Equipment needed to start?

[Sierra_Bravo]

I'm in the planning stage for my first mixed reef tank. I've been putting together an equipment list as I go and am quite confident of the basic necessities, but I'm unsure if I need to worry about purchasing items like media reactors, dosing pumps, and the like.

Should these be part of the initial equipment list or items for down the road as the need arises?

 

[Merck]

Hi, what size tank.

 

[Oscar47f]

Personally id they they are items that can be bought down the road but you should already be planning ahead as to where you're going to put this equipment, the power consumptions, if you will have enough stony corals to even need this stuff and how much you will need. always good to plan ahead

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Hi, what size tank.

120 gal.

 

[Roy 9121]

All i started with was an aquarium, some rock, sand, a sump, lighting, and a return pump.

 

[Richards_reef]

After what Roy already mentioned, I'd say, a RODI, and powerheads. This is what I would want to be the bare minimum personally. The reactors and dosing pumps are nice to have if you have the extra money but are not required.

 

[Richards_reef]

Oh and something to mix salt water. Brute cans are nice for this, but 5 gallon buckets can be used also if on a tight budget.

 

[Roy 9121]

After what Roy already mentioned, I'd say, a RODI, and powerheads. This is what I would want to be the bare minimum personally. The reactors and dosing pumps are nice to have if you have the extra money but are not required.

I agree with the power heads, but I've had my tank for 10 years and have never had a RODI. I would also add a protien skimmer very soon.

 

[millertyler22]

A skimmer will deffenety help

 

[Richards_reef]

I agree with the power heads, but I've had my tank for 10 years and have never had a RODI. I would also add a protien skimmer very soon.

Not required, but I live in Phoenix and don't trust my municipal water supply.

 

[Roy 9121]

Not required, but I live in Phoenix and don't trust my municipal water supply.

Me either, i get fresh water from a fresh water vending machine, or at my LFS. I get saltwater at my LFS. I would love to have an RODI system, but it's just not going to happen for a while.

 

[Merck]

120 gal.

YEA, That what size tank I'm going for because of space, do you have a tank now,tring to see what you have now far as test ect, do you have a local saltwater store that test water or sell RODI (not hose in backyard) and you will need reef salt. Do your homework on sand and how much of it, for me i like bigger sand (it don't blow around). I know you were asking about big stuff but just trying to help. what kind of lights you going with.I have a old
redsea with T5s i like them.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Im lucky enough to have a decent budget available, but I'm trying to keep my money where it matters the most.

What I have penciled in or purchased for equipment so far:

Aqueon 120 with Synergy Reef Shadow overflow

Trigger Ruby 36s sump

Bubble Magnus curve 5

Maxspect ethereal lights x 2

Gyre xf250

Tunze ATO

Battery backup

Saltwater mixing station

BRS 4 stage Ro Di

Finnex titanium heaters x 2

I still haven't settled on what return pump to get, which test kits to buy, etc. but I'm aware that I need them along with some other essential items. What I wasn't sure about was if I needed to worry about things like reactors, various digital probes/sensors, dosing equipment, etc., that might be good to have in place from the start.

There's a big difference between want to have and got to have, and I'm still trying to figure it all out. I know I'm spending more money than I have to with the above list but I'd like to give myself a good shot right out of the gate

 

[Oscar47f]

i didn't get my reactors till like 6 months in... i still have no dosing equipment just getting by on manual dosing of two part... and as for probes and sensors i use test kits instead the only difference is its not a constant reading but it works well

 

[Richards_reef]

Personally you I would get at least one reactor for carbon or gfo. Especially if you have a mixed reef. You can pick them up pretty cheap, new or used. I used to have one of the bulky ones that look like an ro canister but downgraded to a phosban. You don't need one super heavy duty.