Setting up a Dorm Tank- advice for equipment planning

[Reefapprentice]

So not having my own tank for 2 years has left me with the itch again...and I want to get back into the hobby after doing MACNA 2018. As the dorm rules 10 gallons is the max size a tank can be so I selected the following so far for equipment.
Tank: Lifeguard Low Iron Ultra Clear Medium (9.98 US gallons) Aquarium Set with built in back filter
Lighting: Radion Gen 4 Pro XR15 with diffuser
Filtration: Undecided
Powerhead: A Sicce Voyager stream pump (GPH undecided) **unless a better recommendation is had
Media: Bag of carbon in the back(?)
Protein Skimmer: Eshopps Nano Protein Skimmer
Return Pump: Undecided
Heater: Undecided

Extras:
Refractometer from BRS
Doser: Need advice for one that is efficient and works and affordable on a college budget, been looking at the APEX but its pricey.


Also would like a probe that is able to monitor alkalinity and top off to keep the levels stable.
As for livestock it would have no live sand or rock except maybe a rock in the back filter for bacteria/ pod culture. This tank would be just a simple frag tank for growing out pieces from my old tank at my house (WD, WWC OG and related bounces, speckled kraks, ect) so I can get some new colonies going during my time in school.It will have frag plugs and tiles for different colonies to grow on and have a high light section for sps in front of the power head and a section I use shadecloth to achieve a lower light for the LPS, mushrooms, and zoanthids. No fish will be added and I would be planning to feed corals biweekly with Reef-roids. As for chemical supplementation and salt I am undecided still and would like some recommendations for this. in the past used Red Sea but did not keep much sps with it. This tank would be a mix of LPS, SPS, zoanthids, and mushrooms.
For the parameters I would use what my 90 gallon stuck to using hand estimations I would like a system that would monitor the system (once again APEX is what im looking at but the price is steep) for fluctuations.
Alk:8.5-8.6
Ca:450-480
Mg:~1440
No3:~12
PO4 : ~.03


Instead of buying a autotop off I will also continue to top off with RODI water daily. Any equipment recommendations or feedback would be much appreciated, and lighting wise I already have sitting back at my house having never been used for a backup quarantine tank for corals.

 

[sfin52]

What are you going to do during extended breaks?

 

[Reefapprentice]

What are you going to do during extended breaks?

I do not travel often even for these breaks, so i wouldn't be absent, but if I was I can have a friend who lives down the road top off the water, check up on the tank, make sure everythings running.

 

[ca1ore]

My advice is to resist the urge. I've had tanks all my life but for two 4 year breaks. First while away at college; the second when my kids were infants. In both cases, I had much better things to do with my time.

 

[Reefapprentice]

My advice is to resist the urge. I've had tanks all my life but for two 4 year breaks. First while away at college; the second when my kids were infants. In both cases, I had much better things to do with my time.

Time imo isn’t that big of the issue that I find in college so much as it’s there’s not enough to do in it even being a full time student, working in a lab and a part time job.

 

[Reefapprentice]

Update with what ive been thinking for equipment. A local friend also broke down one of his multiple tanks and I was able to get a ATI refractometer and AI Prime HD light for cheap.

Decided on Cobalt Neotherm heater(75W) along with purchasing BRS 2 part total package that included the 2 1.1ml dosers. For the test kit I am going the same route I used for my 90, red sea, and am still deciding on what brand of salt to use since it is a smaller tank and water changes will have a much bigger impact on the chemistry compared to the past tanks ive kept.

 

[wesman42]

Live off campus, that's my recommendation. I do just that and I have 2 75s and a 32. Now, given I'm a round 4 years older than people in my class...but that doesn't have much to do with it. My experience with dorms has been that NOBODY gives any dang about personal property because nobody has any. Thus, you could end up with your roommate's buddies dumping beer into your tank. J/s

 

[Reefapprentice]

The dorm in staying in is setup apartment style- 4 individual bedrooms and a shared common area, the tank would be going in my room.

 

[Erica-Renee]

All the things that are going thru my mind that makes this a Bad Idea, Bad Place for a Aquarium and Images of Fish flopping on the floor in water puddles . Sorry but its just I do not like people in my Sump room.Or anywhere near my tank . Having one in a Dorm setting just makes my mind wanna say ..

NO .. NO . NO ...

If your gonna do it anyway. You do NOT need to worry about any dosing. With a Tank of that size Very Regular water changes Will easily replenish what is needed. a GOOD ATO I think is a MUST. as evaporation in such a small body of water will result in wide chemistry swings .

Small tanks bad things happen Rapidly.But can be corrected easily
Large tanks . Bad things usually happen slowly But NOT So easily Corrected because of such a Larger volume of water ....
Everything is relevant to something
1. GOOD LIGHT
2. ATO
3. Religious water change scheme
4. Which should be number one . 4 web cams .3 security doors and a Armed Guard for those weekend doom nights...

Good Luck