Santa brought $ - Help me prioritize what is next!!

[Mini Coop]

Ok, so I'll give you some background info then help me build the best tank I can!!
I have a 120 gallon with a 38 gallon sump.
Santa brought me a digital thermometer and a reef octopus 152-s for Christmas!
Open sump, no baffles. Filtersock, now protein skimmer then return pump.
Set up in July. Had ick outbreak, went 80 days fallow. Transferring 3 saved fish back to DT after copper treatment this week.
(Got clowns a month ago while others were still in QT)
2 clowns, fox face, sailfin, purple fire fish.
4 zebra turbos
20 blue & red leg hermit crabs
2 Mexican turbos
3 peppermint shrimp
2 conch snails
20ish margarita snails
Lord only knows how many stomatella snails have emerged....over 50 at least!!
4 emerald crabs
Serpent star fish
Corals:
1 plate coral
1 acan
1 elegant coral
1 hammer coral
1 polyp
3 different zoas

I have $150 from my MIL for tank stuff. So, what's next!?!? My instinct is wanting more fish. I really want a pair of blue jaw triggers (which they had at the local store for $150), but want to make sure my tank is running the very best that it can before adding too many more fish. I also have my heart set on a green mandarin. Already went through one tragedy, and hoping to avoid another!
Do I get an aquarium controller? Is there one that is good for $150?? I am photographing a wedding for a family member on Friday. They will pay me around $500. I may also have that money to use as well. (Huge difference, I know). I know I'm going to get a digital refractometer. I have a new top of the line RO/DI system. So, what else and what should come first.
If you can, give suggestions for the $150 budget as well as $650.
Equipment recommendations?
Or help me plan my livestock.

Ready, Set, GO!!

 

[tomtom2245]

Reef Keeper Lite controllers are great and a good cheaper intro to controllers. You might be able to find some for the $150 range. Apex and Apex Jr are also good options. What about flow? Do you need something like a vortech or other pump?

 

[Mini Coop]

Reef Keeper Lite controllers are great and a good cheaper intro to controllers. You might be able to find some for the $150 range. Apex and Apex Jr are also good options. What about flow? Do you need something like a vortech or other pump?

Flow is pretty good! I have 2 power heads that are fairly new. I would like to get a couple that have the different waves and options and timers on them, but what I have is working pretty well for now. I just told my husband as those go bad, I will replace them with nicer ones.

 

[AndrewNC]

I would personally work on improving system before adding more livestock. Not sure exactly what you're looking for but maybe possibly auto top off system? uv sterilizer to help prevent ich? Upgrade lights? Gfo reactor? Apex would be nice and now that the new one came out you could get the older one brand new for about $500. Things to make everything much easier is what I would work on.

 

[rayn]

ATO for sure if you don't have one.

Corals? Maybe a dosing pump if there is a need.

Controllers are very nice, but priority wise they would be lower on my list.

Battery back up of some sort would also be a good idea if you loose power ever.

 

[Mini Coop]

I would personally work on improving system before adding more livestock. Not sure exactly what you're looking for but maybe possibly auto top off system? uv sterilizer to help prevent ich? Upgrade lights? Gfo reactor? Apex would be nice and now that the new one came out you could get the older one brand new for about $500. Things to make everything much easier is what I would work on.

I also do not have an ATO system . . . I have been doing water changes every week, so haven't had to do much in the way of top offs. However, if I understand correctly, with the protein skimmer now, I should be able to do water changes more like every 2-3 weeks, correct? If that is the case, then ATO seems to be a good option. I see that BRS has the Tunze top off for $179.99, and it looks like one of the best on the market.
What kind of UV sterilizer would you recommend? I see some on BRS for $350 - $600!! But found an Oddesea 36 watt recommended for tanks up to 150 gallons for $55. Quite a difference. I haven't looked at them before, and don't know exactly what they do, but I have had ick, so anything I can do to keep from getting it again, I am in for!

 

[tomtom2245]

The Tunze ATO is pretty awesome, I'm running one on one of my tanks. The other thing to consider, if you want to go the ATO route, which I highly recommend, is if you decide on getting a controller as well, you can integrate an ATO into that as well. You would still need a pump to go with it, but just something to consider.

 

[PatW]

An ATO is a great next choice. It will help keep your salinity in a narrow range.

 

[indyjaco]

What i'd do:

- ATO from autotopoff.com
- Reefkeeper Lite to control heater and future dosing
- DIY 40B sump so you can keep the skimmer at a constant level

If you are using QT, i'd skip the UV

 

[lion king]

I find an ATO a necessity, I even have one on my qt which is a 40b. I use temperature controllers and individual dosers for ca, alk, and nopox. So a controller to at least manage your temp is vital in my opinion. Had I not piece mailed my temp controller, dosers, and light timers; I would go with a full reef controller at some point.

 

[tautog83]

ATO are nice ..I have an 80 gallon with around a 30 gallon sump and I don't use an auto at all and this is going on my 3rd year . Luckily my neighbor and family are close if I need to be out of town but most don't have that luxury. So I would say that's important . You have to think long term goals for your tank and then think what is essential for that "build" . Even though blue jaws are considered reef safe you might never see your shrimp again , so might want to decide if that's best option

 

[surfnsalt]

Ato is the way to go. They are great. I've got two tanks with smart ato's and (knock on wood) haven't had an issue yet. Not a necessity but more important than you think

 

[AndrewNC]

I also do not have an ATO system . . . I have been doing water changes every week, so haven't had to do much in the way of top offs. However, if I understand correctly, with the protein skimmer now, I should be able to do water changes more like every 2-3 weeks, correct? If that is the case, then ATO seems to be a good option. I see that BRS has the Tunze top off for $179.99, and it looks like one of the best on the market.
What kind of UV sterilizer would you recommend? I see some on BRS for $350 - $600!! But found an Oddesea 36 watt recommended for tanks up to 150 gallons for $55. Quite a difference. I haven't looked at them before, and don't know exactly what they do, but I have had ick, so anything I can do to keep from getting it again, I am in for!

Yea if you don't have an ATO unit I would highly recommend you get one that's almost a necessity. Tunze Osmalator is excellent and I believe it's $99. Also the UV sterilizers I would go with an external line unit and maybe down the road look at inline uv. That Oddesea 36 watt is a pretty good price, I would read reviews before anything. I used the Deep Blue 35 watt UV sterilizer on my 120 gallon before and it cleared up my tank big time. Slowly you buy stuff to make maintenance easier and just when you think your done (which is never) you'll be upgrading stuff.

 

[cnason3]

MarineDepot.com Exclusive ReefKeeper Lite + SLX Expansion Unit w/ FREE pH Probe
this is what I would get

 

[Flippers4pups]

Flipper approves of a quality ATO. You need this. UV isn't needed and most hobby grade units are nothing more than "water clarifiers" and can't kill parasites. Just aren't strong enough and don't have the dwell time to make a dent.

As others have stated, upgrade your sump. You need a sump with a separate compartment for your skimmer and will keep the water level consistent to keep the skimmer working correctly.

Without this, if your power would go off and the DT back syphons into the sump, the water level around the skimmer will rise. When the power comes back on, it could cause the skimmer to overflow and flood outside your sump! Happened to me when I first started in the hobby and flooded my living room.