First reef tank - how would you prioritize the items you eventually bought

[Rhetoric]

I skimmed the other answers and didn't see a ATO.

Its a non negotiable quality of life item for me. I dont want to manually top off all the time. Plus it adds stability in the salinity category.

 

[nvierra]

Nice tank with rockscape. Make sure you invest in a good trusted ATO as well, I saw many systems failed because of ATO. My priority for the equipment would be like this when starting up a new tank:
1. ATO & Return Pump
2. Skimmer
3. Heating Cooling
4. Light & Flow
Etc

My setup has an ATO that sits over the sump. Until you said that, it didn't register how crucial that would be for evaporation. I always thought you put saltwater in it, but now I'm reading that it needs RO. I didn't even think about it before. Thank you for that!

A skimmer is on the list. I needed to get past the light purchase that I made today for $340.
I have a heater (forgot the brand) that I got at setup.
What is used for cooling now that chillers are not around much?

 

[nvierra]

For torches and hammers, they don't need or thrive under excessive lighting. Imo, you don't need high dollar lighting for them.

Oh wow.. I didn't know that. I can always return the AI blade and swap it for something else. Any suggestions? I doubt I'll ever get into SPS. We're much more into LPS.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Oh wow.. I didn't know that. I can always return the AI blade and swap it for something else. Any suggestions? I doubt I'll ever get into SPS. We're much more into LPS.

Some LPS need more light than torches and hammers. A good starting place to look up corals of interest is: https://tidalgardens.com/corals/lps.html
See if there is a LFS or reef club nearby where you can borrow or rent a PAR meter.
The AI Blade may be fine for your needs, but could be more than what you need. Now that you have it, I'd probably keep it.

 

[me & my baby]

forgot to add a pic. Really needs lights. Any suggestions?

Finding light that sit in the tank is going to be the hard part . Most of your LEDs light are either mounting bracket or hanging. The only light that comes to mind is the maxspect but those are kinda pricey

 

[me & my baby]

Internal flow
Lights
ATO
Skimmer I would do last . Right now you can manage with water changes till you build up enough organics in the tank to warrant one .

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I've already had to add 2 gallons from evaporation in the last 6 days... Not sure if that's normal? Thinking of evaporation, does the salinity climb enough to where you would ever mix salt/water at way lower levels and add to dilute it?

2 gallons over 6 days is very possible, especially in an uncovered tank & sump. Evaporation is a function of temperature, humidity and surface area. If you want to know more precisely, there are online calculators that will do this. I see you are in Fort Wayne. I know that it can get cold there, and with that often comes dry outside air, dried even further by artificial indoor heating.
Yes, the salinity can climb significantly with even modest evaporation.
I see this was already addressed above, but to put a fine point on it, only the water evaporates, the salt does not. Do not ever replace evaporated water with salt water. That will further increase the salinity.

 

[vittpsu21]

I started about 8 months ago, had a lot of the same questions, the test kits are less impactful early imo then you think. I use my Alk, Phos, and Nitrate the most. Weekly for Phos and Nitrate and Alk more often as my tank grows and I am tuning in my Alk dosing.

RODI, I had one from the start, if I didn't I would have bought one instantly, there is zero chance I want to drive to the LFS to pick up RODI as often as I would need it for my tank.

ATO - less worry on salinity swings and also just one less thing you have to do daily. Fill up your reservoir as often as you need it and then forget about it other than testing your salinity.

Dedicated heater for salt mixing and a python to move your water in and out. These things just make the weekly work much easier and make me way more likely to ensure I do it.

Scraper, my tank gets very nasty early as its still building up its diversity, without a decent one it would have been much more of a pain in the butt.

 

[nvierra]

I started about 8 months ago, had a lot of the same questions, the test kits are less impactful early imo then you think. I use my Alk, Phos, and Nitrate the most. Weekly for Phos and Nitrate and Alk more often as my tank grows and I am tuning in my Alk dosing.

RODI, I had one from the start, if I didn't I would have bought one instantly, there is zero chance I want to drive to the LFS to pick up RODI as often as I would need it for my tank.

ATO - less worry on salinity swings and also just one less thing you have to do daily. Fill up your reservoir as often as you need it and then forget about it other than testing your salinity.

Dedicated heater for salt mixing and a python to move your water in and out. These things just make the weekly work much easier and make me way more likely to ensure I do it.

Scraper, my tank gets very nasty early as its still building up its diversity, without a decent one it would have been much more of a pain in the butt.

I started about 8 months ago, had a lot of the same questions, the test kits are less impactful early imo then you think. I use my Alk, Phos, and Nitrate the most. Weekly for Phos and Nitrate and Alk more often as my tank grows and I am tuning in my Alk dosing.

RODI, I had one from the start, if I didn't I would have bought one instantly, there is zero chance I want to drive to the LFS to pick up RODI as often as I would need it for my tank.

ATO - less worry on salinity swings and also just one less thing you have to do daily. Fill up your reservoir as often as you need it and then forget about it other than testing your salinity.

Dedicated heater for salt mixing and a python to move your water in and out. These things just make the weekly work much easier and make me way more likely to ensure I do it.

Scraper, my tank gets very nasty early as its still building up its diversity, without a decent one it would have been much more of a pain in the butt.

Awesome thank you for that. I’m in the market for an RO now. I also want another heater when I find one.

Ammonia is around 1 today. It’s day 6 from setup and adding FritzZyme 9 and Fishless Fuel.

My AI Blade just showed up. I’m so happy with it. I definitely won’t be returning it.

 

[nvierra]