LucentFish
Community Member
Hi everyone, first time poster, long time lurker.
I'v been wanting a reef tank for some time now, and about to move to a new condo we just purchased. So i am finally comfortable with setting up a reef tank as there is no risk of being made to move. In the past had fresh water for about 15 years, from 20g to 120g fully planted tanks.
The plan is to go with the Red Sea Reefer 300xl (65g display, 15g sump), and after a few months have the refugium grow macro algae (chaeto or Gracilaria Hayi).
I would love some feedback on the equipment list iv been tinkering over. I don't plan on stocking too heavily and livestock additions will be spread out. Coral wise looking to initially do Zoas, soft coral and in the upper zones 1 or 2 Monticaps possibly as i like how they plate out, and hopefully with only them for hardcorals water changes to keep up with the calc needs. Iv watched through the BRS 52 weeks + all their vids as well as reading articles here and following some other reef youtube channels.
For simplicity i am leaning towards going all red sea (led/wavemakers) or AI's to put it all on one app. Heard many mixed reviews of the red sea app previously, has it gotten any better?
Skimmer:
- Bubble magus 3.5 or Curve 5
Lights
- 2 AI 16HD (can add a 3rd if i go SPS later)
or
- 2 Red Sea Reef LED 50's
Heater
- 2 Eheim Jager 150W on inkbird temp controller
Powerheads
1x Hydor Koralia evo 850 (later can become another wave maker and be the salt mixer)
- 2x AI Nero 3
or
- 1x Red Sea wavemaker 45
Return pump
- Sicce Syncra 714 GPH
Substrate
- 50-60lb Fiji pink
- 65lb dry rock
Misc other
- RSR DIY Mesh cover
- RO/DI system
- Test kits
- red sea coral pro salt
- Aquaforest BioS +ammonium
Livestock
- 2 OC Clowns *1-3months, or after cycling completed
- 1 Royal Gamma *2-4 months
- 1 Firefish Goby *2-4 months
- 2 Bangaii Cardinals *4-6 months
- 1 Blenny tbd *6 month
- 1 Goby/pistol shrimp pair *8-12 months
- 1 fairy wrasse *6-12 months
- 1 Kole eye tang (maybe) *6-12 month
Cleanup Crew *to be staggered 1M/3M as algae/fish load grows
- 10 hermit crabs (will buy empty shells as well)
- 1 emerald crab
- 6 Trochus snails
- 6 Cerith snails
- 5 Astrea snails
- Copepod packs
Coral - add gsp/simple zoa 1-2M and ease into the rest
- GSP
- Zoas
- Clove polyps
- Toadstool/Sinularia leathers
- Euphyllia
- Kenya Tree
- Red cap monti
My main concern with the list is the lighting, with either set would it be enough for zoa/softies as the depth is ~24inches on the 300XL. Upgrading either adds a significant cost ~$600CAD more. Overall budget target is $5000 (before livestock) and im about there now per my spreadsheet based on buying all new. Once the move is done, i can keep an eye out for sales/local groups for some used stuff.
Thank you in advance, and i look forward to making a build thread within a few months!
I'v been wanting a reef tank for some time now, and about to move to a new condo we just purchased. So i am finally comfortable with setting up a reef tank as there is no risk of being made to move. In the past had fresh water for about 15 years, from 20g to 120g fully planted tanks.
The plan is to go with the Red Sea Reefer 300xl (65g display, 15g sump), and after a few months have the refugium grow macro algae (chaeto or Gracilaria Hayi).
I would love some feedback on the equipment list iv been tinkering over. I don't plan on stocking too heavily and livestock additions will be spread out. Coral wise looking to initially do Zoas, soft coral and in the upper zones 1 or 2 Monticaps possibly as i like how they plate out, and hopefully with only them for hardcorals water changes to keep up with the calc needs. Iv watched through the BRS 52 weeks + all their vids as well as reading articles here and following some other reef youtube channels.
For simplicity i am leaning towards going all red sea (led/wavemakers) or AI's to put it all on one app. Heard many mixed reviews of the red sea app previously, has it gotten any better?
Skimmer:
- Bubble magus 3.5 or Curve 5
Lights
- 2 AI 16HD (can add a 3rd if i go SPS later)
or
- 2 Red Sea Reef LED 50's
Heater
- 2 Eheim Jager 150W on inkbird temp controller
Powerheads
1x Hydor Koralia evo 850 (later can become another wave maker and be the salt mixer)
- 2x AI Nero 3
or
- 1x Red Sea wavemaker 45
Return pump
- Sicce Syncra 714 GPH
Substrate
- 50-60lb Fiji pink
- 65lb dry rock
Misc other
- RSR DIY Mesh cover
- RO/DI system
- Test kits
- red sea coral pro salt
- Aquaforest BioS +ammonium
Livestock
- 2 OC Clowns *1-3months, or after cycling completed
- 1 Royal Gamma *2-4 months
- 1 Firefish Goby *2-4 months
- 2 Bangaii Cardinals *4-6 months
- 1 Blenny tbd *6 month
- 1 Goby/pistol shrimp pair *8-12 months
- 1 fairy wrasse *6-12 months
- 1 Kole eye tang (maybe) *6-12 month
Cleanup Crew *to be staggered 1M/3M as algae/fish load grows
- 10 hermit crabs (will buy empty shells as well)
- 1 emerald crab
- 6 Trochus snails
- 6 Cerith snails
- 5 Astrea snails
- Copepod packs
Coral - add gsp/simple zoa 1-2M and ease into the rest
- GSP
- Zoas
- Clove polyps
- Toadstool/Sinularia leathers
- Euphyllia
- Kenya Tree
- Red cap monti
My main concern with the list is the lighting, with either set would it be enough for zoa/softies as the depth is ~24inches on the 300XL. Upgrading either adds a significant cost ~$600CAD more. Overall budget target is $5000 (before livestock) and im about there now per my spreadsheet based on buying all new. Once the move is done, i can keep an eye out for sales/local groups for some used stuff.
Thank you in advance, and i look forward to making a build thread within a few months!
