Equipment Suggestions for New Tank

[PelzerC]

Hello,
I'm getting my very first reef aquarium this summer and was looking for some suggestion on equipment for the tank. The tank I am getting is a 55 gallon display tank with a 24 gallon sump. I'm not looking for the top of the line most expensive equipment but stuff that will work, be reliable, and won't break the bank. Here is the list of equipment I'm looking for:

- pump
- protein skimmer (would it be a mistake to buy a uses one?)
- heater
- ATO kit
- wave maker

 

[Idoc]

I have a varios6 return pump on my 75g tank... some pump. The varios4 would have been enough though.

I like Tunze products...i have their skimmer, ATO, and now powerheads... no problems with any of them.

 

[ryeguyy84]

You could use a Simplicity skimmer, they have a DC pump so it's pretty quiet

https://clearchoiceaquatics.com/collections/protein-skimmers/products/simplicity-120dc

The auto aqua micro ATO worked well for me until I got an apex

Jaebo dct pumps are good and reliable when you clean them regularly

 

[RJinPV]

Check BRS videos for heaters. I settled on Cobalts. They also cover ATOs (Tunze is a favorite) and pumps. I have a Tunze 6055 and it has a feature to auto search for the frequency to get a wave going in the tank.

.

 

[PelzerC]

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions everyone! I will definitely be checking these out!

 

[Indytraveler83]

I certainly wouldn’t be afraid of buying a used skimmer, provided you clean it well and know it works properly.

I recently picked up a used CPR Bak Pak and couldn’t be happier, almost no break in and it was skimming from day 1.

 

[CrissyCoralsGirl]

I like the Ice Cap ATO. It is very cost effective and has a great design

 

[PatW]

The dirt cheap thermostats in heaters have an evil reputation of failing and cooking the aquarium. If you need a heater, it is a good idea to have it controlled by something else than the cheap thermostat.

You could get an aquarium controller like an apex to do this and they run into $$$. If you do so, you can set the heater to come on at temp x and off at temp x +a. You can also have the controller turn a fan ( and small fans are cheap) on to cool your aquarium coming on at temp x + a + b. I have this and my aquarium runs in a really narrow temperature band.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

Good advice on used. There is a ton of used, good condition and higher end equipment out there. Check out the marketplace section in the forums.


There is also equipment new that is cheap but works great. I had a 55 for ever. I ran a cheap Rio 2500. Quiet and never failed. I am running it now on my 180 for a reactor. Must be at least 12 years old. Heaters I agree, don’t skimp. Get the correct one and it will last for ever. A lot of use that don’t have the expensive aquarium controllers use a Ranco and a titanium heater.

Again, #WelcometoR2R

 

[Jekyl]

2 Eheim jager heaters and an inkbird controller. May want to buy the 3 pack on Amazon so you have an extra for water changes.
Powerheads go with 2 jebao ow-25