what are absolute musts equipment for a reef tank?

timdam · 03/11/2010, 10:58 AM

just wondering what are some musts and some "not bad to have stuff". probably could research it, but i was just hoping it would be easier to hear the basics.

all i really know is a sump, good lights, and a skimmer. what else?

are things like UV sterilizers important? what other equipment are recommended?

patsfan1130 · 03/11/2010, 11:06 AM

RO/DI

Just might be the single most important piece of equip

stingythingy45 · 03/11/2010, 11:18 AM

Refractor and a good sturdy rubbermaid brute trash can for mixing water.
Good quality test kits for,alk,calcium and Magnesium.
You don't need a UV sterilizer ,IMO.

nukemdanno · 03/11/2010, 11:22 AM

A dedicated hobbyist....what are you going to keep...the needs are very different between soft corals and sps corals

agreeive?fish · 03/11/2010, 11:52 AM

,bare minimum is water,salt, proper lighting for types of corals you keep and proper flow for the types of coral you keep..

you will get some replies that you need every single gadget ever created plus a few that havent even been invented yet

sdc19982002 · 03/11/2010, 12:18 PM

Money

wooden_reefer · 03/11/2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timdam

just wondering what are some musts and some "not bad to have stuff". probably could research it, but i was just hoping it would be easier to hear the basics.

all i really know is a sump, good lights, and a skimmer. what else?

are things like UV sterilizers important? what other equipment are recommended?

This is quite a complex question.

For one, the main purpose of the UV is pathogenic bacteria control for fish; many also use it to control algae. If you have a reef tank with just a few small inexpensive fish, you may or may not need a UV. Otherwise, you do.

Zebodog · 03/11/2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timdam

just wondering what are some musts and some "not bad to have stuff". probably could research it, but i was just hoping it would be easier to hear the basics.

all i really know is a sump, good lights, and a skimmer. what else?

I don't believe sumps or skimmers are "must have." There are a number of successful setups that don't operate either. They are nice to have and can make things easier, but certainly not "musts."

Good quality test kits are a must.

timdam · 03/11/2010, 12:50 PM

what else? what's a calcium reactor? what are some other complicated equipment that other people have?

moonyrat · 03/11/2010, 12:57 PM

heater and powerheads!

timdam · 03/11/2010, 12:57 PM

another question.... is base rock the same thing as live rock over time? like just to confirm... does it get seeded? can u put like 50 lbs of base rock, and like a 5lb live rock in? and then expect it to all be live rock after a certain time frame? if so, what is that time frame?

spieg · 03/11/2010, 01:12 PM

Patience.

biecacka · 03/11/2010, 01:18 PM

tank!!!

Michael · 03/11/2010, 01:34 PM

salt haha

timdam · 03/11/2010, 01:34 PM

okay, tank with all kinda random corals. no idea what kinds....

so tank, patience, money, more money, skimmer, decent lights, saltwater, more money, sump..... am i good?

daniel89 · 03/11/2010, 01:47 PM

tank, money, more money, skimmer, decent lights, saltwater, sump, return pump, power heads, overflow box unless you drill the tank, live rock, live sand

tons of knowledge is great to have also

Dun Properly · 03/11/2010, 01:48 PM

RO/DI unit

Vin7250 · 03/11/2010, 01:52 PM

really RO/DI should be on the list of must haves....not maybe or down the road. Sure you could put water in a bucket and sprinkle some salt on it, but to keep corals you need clean water.

Dun Properly · 03/11/2010, 01:58 PM

I agree with Vin7250, a RO/DI unit is a must.

Vin7250 · 03/11/2010, 02:08 PM

why would you ever invest such large quantites of money in a reef tank and all of its inhabitants but skimp on the 150-200 for an RO/DI?? Effectly you cannot run a successful tank without one. Sure i guess you could run a tank without one but how successful will it be?? You could also dump copper into a reef tank, no one is stopping you, but why would you do that?? Im not going to turn thsi into an arguement but RO/DI is absolutely priceless. More important than a lot of things hobbiests say they cant live wihtout

timdam · 03/11/2010, 02:56 PM

well, i like to buy my water from the LFS.

what are some other equipment pieces though that aren't necessary, but helpful.

Vin7250 · 03/11/2010, 03:11 PM

15.00$ = one 5 gallon box

150$/15$= ten 5 gallon boxes = 50 gallons of water for 150$

even at 10$ for 5 gallons you can still see what you are paying.

plus 20-50 dollars for containers to haul it in / gas to and from the LFS / the annoyance of having to lug around all that water.

150$ for RO/DI depending on your water quality can make you thousands of gallons of water. You know its pure (with bottled stuff from LFS how do you know they ahve changed their filters??), its much cheaper, and when you need it it is there. Wait one night till you forget to go to LFS and have to put tap water in to fill your tank (especially if you have a sump and its level is so low that the pumps are drawing air in).

Shane Hoffman · 03/11/2010, 03:18 PM

The only absolute must is to have a container (preferrably clear) that is water tight and and saltwater somewhere in the range of 1.023 to 1.026. Every thing else is up for debate. There are many things that have been proven to make it easier to keep corals and fish. But for every gadget out there there is some form of manual labor that can be performed to negate the lack of that equipment. For instance, you dont have to have a skimmer. If you dont though you will have to perform many more water changes. You dont have to have lights. If you dont though your tank better be under natural sunlight atleast 9 hours a day. I am being a bit sarcastic but it really is the truth.

Vin7250 · 03/11/2010, 03:21 PM

good advice for a newbie obviously looking for reasoning not to spend.... someone always has to play the devils advocate!!

timdam · 03/11/2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by betoballer1

A bunch of reactors and lights with a lil chiller

what are "reactors" exactly?

03/11/2010, 10:58 AM	#1
timdam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 815	what are absolute musts equipment for a reef tank? just wondering what are some musts and some "not bad to have stuff". probably could research it, but i was just hoping it would be easier to hear the basics. all i really know is a sump, good lights, and a skimmer. what else? are things like UV sterilizers important? what other equipment are recommended?

03/11/2010, 11:06 AM	#2
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	RO/DI Just might be the single most important piece of equip __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

03/11/2010, 11:18 AM	#3
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Refractor and a good sturdy rubbermaid brute trash can for mixing water. Good quality test kits for,alk,calcium and Magnesium. You don't need a UV sterilizer ,IMO. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

03/11/2010, 01:34 PM	#14
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	salt haha __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

03/11/2010, 01:47 PM	#16
daniel89 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Ashley, South Carolina Posts: 145	tank, money, more money, skimmer, decent lights, saltwater, sump, return pump, power heads, overflow box unless you drill the tank, live rock, live sand tons of knowledge is great to have also __________________ To have the power to hold and maintain a entire eco system and life itself and have it in your grasp is amazing and shouldn't be taken for granted, so don't screw it up cause then you will be compared to god and you don't want that. Current Tank Info: 125g Reef, 50g sump, vertex in180, 3 KORALIA 3's, mag 12 return, marineland 72" pro light fixture 3-150w MH 8 t5ho actinics

03/11/2010, 11:22 AM	#4
nukemdanno Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 133	A dedicated hobbyist....what are you going to keep...the needs are very different between soft corals and sps corals

03/11/2010, 11:52 AM	#5
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	,bare minimum is water,salt, proper lighting for types of corals you keep and proper flow for the types of coral you keep.. you will get some replies that you need every single gadget ever created plus a few that havent even been invented yet

03/11/2010, 12:18 PM	#6
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	Money

03/11/2010, 12:50 PM	#9
timdam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 815	what else? what's a calcium reactor? what are some other complicated equipment that other people have?

03/11/2010, 12:57 PM	#10
moonyrat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 180	heater and powerheads!

03/11/2010, 01:12 PM	#12
spieg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Portage, MI Posts: 187	Patience.

03/11/2010, 01:18 PM	#13
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	tank!!!

03/11/2010, 01:48 PM	#17
Dun Properly Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 169	RO/DI unit __________________ Dun Properly Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, mixed reef, yellow watchman goby and b&w clown, ATI Dimmable Sunpower w/ Reefbrites Last edited by Dun Properly; 03/11/2010 at 02:19 PM.

03/11/2010, 01:52 PM	#18
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	really RO/DI should be on the list of must haves....not maybe or down the road. Sure you could put water in a bucket and sprinkle some salt on it, but to keep corals you need clean water.

03/11/2010, 01:58 PM	#19
Dun Properly Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 169	I agree with Vin7250, a RO/DI unit is a must. __________________ Dun Properly Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, mixed reef, yellow watchman goby and b&w clown, ATI Dimmable Sunpower w/ Reefbrites Last edited by Dun Properly; 03/11/2010 at 02:21 PM.

03/11/2010, 02:08 PM	#20
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	why would you ever invest such large quantites of money in a reef tank and all of its inhabitants but skimp on the 150-200 for an RO/DI?? Effectly you cannot run a successful tank without one. Sure i guess you could run a tank without one but how successful will it be?? You could also dump copper into a reef tank, no one is stopping you, but why would you do that?? Im not going to turn thsi into an arguement but RO/DI is absolutely priceless. More important than a lot of things hobbiests say they cant live wihtout

03/11/2010, 02:56 PM	#21
timdam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 815	well, i like to buy my water from the LFS. what are some other equipment pieces though that aren't necessary, but helpful.

03/11/2010, 03:11 PM	#22
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	15.00$ = one 5 gallon box 150$/15$= ten 5 gallon boxes = 50 gallons of water for 150$ even at 10$ for 5 gallons you can still see what you are paying. plus 20-50 dollars for containers to haul it in / gas to and from the LFS / the annoyance of having to lug around all that water. 150$ for RO/DI depending on your water quality can make you thousands of gallons of water. You know its pure (with bottled stuff from LFS how do you know they ahve changed their filters??), its much cheaper, and when you need it it is there. Wait one night till you forget to go to LFS and have to put tap water in to fill your tank (especially if you have a sump and its level is so low that the pumps are drawing air in).

03/11/2010, 03:18 PM	#23
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	The only absolute must is to have a container (preferrably clear) that is water tight and and saltwater somewhere in the range of 1.023 to 1.026. Every thing else is up for debate. There are many things that have been proven to make it easier to keep corals and fish. But for every gadget out there there is some form of manual labor that can be performed to negate the lack of that equipment. For instance, you dont have to have a skimmer. If you dont though you will have to perform many more water changes. You dont have to have lights. If you dont though your tank better be under natural sunlight atleast 9 hours a day. I am being a bit sarcastic but it really is the truth. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

03/11/2010, 03:21 PM	#24
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	good advice for a newbie obviously looking for reasoning not to spend.... someone always has to play the devils advocate!!