Beginner in need of some direction in planning a first tank

Brian R Miller · Oct 11, 2017

since you are in the planning stage, another thing you may want to do is take a step back and look at it from a system design viewpoint. what needs to happen? source water handling... RO/DI, water storage, mixing, transport to /from the tank (for water changes and top off).. granted this may seem like overkill for a 40g tank, but the system design concept is scalable, so when you find that 125G tank (or larger) on craigslist a year or 2 from now you will feel like a genius rockstar

hfernelius · Oct 11, 2017

Good idea. Do you have any practical tips or recommendations for rodi water production and storage?

glb · Oct 11, 2017

I think a 40g is a great place to start. I started with a 12g nanocube and built a 40g DIY setup over the last two years. I bought a 20g for the sump and made it myself. I drilled the tank bought a Glass Holes overflow and made the stand. DIY saves a lot of money (except for the stand, but the ones you make are better looking and more stable).

As far as equipment, you can economize to a point. I have an SCA-301 skimmer and a “Quiet One” return pump. Both are generic models of more expensive equipment and work great. You can buy dry rock and sand and save a bunch.

If you’re on a budget, you could always wait on coral and buy a controller now instead of lights. I’m starting mine with Fish only. I just added an Apex, Jr. and love it. You can always add lights later.

Check out my threads in my signature. Good luck!

Brian R Miller · Oct 11, 2017

RO/DI system you can get a water saver model from BRS, google water storage tanks and reef tank mixing stations, that will give you the general idea. But like I said, modular system design is going to lead to happiness. Source Water Treatment >> Life Support System >> Display System.