What can I improve in my equipment?

[alexeikathryn]

Hey everyone, I am new to the hobby. I’ve been lurking on Reddit for about a few months now and slowly gathering materials and I would like to get some insight before I even start thinking about cycling my tank. I know there’s a lot to learn and I don’t want to waste money starting too early. Looking to have coral, fish, and invertebrates in this tank.

Here is my list of equipment I have acquired:
JBJ 28 gallon nano cube
Aquatech 20-40 filter
Heater
5 stage 50GPD RO/DI system
MiniQ Nano Protein Skimmer
Refractometer
TDS Meter
Thermometer
Dr Tim’s Dechlorinator
Fritz Zyme 9 Nitrifying Bacteria

10 gallon quarantine tank with light
Aquatech 5-15 filter
Heater
PraziPro Parasite Treatment
Copper Power
PVC

I was planning on buying 30lbs of live sand.
I wanted to do 15lbs of live rock and 13lbs of dry rock.


Mostly curious about budget friendly lights (sub $200) for the 28 gallon, if they exist.
Also what is the best bang for my buck when it comes to testing kits?

Any and all insight is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Lavey29]

Good testing devices such as Hanna.

 

[Not_Erick]

+1 on the Hanna checkers, you can check your local reef clubs or market place or offer up and get them relatively cheap.id skip the magnesium one though, it’s a hassle to get it right.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hey everyone, I am new to the hobby. I’ve been lurking on Reddit for about a few months now and slowly gathering materials and I would like to get some insight before I even start thinking about cycling my tank. I know there’s a lot to learn and I don’t want to waste money starting too early. Looking to have coral, fish, and invertebrates in this tank.

Here is my list of equipment I have acquired:
JBJ 28 gallon nano cube
Aquatech 20-40 filter
Heater
5 stage 50GPD RO/DI system
MiniQ Nano Protein Skimmer
Refractometer
TDS Meter
Thermometer
Dr Tim’s Dechlorinator
Fritz Zyme 9 Nitrifying Bacteria

10 gallon quarantine tank with light
Aquatech 5-15 filter
Heater
PraziPro Parasite Treatment
Copper Power
PVC

I was planning on buying 30lbs of live sand.
I wanted to do 15lbs of live rock and 13lbs of dry rock.


Mostly curious about budget friendly lights (sub $200) for the 28 gallon, if they exist.
Also what is the best bang for my buck when it comes to testing kits?

Any and all insight is appreciated! Thanks!

You can't go past Salifert for accurate test kits that don't break the bank.

You'll only need Alkalinity, Calcium and Nitrate to start. Ignore Magnesium tests - you don't need to test it.

For Phosphate you really need a Hanna checker.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Being in Canada, unfortunately you won't find lights less than $200, not new ones anyway, but check out classifieds, lots of folks getting out of the hobby and selling lights cheap.

If you check out amazon, nicrew 150w is slightly over $200, I think that would be the best bang for the buck for a brand new unit. Maybe the 100w will work, I'm not sure, will need more opinions on that.

 

[The_Paradox]

100w is more than enough for a 28g cube. I actually prefer the Hipargero over the Nicrew.

Hipargero on Amazon