Took a few months but thought I'd share my first regular saltwater tank setup

Noireatsbear

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Hello everyone,

I would like to share what i have done so far with my 40 breeder setup. I am still a complete beginner so any advice would be appreciated.

Equipment pricing (some are estimates):
40 breeder tank : 50% off at petco (think it was about 55 dollars?)
Stand from Petco: (around $60)
BRS 5 stage RO/DI system: $170
SBreeflight: sbox pro 32' $310 (still didnt get it in yet)
Trigger system 18c (used): $200
NYOS protein skimmer (used): $200
Waveline pump and controller DC12000 (used): $125
Hygger return pump 600gph for easy water change: $30
Lifereef Overflow box with silencer: (around $200)
Ehiem 300W heater for DT: (around $30)
Ehiem 100W heater for mixing salt: (around $25)
Temporary Aqueon circulation pump rated at around 1200 or 1300 gpu for DT: (around $20)
Aqueon pump rated at 800 something gph for mixing salt: (around $15)
Hydor Koralia 850gph (x2): $70 (just ordered today)
Piping, misc equipment/solutions: (not yet complete but already spent around $300 and probably need another $400-500)

TOTAL estimate for Equipment already spent: greater than $1800. I say greater because i didnt include shipping and tax. Lifereef's shipping alone was about 60 dollars.

Live stuff:
KPaquatics aquacultured rocks (35 pounds): $344
KPaquatics dry shelf rock (25 pounds): $82.50
Caribsea live sand (40 pounds): $56 (I got the wrong color sand so still brand new unopened)
Nature's Ocean live sand (40 pounds): $50

TOTAL: $532

Still need/want:
UV sterilizer
some more piping/sump equipment such as manifolds and uv sterilizer
Octolids lid
another heater for sump
filtration stuff for sump
QT

TOTAL: ***!!

Estimated Grand Total for already spent: Greater than $2,332.5

Things I regret buying:
NYOS protein skimmer (only because i read that Reef Octopus brand was the best and not that much more expensive for a new one compared to the used NYOS skimmer i got)
Sump: Trigger system 18c that i got used for $200, i could have got it for i think $230 brand new. Also not much space for anything. Should have got a regular rectangle tank
40 breeder tank: with all the money i spent, i think i could have spent a little more for a 75 gallon.

It took probably 3 months to get most of the equipments to be able to maintain and cycle my tank with live rocks from KP aquatic and took about a week and a half for the tank to almost be cycled. Ammonia is nearly at 0.

Currently, im stuck on figuring out the plumbing and manifolds for the sump but I think a few more days of playing around with pvc and braided vinyl tubes, I'll get it done.

Here are some pictures for my progress: First pic was just me being funny to my friend who was asking me if i had a leveler. theyre almost in order except for the last picture. Last picture was when i first got the KPaquatic aquacultured rocks in.
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Chrisfish

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Welcome to R2R, great start, looking forward to seeing more. :)
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

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