Getting started

[Mojohoffer]

it seems to me that marine keeping is going to be very expensive. How do you members keep your costs down? I’m married with a young family and was wondering what items are a must to have. I will have a 90 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. I think I will need a protein skimmer,a dosing pump,heater. What else can you think of that is a must have to get started. Lighting will be two corallife double t5s as well. Thanks for your input in advance.

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!! As far as cost go I wish I knew the answer, lol! Good Luck.

 

[mich2599]

Welcome to R2R!!!

Are you going to add coral at some point?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Personally, if you are not keeping any sps and are willing to do water changes often, you can get away without a dosing pump. However, if you plan to keep sps or heavy lps, you will need the pump or a calcium reactor.

Keeping costs down comes with the types of corals you want. Softies and many lps are forgiving and easier to maintain. So less time hassling with water and more time to enjoy and be with family. Once you get the hang of it or the family grows up a bit, you could try some harder to maintain corals such as some lps, sps, etc.

Top off system of some kind will save you a huge headache. Obviously you need some powerheads, but the brand and kind can be determined by budget.

 

[Softhammer]

Just keep it simple. Use the best equipment you can swing but all the bells a whistles are 100% unnecessary. I have never in 15 years had a tank crash or any cataclysmic event and I use zero technology. Up until my new LEDS the most advanced equipment I have ever used was a $7 lighting timer from ace hardware. Ask ANY successful old timer and I promise they will agree. 99% of the most jaw dropping big reefs out there are unbelievably simple systems.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Of course, I give this info based on the fact that I started when I had a baby and expecting twins and was doing sps. Worked for years, but I would definitely go the other route looking back at it.

 

[Mojohoffer]

Welcome to R2R!!!

Are you going to add coral at some point?

Yes I’m planning on coral.

 

[Mojohoffer]

I forgot to mention I already own a RO unit as well so an auto tip off is in the works as well. It doesn’t have the DI filter though. I could always add one I imagine.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! Agree with @DeniseAndy , an ATO and a RODI system will be a great addition to keep maintenance easy. Also, some equipment's you don't need at the beginning so you don't need to expend all the money at once. Just get what you need when you need it.

 

[mich2599]

Yes I’m planning on coral.

Okay well basic needs beside the obvious which are live sand, rock, salt, return pump, are;

Power heads
Heater (and backup heater)
2 Part which is Calcium and Alkalinity (recommend BRS)
Testing kits
Hydrometer
Cupramine ( To QT or treat sick fish)
Skimmer ( I use RO)
RODI System (recommend BRS)
Media for sump

Many of the Items you can buy off of Amazon which saves money on some items.

 

[Jesterrace]

Going used (particularly on a 90 gallon tank) can save you big $. My recommendation is to check Craigslist or your LFS for a complete used setup (or at least nearly all the mechanical equipment included). You can spend a few hundred instead of thousands. I got a 90 gallon, with stand, 29 gallon sump, return pump, protein skimmer and virtually all the plumbing for $488 (and the main tank itself was new). Just be sure to check for leaks or scratches on the tank before buying (having them turn on the light on an empty tank will reveal EVERYTHING). I ended up not checking and hence why I ended up with a new tank on a used setup. Here is what the used one looked like:

 

[beaslbob]

I would balance out the tank with macro algae like chaeto then do the rest.

It is possible to have a relatively inexpensive refugium full of thriving macro algae and no live sand or rock, no filters, no skimmers, no water changes and so on. The macros balance out and stabilize the tank.

You can even establish the system using common and inexpensive FW mollies. After a week of establishing the algae add some male mollys and don't add food for a week. Then start feeding 1 flake per molly per day. After a few weeks the tank would be ready for just about any fish.

my .02

 

[Softhammer]

I have a 90 gallon complete setup in my garage if you’re in the Tampa area. I also have about 1000 pumps of various kinds as well a 4 extra Tunze protein skimmers. I’ll cut you a deal you won’t believe if you get this crap out of my garage!

 

[Mojohoffer]

I have a 90 gallon complete setup in my garage if you’re in the Tampa area. I also have about 1000 pumps of various kinds as well a 4 extra Tunze protein skimmers. I’ll cut you a deal you won’t believe if you get this crap out of my garage!

Lol I. A long ways from Tampa. I’m way up in southern Ontario Canada.

 

[Mojohoffer]

I would balance out the tank with macro algae like chaeto then do the rest.

It is possible to have a relatively inexpensive refugium full of thriving macro algae and no live sand or rock, no filters, no skimmers, no water changes and so on. The macros balance out and stabilize the tank.

You can even establish the system using common and inexpensive FW mollies. After a week of establishing the algae add some male mollys and don't add food for a week. Then start feeding 1 flake per molly per day. After a few weeks the tank would be ready for just about any fish.

my .02

Not really sure what a refugium is. I’ll look it up

 

[Super Fly]

Refugium is section of sump where macroalgae or live rocks r stored for natural filtering. To save $$$ I buy only used equipment from people upgrading or getting out of the hobby (never paying more than 60% of original price). Sometimes u'll see some amazing deals out there. Don't necessarily need a skimmer and especially dosing pumps in the beginning. Dosing pumps will help if ur tank becomes full of corals that require added elements due to slowing growth, otherwise regular water change will typically replenish used elements sufficiently. U can use live rocks instead of skimmer for filtering.
One thing about this hobby is each tank is different and what works for others may not work for you and vice versa. Please be very patient in this hobby and learn to recognize ur tank's ecosystem (bc that's what we r striving to achieve) to see what works. If someone says "u have/need to get this"..., don't always jump the gun.

 

[Mojohoffer]

Refugium is section of sump where macroalgae or live rocks r stored for natural filtering. To save $$$ I buy only used equipment from people upgrading or getting out of the hobby (never paying more than 60% of original price). Sometimes u'll see some amazing deals out there. Don't necessarily need a skimmer and especially dosing pumps in the beginning. Dosing pumps will help if ur tank becomes full of corals that require added elements due to slowing growth, otherwise regular water change will typically replenish used elements sufficiently. U can use live rocks instead of skimmer for filtering.
One thing about this hobby is each tank is different and what works for others may not work for you and vice versa. Please be very patient in this hobby and learn to recognize ur tank's ecosystem (bc that's what we r striving to achieve) to see what works. If someone says "u have/need to get this"..., don't always jump the gun.

Ok thanks. I’m definitely going to have live rock. I believe 1 pound per gallon is a good ratio. Not sure about sand.lots of time to plan at least

 

[Softhammer]

You need a skimmer,an absolute necessity. I still haven’t used a dosing pump with clams that weigh close to 10 lbs each and probably close to 200 SPS corals, my daily alkalinity consumption puts me though about 5 gallons of 2 part solution, a calcium reactor and kalk top off every 6 months. Dosing with a Dixie cup. Again simple promotes success and building confidence. An auto top off would be great if you aren’t able to pour in water daily. As I was afraid of, you are going to get to of advice that will deter you. It literally can be done very successfully with a tank, pumps and lights. No supplements, change your water when things get nasty, and it will in the first year. Yes year++. Pay no mind to the tiny tanks with white sand and frags. That’s not a reef. A real reef tank takes time. And buy some patience. The stores don’t sell any of it and profit immensely on the lack of it.

 

[Super Fly]

Ok thanks. I’m definitely going to have live rock. I believe 1 pound per gallon is a good ratio. Not sure about sand.lots of time to plan at least

If u plan to add sand, I'd recommend not too fine grain size so that when u clean the sand during water change (vacuum) the sand wont get sucked out of tank. Unless u plan to glue/drill the rocks together, so the rocks dont fall over, then having sand will provide some cushion should a rock tumble over.

 

[beaslbob]

Not really sure what a refugium is. I’ll look it up

A refugium is simply a protected area usually near the sump where macro algae and pods are away from the fish that eats them.

Simplest case is just an in tank partition. I crammed in 1/4" square plastic grid (egg crate) 3" in front of my back glass in my old 55g. Then added 2 2 tube utility shop lights behind the glass pointing forward. So the area between the back glass and egg crate formed a protected area where macros and pods thrived and the separate from the fish. My tangs were constantly grazing on the macros that poked through plus nitrates dropped to unmeasurable in 3 weeks and phosphates followed a few months later. tap water, no water changes, landscape rocks.