Startup Equipment List - What am I forgetting?

[Deinonych]

My LFS is having a sale over Labor Day weekend, and I'm going to take advantage of it to start my tank. I'm going to go with a Deep Sea Aquatics 105G tank with stand and canopy. I plan to use a sump/refugium as well. This will be a FOWLR tank initially, with a migration to corals once I cut my teeth with fish.

Below is my shopping list. Do I have the right equipment? Suggestions welcome.

Lighting: Ecoxotic Stunner 48" 12K (will add additional stunner strips later for corals)
Power Head: (2) Tunze 6045
Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus NWB150
Refugium: Trigger Systems Ruby 36 or DIY (haven't decided yet)
Sump Return Pump: Eheim 1260
Heater: (2) Eheim 200W
Thermometer: JBJ Digital Thermometer
Live Rock: 25lbs Tampa Bay Saltwater
Dry Rock: 75lbs BRS Fiji Dry Rock
Siphon
Refractometer
NO3 Test Kit: Red Sea Nitrate Test Kit
Multi Test Kit: Red Sea Ca/Mg/Alk. Test Kit

[Misled]

Ro/di????

[Deinonych]

I'm going to get my water from LFS initially. Will get an RO/DI system later on.

[downbeach]

Originally Posted by Deinonych

My LFS is having a sale over Labor Day weekend, and I'm going to take advantage of it to start my tank. I'm going to go with a Deep Sea Aquatics 105G tank with stand and canopy. I plan to use a sump/refugium as well. This will be a FOWLR tank initially, with a migration to corals once I cut my teeth with fish.

Below is my shopping list. Do I have the right equipment? Suggestions welcome.

Lighting: Ecoxotic Stunner 48" 12K (will add additional stunner strips later for corals) I think you'll find these will not give you enough light for most corals.
Power Head: (2) Tunze 6045
Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus NWB150
Refugium: Trigger Systems Ruby 36 or DIY (haven't decided yet)
Sump Return Pump: Eheim 1260 You might want to go to the 1262 here.
Heater: (2) Eheim 200W
Thermometer: JBJ Digital Thermometer
Live Rock: 25lbs Tampa Bay Saltwater
Dry Rock: 75lbs BRS Fiji Dry Rock
Siphon
Refractometer
NO3 Test Kit: Red Sea Nitrate Test Kit Add Ammonia and Nitrite kits to this.
Multi Test Kit: Red Sea Ca/Mg/Alk. Test Kit Wait for corals.

Substrate?
Salt Mix?
QT set up?

[Deinonych]

Thanks. Will add substrate, NH3+NO2 test kits, and QT setup to the list.

On the lighting, would something like the Ecoxotic Panorama be better? Again, want to start with the minimum lighting for FOWLR and add once I move to coral.

On the sump return pump, isn't the 1262 way more than needed? I tried to match the flow rate to my skimmer, and the 1260 was the closest.

[ryeguyy84]

if you are going to be buying 100 gallons of ro/di or saltwater from the LFS you might as well get yourself an RODI unit and a bucket of salt. Unless they deliver saltwater the cost of buckets, gas and travel time will be more than the rodi unit.

just my 2 cents.

[Deinonych]

Yeah, I've been rethinking the RO/DI unit and will likely get that from the start as well.

[tj1627]

Originally Posted by Deinonych

Yeah, I've been rethinking the RO/DI unit and will likely get that from the start as well.

I started a 55gallon with a 25 gallon sump. For whatever reason I skipped the RO/DI unit.

Here's how it broke down for me:

15 buckets + lids = $5 each, or $75 total
75 gallons RO/DI water = $0.69 each, or $51.75 total

The cost of the RO/DI is worth it.

[daninflipflops]

i think you are going to need more live rock. i initially had 1 lb per gallon and it looked very empty to me.

[Chris27]

Originally Posted by daninflipflops

i think you are going to need more live rock. i initially had 1 lb per gallon and it looked very empty to me.

Depends on the rock....for instance 1lb/Gal of Marshall Island takes up much more room then Fiji. I'm not sure what everyone is using these days, but with the general consensus being to buy cheap rock from the internet, I imagine folks get their fair share of solid and heavy pieces.

[Deinonych]

OK...up the live rock to 1.5 lb/gal then?

[MrTuskfish]

You need a QT and plans to use it.

[Deinonych]

OK, updated list based on feedback. Keep the suggestions coming.

• Lighting: ??? Need suggestions on a modular LED setup (i.e. minimal lighting for FOWLR setup with ability to expand for corals)
• Power Head: (2) Tunze 6045
• Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus NWB150
• Refugium: Trigger Systems Ruby 36 or DIY (haven't decided yet)
• Sump Return Pump: Eheim 1260 or 1262
• Heater: (2) Eheim 200W
• Thermometer: JBJ Digital Thermometer
• QT Tank: 10-20G w/HOB filter & heater
• RO/DI Unit: BRS 5 Stage Water Saver Plus
• Salt Mix: ??? Need recommendations
• Live Rock: 40lbs Tampa Bay Saltwater
• Dry Rock: 110lbs BRS Fiji Dry Rock
• Substrate: 70lbs Dry Aragonite
• Siphon
• Refractometer
• Test Kit: Nutrafin Master Test Kit

[Deinonych]

Bump

[downbeach]

Originally Posted by Deinonych

OK, updated list based on feedback. Keep the suggestions coming.

• Lighting: ??? Need suggestions on a modular LED setup (i.e. minimal lighting for FOWLR setup with ability to expand for corals) You might consider getting a used T-5 fixture for now, and upgrade to LED's once the tank has matured. Or, buy the LED's you'll need now.
• Power Head: (2) Tunze 6045
• Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus NWB150
• Refugium: Trigger Systems Ruby 36 or DIY (haven't decided yet)
• Sump Return Pump: Eheim 1260 or 1262
• Heater: (2) Eheim 200W
• Thermometer: JBJ Digital Thermometer
• QT Tank: 10-20G w/HOB filter & heater
• RO/DI Unit: BRS 5 Stage Water Saver Plus
• Salt Mix: ??? Need recommendations I would start with Instant Ocean for a FOWLR tank and switch to Reef Crystals once you go to corals.
• Live Rock: 40lbs Tampa Bay Saltwater
• Dry Rock: 110lbs BRS Fiji Dry Rock This sounds like a lot or rock, I think I'd start with 50#'s, you don't want to dense pack your rock, it'll create a lot of dead areas for nutrients to get trapped.
• Substrate: 70lbs Dry Aragonite
• Siphon
• Refractometer
• Test Kit: Nutrafin Master Test Kit I would use Salifert kits for NH3/4, NO2, NO3

[Cloudburst2000]

Originally Posted by Deinonych

OK...up the live rock to 1.5 lb/gal then?

I don't know about that. I ordered the TBS 'package' for my 16g tank and got way more rock then I needed. I only used about 70% of the rock in the 16g tank. The rest was given to my brother-in-law for his tank. I just didn't have the room for it. I would initially stick with what you originally quoted. If you need more, you can easily add a few more pieces but you may not need any more rock so why buy the extra rock only to have to find someone else to take it. And don't forget that some larger coral pieces also come on rock so if you plan on possibly buying any coral larger than a frag they may already be on a piece of rock. Just make sure to leave room for corals and the rocks that come with them.

[Deinonych]

OK, thanks. I'll stay with 1 lb/gal then.

[Deinonych]

Originally Posted by downbeach

You might consider getting a used T-5 fixture for now, and upgrade to LED's once the tank has matured. Or, buy the LED's you'll need now.

Thanks. That seems like a good plan. Plus, it gives me additional time for LEDs to continue to evolve and improve.

[Reeferz412]

Not sure if I saw this or not... Phosphate test kit.

[Deinonych]

Originally Posted by Reeferz412

Not sure if I saw this or not... Phosphate test kit.

Thanks. I'll add that as well. Love the Buckethead pic.

[wolfenstein87]

I use salt from AquaVitro. I'm partial to LEDs and was sold when I read about the AI Sol set. We currently only have on our tank and plan on getting a second once the tank has aged a bit longer.

[Deinonych]

I'm definitely going with LEDs. I like the way they look, and you can't beat the energy savings. We just remodeled our kitchen and replaced all the incandescent lights with LEDs. The technology has really come a long way.