Do I have everything covered in my Black Friday list?

[Synthgp]

Hi all:

I am starting from scratch with my first reef tank and think I have everything captured. Can someone take a look and let me know if I am missing anything? I am also trying to maximize savings with Black Friday around the corner.

Thanks!

5 Stage Premium Plus 150 GPD Water Saver RO/DI Systembundle-2113881 x 150 GPD Universal PLUS RO Body Only $0.00bundle-2113911 x 5 Stage Premium PLUS DI ONLY $0.00	$349.99 $244.99	Qty	$244.99
Aragonite Special Grade Dry Sand 40lbs	$41.08 $32.86	Qty	$65.72
PURE Salt Mix - 20kg Bucket	$89.99 $80.99	Qty	$80.99
Reefer MAX 350 G2+ System - Black	$4,899.00$4,311.12	Qty	$4,311.12
Auqa Gadget 5 Gallon Hydrofill Reservoir	$142.99 $114.39	Qty	$114.39
400 Watt Helio PTC Smart Heater	$237.99 $190.39	Qty	$190.39
Erase-Cl 250ml	$8.13 $6.91	Qty	$6.91
BRS Master Test Kit Bundlebundle-alkalinity1 x Alkalinity DKH Colorimeter HI772 Hanna Checker - Marine Water $0.00bundle-calcium1 x RedSea Calcium Pro Test Kit $0.00bundle-magnesium1 x AF Magnesium Test Kit $0.00bundle-nitrate1 x Nitrate REEFER Test Kit $0.00bundle-phosphate1 x Phosphate Ultra Low Range PPM Colorimeter HI774 Hanna Checker - Marine Water $0.00	$174.99 $139.99	Qty	$139.99
RedSea Marine Care Test Kit	$74.99 $65.99	Qty	$65.99
Large Foundation Reef Saver Dry Live Rock	$63.99 $51.19	Qty	$153.57
Microbacter Dry Rock Bacteria Starter Kit	$33.29 $28.30	Qty	$28.30
Reef Saver Shelf Aquarium Dry Live Rock	$6.99 $5.59	Qty	$229.19
Reef Saver Aquarium Dry Live Rock	$3.49 $2.79	Qty	$114.39
1/4" 8800 Booster Pump Kitbundle-2002001 x Aquatec 1/4in 8800 BoosterPump $0.00bundle-2002011 x Aquatec Power Supply for CDP-8800 Pump $0.00bundle-2002021 x 8800 PSW Pressure Switch 1/4" Push Connect $0.00bundle-4001631 x Instructions for Booster Pump $0.00	$179.99 $152.99	Qty	$152.99

 

[Syntax1235]

You need something to measure salinity and a mixing pump for salt. Depending where you live, you may need a heater for your water change water. I would also get another bucket of salt, you’ll go through the first one sooner than you think.

Looks like a nice build.

Tbsw will be having sale next week… maybe get some live rock to make the cycle easier?

 

[KStatefan]

Black Friday is now a week long event from the number of email I have been receiving.

 

[Synthgp]

You need something to measure salinity and a mixing pump for salt. Depending where you live, you may need a heater for your water change water. I would also get another bucket of salt, you’ll go through the first one sooner than you think.

Looks like a nice build.

Tbsw will be having sale next week… maybe get some live rock to make the cycle easier?

Thanks! I had over looked that! Any recommendations on the mixing pump? The ultra zero by sicce?

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

If you have not already, I would consider researching Tampa bay or KP for wet gulf rock. You are obviously spending some coin, so perhaps a few more dead presidents is possible. But please research fully if you go that route, there are pros and cons and you still need to buildup to handle ammonia. Ask me how I know.

I see someone mentioned a heater for a mixing station. I needed to get a chiller for my mixing station as well. My rodi would get to 95 degrees. Sure, I could have pumped the rodi into brute and let it sit over night next to my display before mixing it. However, in case of emergency, the water was useless. You will have situations where you will eventually need to tap into your reserves. Just think through all those steps. With your current plan, in the dead of winter or dead of summer, how long would it take you to do a 50% water change? What about 2 50% water changes?

 

[thedon986]

After adding 20lbs of dry sand to my 80lbs of tampa bay saltwater sand and watching phosphate absolutely fall off a cliff bringing dinos and dead SPS, I will never again use dry sand or rock. I should have paid for more sand to be shipped direct from Tampa bay saltwater. It will probably be 6 months before things stabilize again.

 

[JC_k]

Is the booster pump for the rodi unit?

 

[exnisstech]

Black Friday is now a week long event from the number of email I have been receiving.

They should just start calling it black November.

 

[Synthgp]

Is the booster pump for the rodi unit?

Indeed it is. We do not have the best of water pressure in the house.

 

[ninjamyst]

You are missing a bigger tank =P. Haha. Just kidding. Great list.

 

[Synthgp]

After adding 20lbs of dry sand to my 80lbs of tampa bay saltwater sand and watching phosphate absolutely fall off a cliff bringing dinos and dead SPS, I will never again use dry sand or rock. I should have paid for more sand to be shipped direct from Tampa bay saltwater. It will probably be 6 months before things stabilize again.

So sorry to hear about the tank crash! Using 80 pounds of sand, I am guessing that it is about a 150gal build?

In weighing the pros/cons, I really wanted to start with a blank canvas, controlling as much as I can at the outset. I am in no rush to add coral or fish, as there is still much research to be done. Based on reviews, many seem to have success getting tanks established with dry sand/rock using microbacter starter.

 

[Dbartlett727]

With that size tank and setup it’s worth investing into a good controller system that can automate pumps, dosing, and or testing. I have fully invested in the hydros system and won’t ever go back. Got rid of all the clutter from the cables and it controls/monitors all of my pumps, lights, dosing, ato, water change, and power usage to name a few.

 

[Synthgp]

Part of me wonders if I am just taking on too much as a first time reefer. I had a successful freshwater tank years ago, but I am really diving into the deep end with this one....

 

[Synthgp]

With that size tank and setup it’s worth investing into a good controller system that can automate pumps, dosing, and or testing. I have fully invested in the hydros system and won’t ever go back. Got rid of all the clutter from the cables and it controls/monitors all of my pumps, lights, dosing, ato, water change, and power usage to name a few.

Part of the reason for the RedSea is that everything (with the exception of the heater) is controlled by their reef beat app. The system comes with the lights, sump, filter roller, return pump, and skimmer. The other reason is that it fits the exact footprint I want for our living room.

 

[mermaid_life]

Even if tank was smaller, you still need a lot of the same equipment and need to learn how to test and understand water chemistry, etc.

Knowing what I know now, I would invest in a trident eventually. It made all the chemistry make more sense and helped me stabilize the tank.

 

[Synthgp]

If you have not already, I would consider researching Tampa bay or KP for wet gulf rock. You are obviously spending some coin, so perhaps a few more dead presidents is possible. But please research fully if you go that route, there are pros and cons and you still need to buildup to handle ammonia. Ask me how I know.

I see someone mentioned a heater for a mixing station. I needed to get a chiller for my mixing station as well. My rodi would get to 95 degrees. Sure, I could have pumped the rodi into brute and let it sit over night next to my display before mixing it. However, in case of emergency, the water was useless. You will have situations where you will eventually need to tap into your reserves. Just think through all those steps. With your current plan, in the dead of winter or dead of summer, how long would it take you to do a 50% water change? What about 2 50% water changes?

Part of why I like the Nyos pure salt is the claim that it mixes within minutes given the purity and does not require hours of mixing to stabilize. That said, any idea what size heater I need to get for mixing?

 

[thedon986]

So sorry to hear about the tank crash! Using 80 pounds of sand, I am guessing that it is about a 150gal build?

In weighing the pros/cons, I really wanted to start with a blank canvas, controlling as much as I can at the outset. I am in no rush to add coral or fish, as there is still much research to be done. Based on reviews, many seem to have success getting tanks established with dry sand/rock using microbacter starter.

Yeah 120 gallon. Live sand and rock has been overall great. Had some bad hitchhikers but they will eventually get weeded out. You will have success, eventually. The variable is how rough of a road it is to get there and if you are willing to out wait the bad to get to the good. Nothing wrong with dry rock, I would however use some type of live sand if you can or seed it with a small amount of live sand from somewhere like Tampa bay saltwater or gulf live rock.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

Hi all:

I am starting from scratch with my first reef tank and think I have everything captured. Can someone take a look and let me know if I am missing anything? I am also trying to maximize savings with Black Friday around the corner.

Thanks!

5 Stage Premium Plus 150 GPD Water Saver RO/DI Systembundle-2113881 x 150 GPD Universal PLUS RO Body Only $0.00bundle-2113911 x 5 Stage Premium PLUS DI ONLY $0.00	$349.99 $244.99	Qty	$244.99
Aragonite Special Grade Dry Sand 40lbs	$41.08 $32.86	Qty	$65.72
PURE Salt Mix - 20kg Bucket	$89.99 $80.99	Qty	$80.99
Reefer MAX 350 G2+ System - Black	$4,899.00$4,311.12	Qty	$4,311.12
Auqa Gadget 5 Gallon Hydrofill Reservoir	$142.99 $114.39	Qty	$114.39
400 Watt Helio PTC Smart Heater	$237.99 $190.39	Qty	$190.39
Erase-Cl 250ml	$8.13 $6.91	Qty	$6.91
BRS Master Test Kit Bundlebundle-alkalinity1 x Alkalinity DKH Colorimeter HI772 Hanna Checker - Marine Water $0.00bundle-calcium1 x RedSea Calcium Pro Test Kit $0.00bundle-magnesium1 x AF Magnesium Test Kit $0.00bundle-nitrate1 x Nitrate REEFER Test Kit $0.00bundle-phosphate1 x Phosphate Ultra Low Range PPM Colorimeter HI774 Hanna Checker - Marine Water $0.00	$174.99 $139.99	Qty	$139.99
RedSea Marine Care Test Kit	$74.99 $65.99	Qty	$65.99
Large Foundation Reef Saver Dry Live Rock	$63.99 $51.19	Qty	$153.57
Microbacter Dry Rock Bacteria Starter Kit	$33.29 $28.30	Qty	$28.30
Reef Saver Shelf Aquarium Dry Live Rock	$6.99 $5.59	Qty	$229.19
Reef Saver Aquarium Dry Live Rock	$3.49 $2.79	Qty	$114.39
1/4" 8800 Booster Pump Kitbundle-2002001 x Aquatec 1/4in 8800 BoosterPump $0.00bundle-2002011 x Aquatec Power Supply for CDP-8800 Pump $0.00bundle-2002021 x 8800 PSW Pressure Switch 1/4" Push Connect $0.00bundle-4001631 x Instructions for Booster Pump $0.00	$179.99 $152.99	Qty	$152.99

I would ditch the redsea kit initially, that master test bundle is great, and are all of my favorites for the big 5.

I would get a hannah salinity checker, or refractometer.

If you have a very closed up house with lots of people, I would plan on getting a CO2 scrubber once you start getting coral.

And I would definitely get my hands on some real live rock and run dark for a month or 2 with all of that dry.

 

[Synthgp]

I would ditch the redsea kit initially, that master test bundle is great, and are all of my favorites for the big 5.

I would get a hannah salinity checker, or refractometer.

If you have a very closed up house with lots of people, I would plan on getting a CO2 scrubber once you start getting coral.

And I would definitely get my hands on some real live rock and run dark for a month or 2 with all of that dry.

The BRS test kit did not have an ammonia test, and the RedSea one seemed to be designed for those starting new builds/tank cycles. I will investigate further.

Dark for two months? Is that to prevent algae blooms? Should I target adding fish at the two month mark? If so, I assume I will need to add some ammonia to the tank to make sure that the bacterial concentration remains robust/established.

With respect to the CO2 scrubber is this for all coral, or is it more critical for LPS or SPS? The house is not as sealed as I would like, so that may work in my favor. Will keep an eye on this.

 

[Matty Ice]

That’s a great setup! You might want glue and epoxy for the rocks unless you’re going to make a stable stack.

Not sure if you have these already or want to get while there are sales:

-container for holding salt water or RODI water?
-pump and hoses for water changes?
-Refugium light?
-screen top?