New reefer planing my first tank

Leto87 · May 28, 2019

Hello all,

I started researching this hobby a while back, and I'm now in research mode to start my first reef!

Based on what I have read, I'm looking at something like the SCA 60gal tank, which includes sump with space for a refugium, and skimmer. I still have to settle on a light, pump, thermometer, and basically everything else.

My goal is a low maintenance tank as I do travel a few times per year. Also, I'm looking to start with softies and LPS, together with fish; though I'll probably pick the fish based on functionality.

I'm looking for advice on all the parts I'm missing: pumps, wave makers, lights, heaters, par meter, test kits, etc.

Thanks and I'll give feedback as things progress.

Crabs McJones · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!

Peace River · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

You’ll find a lot of great info here as well as an amazing community!

GoVols · May 28, 2019

Welcome!!

mike werner · May 28, 2019

Welcome

hdsoftail1065 · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

Salty Lemon · May 28, 2019

Leto87 said:
I started researching this hobby a while back, and I'm now in research mode to start my first reef!

You will be in "research mode" for the rest of your hobby. It is part of the fun. You fell into an amazing community of people. When you officially get your tank -- or stuff for your aquarium, please set up a build thread under "member tanks" so that we can watch your reef progress. You are going to love it here. Welcome aboard!

Bpb · May 28, 2019

Yep. Research never stops. I’m 8 years in and research a lot more now than I did during setup.

I’d recommend getting on bulkreefsupply.com and watching the entirety of the 52 weeks of reefing series. As well as their other series on maintaining ultra low maintenance tanks. They’re not the end all be all of information, but serve as an easy to digest, accurate, and generally agreed upon guide to setting up a tank

Retro Reefer · May 28, 2019

Welcome!

Billldg · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!! Is is a great place for advice. Ask all the questions you like.

Antics · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R!

Emarley · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

Mike.P · May 28, 2019

Welcome aboard! ;Woot

Hemmdog · May 28, 2019

Welcome to reef2reef!
Sca 60’s are nice.
For that tank I would get
Return pump: reef octopus varioS 4
Wave makers: 2 Maxspect gyre 330’s or 2 mp40’s (more $$)
Lights: lps and softies do really well under kessils and AI’s. You could go 2 AI primes and add a 3rd later, or 2 kessil 360X’s & spectral controller X.
Heaters: 300watt titanium finnex with no temp controller on it, use a ranco temp controller for temperature control. It’s industrial grade and only about $80.
Par meter: you don’t need to own one, you can rent them or borrow them fairly easily and they aren’t cheap, better to put more money towards lights.
Skimmer: bubble magus curve 5 elite
Test kits: salifert, Red Sea if salifert isn’t available

Combine these things, you will have yourself one heck of a lps growing machine.

dbl · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing community.

Mastiffsrule · May 28, 2019

Welcome to the reef.

Low maintenance and reef keeping are usually not said in the same sentence. Only way I have been able to use them in a sentence is “ luckily my spouse is low maintenance giving me more time to reef”

Raege · May 28, 2019

Welcome to R2R

Dr. Dendrostein · May 28, 2019

Leto87 said:
Hello all,

I started researching this hobby a while back, and I'm now in research mode to start my first reef!

Based on what I have read, I'm looking at something like the SCA 60gal tank, which includes sump with space for a refugium, and skimmer. I still have to settle on a light, pump, thermometer, and basically everything else.

My goal is a low maintenance tank as I do travel a few times per year. Also, I'm looking to start with softies and LPS, together with fish; though I'll probably pick the fish based on functionality.

I'm looking for advice on all the parts I'm missing: pumps, wave makers, lights, heaters, par meter, test kits, etc.

Thanks and I'll give feedback as things progress.

Also if you go somewhere there's reef tanks, and you like setup, get as much info as possible.
Welcome, comrade

Dr. Dendrostein · May 28, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
Welcome to the reef.

Low maintenance and reef keeping are usually not said in the same sentence. Only way I have been able to use them in a sentence is “ luckily my spouse is low maintenance giving me more time to reef”

“ luckily my spouse is low maintenance giving me more time to reef”

You're blessed, I remind my sister-in- law. She's the goose that lays the golden egg.