So I’m working on getting caught up on the changes to this hobby and what may suit me best.
Here is what I will be working with:
40 Gallon Breeder (not reef ready)
Glass top (likely need to be removed due to light filtering abilities?)
No canopy
Will have about a 1 inch sand bed and like around 40-60lbs of live rock
Like a 20L sump/refugium
Here’s what I want animal wise:
A few fish (still working on this list)
A mix of softies and LPS with maybe a couple select SPS
This is where I’m lost...equipment:
Skimmer - Never used a skimmer on any previous tank, any recommendations?
Lighting - metal halide was the premium lighting back when I stopped following most aquarium industry updates. The issue is I suck at maintaining a schedule to change bulbs...perhaps LED? I’m fine with Chinese black boxes but not sure what’s a decent knock off brand? I’ve seen LED at some LFS and the look works. May add more whites for a more natural reef look (I’m aware of the blue spectrum requirement for coral growth). I would like something that has legs (if possible) as hanging above the tank would be quite difficult.
Testing - is there anything that does digital testing of the basics (like the Trident but including ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phos,etc) but without the massive controller expense? I have never used a controller and personally am not a fan
ATO - Never used one before. Any reccomendations?
Dosing - I like the thought of automated dosing but not the cost so will likely stick with dosing by hand
Auto-water change - I like the thought but never done this before - thoughts?
So with the above said, what do I need or what are your reccomendations? Budget wise I’d like to keep it as cheap as possible however I know that certain things one shouldn’t cheap out on.
Here is what I will be working with:
40 Gallon Breeder (not reef ready)
Glass top (likely need to be removed due to light filtering abilities?)
No canopy
Will have about a 1 inch sand bed and like around 40-60lbs of live rock
Like a 20L sump/refugium
Here’s what I want animal wise:
A few fish (still working on this list)
A mix of softies and LPS with maybe a couple select SPS
This is where I’m lost...equipment:
Skimmer - Never used a skimmer on any previous tank, any recommendations?
Lighting - metal halide was the premium lighting back when I stopped following most aquarium industry updates. The issue is I suck at maintaining a schedule to change bulbs...perhaps LED? I’m fine with Chinese black boxes but not sure what’s a decent knock off brand? I’ve seen LED at some LFS and the look works. May add more whites for a more natural reef look (I’m aware of the blue spectrum requirement for coral growth). I would like something that has legs (if possible) as hanging above the tank would be quite difficult.
Testing - is there anything that does digital testing of the basics (like the Trident but including ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phos,etc) but without the massive controller expense? I have never used a controller and personally am not a fan
ATO - Never used one before. Any reccomendations?
Dosing - I like the thought of automated dosing but not the cost so will likely stick with dosing by hand
Auto-water change - I like the thought but never done this before - thoughts?
So with the above said, what do I need or what are your reccomendations? Budget wise I’d like to keep it as cheap as possible however I know that certain things one shouldn’t cheap out on.