanna test kits I'd buy new.
Skimmers and fuge lights you can buy used.
Tanks, sumps, ATS you can buy used.

It really depends on your immediate needs.

 

[Billldg]

I bought everything from BRS on both of my tanks. I would recommend watching the BRS 52 weeks of reefing, and, piece it together from there. I watched it several times before taking the plunge and buying equipment.

 

[fishmandan]

I bought everything from BRS on both of my tanks. I would recommend watching the BRS 52 weeks of reefing, and, piece it together from there. I watched it several times before taking the plunge and buying equipment.

I’ve watched through once and need to a second time. I am lucky to have a local reefer helping me. I am just working on making informed decisions as best as possible.

 

[Billldg]

I’ve watched through once and need to a second time. I am lucky to have a local reefer helping me. I am just working on making informed decisions as best as possible.

Agree that some things can be bought used, but, I personally would like to know what the equipment has been thru. I bought a used skimmer and it served me well. I am just concerned with what the equipment was used for, whether DT or QT and copper.

 

[vetteguy53081]

When setting up a new tank from scratch, how would you source your equipment? Get everything from brs, piece it all together from local shops, or what do you recommend? I have our tanks but no extra equipment after I sold all of the freshwater equipment not wanting cross contamination.

Piece it shopping for best prices.

1. Aquarium/Tank - you have this
   You need to decide where you want to put your aquarium
2. Lighting
   The type of lighting you choose will be based on the type of system you have planned to set up, as well as what kind of livestock you will be keeping in it.
3. Skimmers, Filters & Filtration Equipment
   Once again, what type of system you are going to set up will help you determine which kind of filters and filtration system to choose.
4. Powerhead
   Depending on the size of your aquarium, the use of one or several powerheads is an excellent way to provide good water circulation throughout the system.
5. Live Rock & Substrate
   Here you need to decide on what type of material you want on the bottom of the tank, as well as whether you want to start with a live or non-living medium. Live Rock plays an important role in a marine tank. Many marine animals, fish in particular, can be quite territorial. It is important to provide ample shelter or places where the animals can hide, sleep, and avoid potential problems with aggression from other tankmates in the confined space of an aquarium.
6. Sea Salt Mix/Saltwater & Hydrometer
   Sea salts are what make an aquarium a saltwater or marine aquarium. Also referred to as a salinity tester, this item measures the specific gravity or salt content of the water.
7. Heater & Thermometer
   For smaller aquariums one heater works well, but for larger systems the use of multiple units is advised. With stick-on, floating, multi-function remote digital sensor, and many other types of units to pick from, the material a thermometer is made of is an important factor when choosing one as well.
8. Air Pump & Air Stones
   Only needed if you are going to run a piece of equipment that requires these items, Or for quarantining/medicating fish
9. Test Kits, Additives & Supplements
   For live rock and reef tank systems, calcium (a.k.a. limewater/kalkwasser) needs to be added. Other supplemental vitamins or additives that are beneficial to the health of certain marine inhabitants you may be keeping, such a iodine for crustaceans, are important as well.
10. Maintenance Tools & Supplies
    This category includes having items on hand such as a various sized plastic buckets or containers, tank cleaning tools such as a siphon tube/hose, an algae scraper or magnet, as well as nets of different sizes, spare equipment replacements parts, and so on. A good way to keep track of what maintenance tasks you have preformed and when is to keep a log book or record of everything you do.

 

[JNalley]

The used market here on the forums is a great source of used, low-cost, aquarium goods. I've had great luck with it. Bought AI Prime HD's, AI Hydra 26 HD's, 2 Skimmers, Wavemakers, etc. Nearly everything has arrived to me as expected, in good condition, and seems like they will last. Also, I tend to find stuff on facebook reefing groups a lot, or bump into people in those groups who point me at lesser-known mom and pops manufacturers for things like reservoirs, sumps, etc. I've probably saved myself $3-4,000 at this point using that method. It's really going to depend on you though and what your tastes are, and what compromises you are willing to make.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I shop around for the best prices for my purchases, I feel its good to spread the wealth around, and its good to encourage competition. The exact same product can have a $20-$30-$40 diference between retailers. (and of course, if you get burned, it doesnt hurt as much)

 

[fishmandan]

I shop around for the best prices for my purchases, I feel its good to spread the wealth around, and its good to encourage competition. The exact same product can have a $20-$30-$40 diference between retailers. (and of course, if you get burned, it doesnt hurt as much)

Good points!

 

[fishmandan]

Piece it shopping for best prices.

1. Aquarium/Tank - you have this
   You need to decide where you want to put your aquarium
2. Lighting
   The type of lighting you choose will be based on the type of system you have planned to set up, as well as what kind of livestock you will be keeping in it.
3. Skimmers, Filters & Filtration Equipment
   Once again, what type of system you are going to set up will help you determine which kind of filters and filtration system to choose.
4. Powerhead
   Depending on the size of your aquarium, the use of one or several powerheads is an excellent way to provide good water circulation throughout the system.
5. Live Rock & Substrate
   Here you need to decide on what type of material you want on the bottom of the tank, as well as whether you want to start with a live or non-living medium. Live Rock plays an important role in a marine tank. Many marine animals, fish in particular, can be quite territorial. It is important to provide ample shelter or places where the animals can hide, sleep, and avoid potential problems with aggression from other tankmates in the confined space of an aquarium.
6. Sea Salt Mix/Saltwater & Hydrometer
   Sea salts are what make an aquarium a saltwater or marine aquarium. Also referred to as a salinity tester, this item measures the specific gravity or salt content of the water.
7. Heater & Thermometer
   For smaller aquariums one heater works well, but for larger systems the use of multiple units is advised. With stick-on, floating, multi-function remote digital sensor, and many other types of units to pick from, the material a thermometer is made of is an important factor when choosing one as well.
8. Air Pump & Air Stones
   Only needed if you are going to run a piece of equipment that requires these items, Or for quarantining/medicating fish
9. Test Kits, Additives & Supplements
   For live rock and reef tank systems, calcium (a.k.a. limewater/kalkwasser) needs to be added. Other supplemental vitamins or additives that are beneficial to the health of certain marine inhabitants you may be keeping, such a iodine for crustaceans, are important as well.
10. Maintenance Tools & Supplies
    This category includes having items on hand such as a various sized plastic buckets or containers, tank cleaning tools such as a siphon tube/hose, an algae scraper or magnet, as well as nets of different sizes, spare equipment replacements parts, and so on. A good way to keep track of what maintenance tasks you have preformed and when is to keep a log book or record of everything you do.

Amazing response thank you!

 

[131696]

Always buy local support your community plus you don't have to wait for it in the mail,plus you can go see the fish at store and corals close up.

 

[fishmandan]

Always buy local support your community plus you don't have to wait for it in the mail,plus you can go see the fish at store and corals close up.

I definitely prefer local, and there is a great shop for livestock. None of the local shops stock equipment though.

 

[FMF0331]

I got burned so many times buying used, I rather work a few more hours and save up the cash for "new" items.

LordofCinder mentioned above, always shop around

 

[Willhersh34]

Relatively new to reefing. I bought some from BRS, some from Amazon. Plus some DIY messing about. Lol.

just be a good consumer really. BRS is great for buying but also good for doing research. Then you can comparison shop. LFS, online retailers. My go to will always be Amazon but you can’t always find what you’re looking for so the my go to is BRS.