keeping a reef tank

SnowWarden · Dec 23, 2020

Ok i am completely knew to keeping a reef tank. what equipment do i all need for keeping one?

Reefahholic · Dec 23, 2020

SnowWarden said:
Ok i am completely knew to keeping a reef tank. what equipment do i all need for keeping one?

Very basic things to start:
Return pump
Heater
Lights
Skimmer
Rock

I’d suggest drilling the tank to have a sump or buy a drilled tank. This requires plumbing and overflow boxes, pipe, unions, etc.

Sump will house all the equipment in beneath the tank.

SnowWarden · Dec 23, 2020

i have saved up a lot of money for this so i would like the recommended stuff to start with not just the basic stuff to start with

ReefRusty · Dec 24, 2020

SnowWarden said:
i have saved up a lot of money for this so i would like the recommended stuff to start with not just the basic stuff to start with

Depends what your budget is and of you want a new tank, second hand tank. New equipment or second hand equipment... or combination of both new and second hand.. how big of a tank do you want to go? Lots of factors. Do you want a full setup with sump or jist a table top tank?

SnowWarden · Dec 24, 2020

i already have a new tank and probably a combination of both new and used. and a full setup

Casket_Case · Dec 24, 2020

First we need to know if the aquarium you have is drilled, is it?

SnowWarden · Dec 24, 2020

no but i can drill it its acrylic

KSReefing · Dec 24, 2020

I highly recommend you go watch the BRS 52 weeks of reefing video series. This will help you decide on equipment but also help you understand the process.

SnowWarden · Dec 24, 2020

ok thanks alot

Casket_Case · Dec 24, 2020

SnowWarden said:
no but i can drill it its acrylic

Than if you do drill you’ll need to buy a weird another aquarium for a sump and a return pump. That tank you’ll have to make into a sump or refugium which you can learn more about setting up on YouTube.
If you don’t want to drill depending on your tank size you might like to buy an AIO compartment to make your aquarium an All-In-One so your sump or refugium can be inside your tank.
If you don’t fancy those you can buy an HOB filter or a Canister filter, if it was me I wouldn’t do either of these, I prefer having a good place for algae to grow so it doesn’t end up in my aquarium.

After you get filtration done you’ll need to add rock and sand setting them up however you like. Then add a heater, a wavemaker & light. Put the wavemaker in a spot that doesn’t get good flow. That’ll help get detritus and stuff up. Then you’ll let your tank cycle for a few weeks... then you’ll test for ammonia and when it comes up zero you can start adding corals and fish.

A lot of this honestly you can’t rush there’s a lot of little parts you’ve gotta learn and there’s a lot of waiting... no matter how much you hate it Rome wasn’t built in a week. Just relax and take your time and make sure that you’re doing the right thing

As said above I recommend watching lots of YouTube videos about beginning in reefing. I know you said you don’t want to go beginner but you’ve gotta learn to sail across the bay before the Atlantic.

GoVols · Dec 24, 2020

SnowWarden said:
Ok i am completely knew to keeping a reef tank. what equipment do i all need for keeping one?

You need a four stag RO/DI unit with a built-in TDS meter right out of the gate.

Pull the trigger on the Tunze 3155 auto top off unit, as well.

Osmolator Universal 3155 Auto Top Off

NEW VERSION AVAILABLE: Tunze Osmolator 3 ATO System Bulk Reef Supply tried many different water level switches and auto top off solutions before giving the Tunze 3155 Osmolater Universal Auto Top Off BRS Recommended status. Despite its higher price this is by far our favorite solution...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Here's a good read.

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

SnowWarden · Dec 27, 2020

is this a good sump design?

Sebastiancrab · Dec 27, 2020

SnowWarden said:
is this a good sump design?

It's a design, yes, but do you want a refugium? I am setting up my first tank for coral and will not have one. You may or may not want some of the equipment you inherited or purchased.

I agree with the points made above. Watch the key Bulk Reef Supply videos on Youtube. Ron Reefman's articles here are also good if you are starting out. There is a lot to learn and it's not a hobby you dive into with little to no knowledge. Patience is key.