Essential Equiptment

[Snoopeeyy]

Can someone please give me a list of equipment that i will need to start a reef tank? Unlike freshwater, you need circulators and pumps and all this stuff.

 

[Oscaror]

Pretty much mandatory:
Skimmer
Power heads
Good, strong and adjustable lights
Salt
RODI water
heater

Optional, but highly useful:
Sump
Refugium
Carbon
Calcium Reactor (for big tanks with lots of hard corals)
Auto Top Off
AQUARIUM CONTROLLER this is a big one, you don't need it but it's highly recommended!

Well that's my 2 cents, maybe someone else can add more
[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[Shep]

Really the only ones you have to have depending on tank size are lights and power heads. If you have a small or lightly stocked tank you will not need a skimmer and if your LFS sells RODI and you do not mind buying it from there, then you will not need an RODI unit.

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

 

[miller175]

Can someone please give me a list of equipment that i will need to start a reef tank? Unlike freshwater, you need circulators and pumps and all this stuff.

RODI water is a must

 

[mainn]

Don't forget a heater!

 

[HiddenUser]

Pretty much mandatory:
Skimmer
Power heads
Good, strong and adjustable lights
Salt
RODI water

Optional, but highly useful:
Sump
Refugium
Carbon
Calcium Reactor (for big tanks with lots of hard corals)
Auto Top Off
AQUARIUM CONTROLLER this is a big one, you don't need it but it's highly recommended!

Well that's my 2 cents, maybe someone else can add more
[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

I agree with this, but a skimmer and power heads may be optional dependent on the size of the tank and the livestock.

I'd say a tank, heater, some sort of filtration, light, salt, and distilled water would be the minimum.

BRS has a good 11 video series on setting up a reef tank ---
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/setup-saltwater-tank-series-ep1-reefing-made-fun-and-easy/

 

[Oscaror]

I agree with his, but a skimmer and powerheads may be optional dependent on the size of the tank and the livestock.

I'd say a tank, heater, some sort of filtration, light, salt, and distilled water would be the minimum.

Hence the "pretty much" before mandatory

 

[Shep]

-__- how did I forget heater!? lol

 

[143MPCo]

and distilled water would be the minimum.

I would caution against using "distilled water" as most commercial distillers use copper condenser and copper is a major issue in saltwater unless you are treating a fish.

 

[Snoopeeyy]

I agree with this, but a skimmer and power heads may be optional dependent on the size of the tank and the livestock.

I'd say a tank, heater, some sort of filtration, light, salt, and distilled water would be the minimum.

BRS has a good 11 video series on setting up a reef tank ---
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/setup-saltwater-tank-series-ep1-reefing-made-fun-and-easy/

How about for a 20gal long tank? if i put like 2 or 3 fish with some live rock would it be fine without all the more expensive stuff?

 

[HiddenUser]

You could get by with the tank, heater, HOB / Canister Filter, light, RODI water (which you should be able to purchase from your LFS) and salt...the expensive stuff can be added later. Then you can add power heads, auto top off, better lighting (when you start adding coral), controller, sump, skimmer, reactors, etc.

 

[Snoopeeyy]

You could get by with the tank, heater, HOB / Canister Filter, light, RODI water (which you should be able to purchase from your LFS) and salt...the expensive stuff can be added later. Then you can add power heads, auto top off, better lighting (when you start adding coral), controller, sump, skimmer, reactors, etc.

Thank you so much! Any brands that you would recommend for the heaters, lights, and power heads?

 

[HiddenUser]

Thank you so much! Any brands that you would recommend for the heaters, lights, and power heads?

- Heaters I'd just avoid the glass ones. I personally use Cobalt Neo-therms and Finnex...
- Lighting is going to be completely based on your budget. Lots of light vendors on this site to choose from
- When I started I used Tunze power heads, then later upgraded to Vortechs.