Setting up, what do I have to have

[Mrs.Adams]

I'm about to start buying and setting up my saltwater tank what are the must haves to start cycling as we will be doing a 6 to 8 week cycle before fish Or coral, I have a75 gallon tank, right now that I will be converting. Thanks.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Is this a standard 75 gallon? Do you have the dimensions?

Will this be a low budget build? You can either do it right, do it to get by for awhile?

Then there are emergency(optional) items like universal power supplies.

Things to add control such as full tank monitors and controllers. The amount you put into a tank can really add up.

There is a lot of research and not to sound rude, but it's difficult for us to go through an entire list. But we can start with basics....

Tank
Skimmer(optional)
Mechanical filtration(semi optional)
Lights(led or halide)
Live rock or dry live rock or dry rock
Sand or no sand
Power heads
Heater
Thermometer
Auto top off(optional)
Test kits(calcium, mag, alk, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate)
Dipping solutions
Salt mix

Quarantine tank for new live stock

I'm sure I left some things out. But that is a start :)

 

[AdamNC]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[AZDesertRat]

#1, a RO/DI unit or a trusted source of RO/DI water that will test the TDS in front of you so you know it's quality. Everything else doesn't mean a thing without good water.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Duh, I forget R2R has guides, lol.. :oops:

 

[clownfish chris]

Patients and money.

In all seriousness, I would not start without a sump, return pump, plumbing, skimmer, heater, test kits, salt mix and powerheads. An RODI or another source of purified to 0tds water unit is almost immediate as well.