Help with my 1st Reef Tank!

[Aggie1978]

Hello all I am happy to be a new member here and have tons of questions! I recently purchased a Red Sea Reef Peninsula Deluxe (105g). I want to start with easy, bullet proof fish, and LPS (as I understand they are more tolerant). I have a list of equipment I am thinking of purchasing to complete my set-up. I would appreciate any comments & advice, thanks!

1. Lights - AL Hydra 26 HD LED (3)
2. Classic 150 INT In-sump protein skimmer (Reef Octopus)
3. Jaeger Ehein heater - 200W
4. Aqua Gadget - ChaetoMax 18W Refugium LED
5. Hanna Marine Salinity tester.
6. Salt - Tropic Marine Red Sea
7. Sand - Carib Sea

This is a start - I will have more questions to follow...!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[dwair]

Welcome to R2R Bud! Nice tank to start with! Jealous, Pennisulas are great!

1. Lights are good.
2. Skimmer is good.
3. Would bump this to a 300w.
4. Good - Though I'd look at Tunze Refugium chico light or Kessil
5. Good but beware plenty of reports of it not reading correctly. Refractometer costs like $35 and super accurate and easy to read.
6. dang good salt.
7. Good, just make sure you go with Arag Special Grade, Fiji pink is super fine and your powerheads will blow it around like crazy!

 

[Alanna102499]

Welcome to R2R! What are planning on using for flow? The Red Sea Reefwave is really good!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Add a ATO unit.

 

[BeltedCoyote]

Welcome to R2R!!

seems you’ve got a pretty solid start. You’re in the right place for questions! Feel free to ask about whatever you find challenging! If some of us don’t have an answer right way, there are countless others who would be more than happy to chime in!

 

[bevo5]

Well, first things first - you'll have to change your username!

Other than that - welcome! I've spent hours just reading old threads on everything you can think of here...answers questions you didn't even know you might have.

 

[Pistondog]

Welcome aggie,, nice tank choice.
Tunze 3155 ato
Milwaukee salinity checker
Depending on ambient for heaters, use 2 x 200w and an inkbird to supervise.
Get a blinding pink horticulture led light from Amazon and mount if close to fuge water to maximize par, minimize spill.
Awesome protien skimmer, does that have the varios dc pump, thats the one you want for less noise and speed flexibility.
Softies are more bulletproof, but can be weedy in their growth.
Choose fish wisely, ask for advice here as to which are safe with coral and other livestock.

 

[Aggie1978]

Welcome to R2R! What are planning on using for flow? The Red Sea Reefwave is really good!

Oops - I forgot this. I was looking at the Gyre XF350 Pump w/ Controller Package (5820 GPH) Maxpect

 

[Aggie1978]

Well, first things first - you'll have to change your username!

Other than that - welcome! I've spent hours just reading old threads on everything you can think of here...answers questions you didn't even know you might have.

Ha! Well...we are in the SEC and the drama continues! I live in Tampa now and just hoping that there will be a season this year!

 

[bevo5]

Ha! Well...we are in the SEC and the drama continues! I live in Tampa now and just hoping that there will be a season this year!

Hey, we agree on that!

I'll take as much college football as they're able to give us.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Equipment list is good and good to get started. You'll need test kits, and other little accessories as tank comes along

 

[Tmtdvm]

We saw those off Bevo5. Welcome fellow Aggie. Whoop!!! All looks good so far. I agree on upgrading the refugium light as dwair suggested. Other than that pretty good list. I just went to a bare bottom tank so no more messing with sand for me. Extremely knowledgeable crowd here on R2R and all are here to help our reefing community. Gig’em