First tank. Will this setup work? Suggestions welcome!

[ImAGoldie]

Hello all! I've keeping freshwater tanks for a few years now and currently have a few up and running. I particularly love my 75g goldfish and my 40g community tanks. Anyway, I want to venture into the saltwater portion of aquariums. I'm planning on saving up money, but first I'd like to have an estimate on what I'll be spending. I'll also use this time to research and get a little more comfortable with the processes of a reef tank.

I don't want to skimp on this tank. I also don't want to get all or most of the parts separately. I feel like it'll make things easier on me to get a kit that has most of what I need to start up a tank. This setup caught my attention. I believe it's a a decent size for a saltwater beginner and will be a good fit for my plans, but I'm not sure if it's a reasonable kit.

Would that setup need anything else? I believe it needs a return pump and a skimmer along with some other helpful equipment. Anybody have anymore information on what else is needed?

I definitely want a pair of clownfish and a goby of some kind. A clean up crew and corals are in the plan too. I think I'll be working to adding a bubble tip anemone after I'm comfortable with doing so. Of course this won't be the final version of the tank but it is where I think I'll start. Who knows... Maybe it'll turn out completely different in the end.

Is the tank I linked a good start? Or should I look elsewhere? Any other reef ready sets, of similar size, that might work better? Or does anyone have a list for what exactly (with links preferably) is needed to build my own aquarium?

 

[Quietman]

Red Sea makes a nice product. I decided on the 170 when I got into the hobby a few years ago. It's a great start for a sump based reefing system.

My build thread has all the recommendations I could ever make to you on how to approach the build and the cost/equipment etc.

Good luck and I really envy you starting on the journey. There's only a first tank once, take your time, do your research and keep asking questions.

 

[jabberwock]

Don't get clownfish.

 

[pseudorand]

What's your budget? Other stuff you will need that I can think of off the top of my head other than livestock:

• Skimmer
• Return pump
• Spare return pump
• RO/DI system
• Ato and resivoir
• Sump? (I couldn't tell if it came with one or just a place for one)
• Refugium light or algae scrubber/mat
• Dosing containers and pumps (is there room for those in the cabinet?
• Shut of sensors
• Water test kits
• Wave makers or other powerheads for flow
• Salt
• Mixing buckets (and space for them)
• Controller

A lot of those things are arguably optional. But that's what I thought when I started 3 years ago. I have every one of them now, and I've purchased replacements for a number of them. I would guess many others have had the same experience.

Also, +2 to the "no clownfish" comment. They're mean. Unless you want to do an all damsel tank (Clowns are close relatives of damsels), which would be beautiful.

I do have a pair of clarkii clowns I inherited in a community tank, but it was hit or miss introducing anything and they're murdered a lot of fish. If you go that route, make sure to use an acclimation box that protects the new fish until they all get used to each other. Or just add the clowns last.