New to the hobby - Red Sea E170 build

[neopode]

Greetings!
I've been binging so much youtube content (mostly BRS) that I'm getting quite conflicted in what I need/should have to make my first tank successful.
Hopefully this thread can help other newbies choosing a similar path.

PLAN: low physical maintenance
Red Sea E170 AIO tank
Softie corals (maybe LPS corals) - Xenia, Euphyllia, toadstool, Candy Cane, etc
Clean up crew fish - Clownfish, Yellow tang, bristle tooth tang, lawnmower blenny, six line wrasse
Bare bottom tank
Reef Saver rock - to make my own aquascape
TM All for reef

GEAR:
RODI water system - to make my own fresh water mix with TM pro salt for salt water
Vortech MP10 X2 wave makers - low to the bottom to suspend bacteria
Aqua Ultraviolet UV sterilizer hang - for ich management
100W water heater
1/4 cup ROX 0.8 Carbon media bag

Questions:
1)Will I need a sump (keto refugium)?
a)If I do include a sump, should I also add a Auto water changer + auto top off system (best system?)?

2) Am I missing any gear?

3) very confused about the chemical balancing. With my set-up is anything recommended?

Very excited to get this tank started! Any help is very welcomed!

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board!

you can definitely have a successful tank without a sump, and as you have an AIO, perhaps running a hang on back refugium would suffice

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Hello, and welcome! First and foremost with your list; Your tank is too small for tangs. The tang police are gonna come and get you! If you were going to get some super small and have a plan to upgrade 6-8 months later then maybe. Second tangs and carbon do not mix and you can have a chance of HLLE disease. Where you live gets chilly so your heater may not be adequate. For lighting, I run two AI 26HD's to get a good spread on my 40 cube. There is more, but I will let others chime in.
Again welcome! And remember, what works for others may not work for you.

 

[neopode]

Hello, and welcome! First and foremost with your list; Your tank is too small for tangs. The tang police are gonna come and get you! If you were going to get some super small and have a plan to upgrade 6-8 months later then maybe. Second tangs and carbon do not mix and you can have a chance of HLLE disease. Where you live gets chilly so your heater may not be adequate. For lighting, I run two AI 26HD's to get a good spread on my 40 cube. There is more, but I will let others chime in.
Again welcome! And remember, what works for others may not work for you.

Thanks for the reply!

I was told that the tangs will outgrow the 45gal tank and will have to be rehomed/traded in about a year but due to their nature of constantly eating algae (much greater than snails and crabs) that they were invaluable to a new hobbyist's tank!

 

[neopode]

7 Week Update!
Made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot but here's my progress so far!

After cycling with the 2 clownfish for 5 weeks, I got a Six-line Wrasse for parasites and Algae/Lawnmower Blenny for algae control.

My ammonia is stable at 0-0.25 (hard to read the API test kit though...), Nitrites at 0, Nitrates at 5-10ppm, Akalinity at 10 dKH, ph at 8.2. But my Phosphates are a little high at 0.36 ppm.

I made a mistake and got a red superman mushroom and a lime Sinularia Finger Leather. If someone is following this, my research would suggest 4+ months of lights off before adding coral.
Up to this point I had my lights off to help with the beneficial bacteria take control of the ecosystem. Because I got the coral, I had to turn on my lights. I decided to start an acclimation mode (starting at 10% over 60 days) to ease the light in.

Everything on BRStv talks about tangs being VERY important to keep algae under control especially with dryrock, bare bottom, and an non-established tank with the lights on. So I went out and got a Tomini Tang, and he's doing great in the tank Him and the wrasse are constantly picking at the rock! I have some brownish algae the tomini and blenny aren't eating and I've read Yellow tangs eat different strains of algae and I'd like to get a zebrasoma for a couple months to help, but I'm afraid my tank is too small for 2 tangs even if they're juveniles.

I decided on adding more rockwork for coral placement, places to hide, and more filter. I cured the dry rock in a salt water bucket for 2 weeks with a mixer and heater and added it to the tank with some bottled coralline algae and nitrifying bacteria. Planning on adding an aptasia eating filefish next week! I really wish I started with a 80gal tank, but also grateful I didn't because I have no idea of carrying such a heavy tank! I wasn't even prepared for the 45gal one .

Here's the current status of the tank! This hobby is really all about patience so hopefully in a couple months I'll have a more established looking tank to share!

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Hi and welcome. Why BB?

 

[neopode]

Hi and welcome. Why BB?

Thanks for the warm wlecome!

I think both sand and BB look great. I wanted to make maintenance as easy as possible because I was completely new to the hobby I wasn't sure if I was even going to do water changes every week let alone siphoning sand .

 

[blaxsun]

The sump is definitely worth considering for an upgrade.

 

[neopode]

The sump is definitely worth considering for an upgrade.

I definitely want to add at least a fleece roller to the sump with maybe a refugium (if it fits in the e170 cabinet), but I'm not confident in planning the plumbing and everything else needed especially since I now have livestock in.

But I've caught myself planning a 125gal tank with the APEX, refugium, and a fleece roller .

 

[blaxsun]

I definitely want to add at least a fleece roller to the sump with maybe a refugium (if it fits in the e170 cabinet), but I'm not confident in planning the plumbing and everything else needed especially since I now have livestock in.

But I've caught myself planning a 125gal tank with the APEX, refugium, and a fleece roller .

Pretty sure the sump kit comes with all the plumbing, etc. that you need.

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