Definitely don't need it all right away, going DIY and ghetto, keeping and eye on the boards for used equipment can save a lot. Doing what you are doing now, research, so money is focused on what is required. Think of what you get now and how it might be incorporated into an expanded system later.
-good salt mix and with frequent water changes no other additives needed
-lights, fish don't need them, LPS generally moderate light requirement so probably can get away without have having those big MHs, look into PC
-simple timer for lights
-not sure if you have a sump, but a couple of power heads in a 50g can get things moving
-heater, and not running the big MHs, skip the chiller and get a muffin fan
-6-8 fish in a 50g, hope small ones, but can have tank without skimmer again water changes. A foam sock over a powerhead inlet can provide some mechanical filtering, cheap HOB filter also works
-food for fish depend on type but nori's cheap, lots of LPS like the mysis then there's the homemade blends by buying bulk frozen shrimp etc from Safeway
For me though, gadgets, bells and whistles are part of it. Just did a recir and feed mod to my skimmer, watched that thing foam away longer than I looked at my tank last night
|