Thanks. Yeah was also looking for a rodi machine but I don’t even know what to start looking for.
Everyone will have their favorites, personally a
BRS 5 stage is what I started with. Its a great starting point for most hobbiests. The nice thing about the
BRS RODI systems is that they can easily be upgraded. I've upgraded mine over the years to a 7 stage RODI with dual membranes for 150GPD and water saving. I've added a TDS meter and a Smart Buddy RODI booster pump. I'd suggest getting a 5 Stage to start with and a TDS meter right away. The rest you can slowly add down the road.
Equipment is hard because everyone has different brands they know/trust/love.
Lights, difficult to go wrong, AI makes good lights with a great app. Reefbreeders is another manufacture that many people like the light and app for along with being a decent price. Of course you can go higher end from there such as ATI or Ecotech but you don't need to by any means. Another thing to note when shopping is how you're going to mount the lights to the tank or hang them from your ceiling. Not all options are equal in this regard.
Skimmer, lots of people recommend Reef Octopus skimmers as do I. I've used quite a few different brands and they consistently perform the best for me. Being that you're looking at an AIO, they may not fit the bill correctly. Maybe search around on the forums and see what others with the same or similar tank are using. Don't be afraid to reach out to anyone to ask questions either. We are very friendly here at R2R.
Return Pump, again lots of opinions here. I've used Sicce, Jebao, and a few others. Sicce is definetly nice but the large ones can be a bit noisier for a while until they break in IMO. The small Sicce pumps tend to be super quiet though. I use mostly Jebao as they have proven to be reliable for me but fit any budget nicely. If you want quite and super reliable, the Reef Octopus pumps are known for just that. If you need super small, the sic
Flow Pumps, AI has a super nice app for theirs. Jebao's are cheap and reliable enough to get the job done perfectly fine. Lots of options here. Unfortunately, my best advice is pick one that fits the bill and looks like something you'll like. Used here is generally a good option because this is something you'll likely play with by trying different pumps and combos down the road. Pretty much anything is good enough to get you started though.
It definitely sounds like you should also consider a battery backup system of some kind if a power outage was why your last tank crashed. Even for just a single flow pump, the return pump, and heater. Those will be enough to keep everything alive.
