Essential Reef set up equipment

[Joe Reefer]

Have you read The Reef Aquarium Volume 3? This book is great for setup ideas and methods for maintaining reef tanks.

[Slipstream]

No. But i looked for it and couldnt find it anywhere in town. We have a very limited aquarium support here. thats why i came here for help.. Which i dont seem to be getting. I already know i need to read more, i never said im going to stop reading it, i just wanted a list of what some of the experienced reefers here would recommend. So itd at least point me in the right direction..

[mark]

If it was just that easy as "buy this" for the perfect reef.

I'm sure I could say you need this exactly and 10 people here would say "ahhh maybe this". I'm also sure you could pick a system say from TOTM and clone it and you won't get the same results (probably good start though).

Read, talk to people, search or ask specific questions.

[kwirky]

i've been in the reef hobby for about a year and a half and I'm just starting to leave the "noob" phase. What I've found is that even though equipment can be exciting, when you look at an amazing tank and go "wow!" the equipment is only 1/4 of the reason it looks so good. Consistent tank husbandry, lots of patience, and lots of planning is what makes or breaks a tank I think. Read read read like joe said. There are all sorts of ways to keep a tank at various sizes and all can be successful. I rushed my first reef tank and thought it was just the gear that would make for a nice tank and concequently I paid the price.

Do step back though and think "how much do I have to spend on this tank?" One person said a good estimate of a tank cost is $30 per gallon and I think that's right on the money if you want to run a really nice tank.

Reading is the best way to learn in the intial stages before you have your tank because there's SO much to learn that discussion on the forums would not cover it all. The canreef document library is great Cristy does a great job maintaining it.

[Salmon King]

If you dont go sps corals it is very simple.Me and my friends test ph only but we do water changes every 1 or 2 weeks.All you need is live sand/ cured live rock if you can get it/a couple power heads/ heater /skimmer /Metal halide good but if you cant afford power compacts fine but limits the coral you can buy. Supplements Reef Complete/Iodide/marine buffer/electronit ph moniter if you can afford but manual okayA computer fan mounted on your tank.You want the temp no higher 78 degrees.I/m not really into sps but am looking into it.Hope this helps and any questions ask.I read on the internet but me and my friends rather buy corals then books.I do lke looking at the pictures thow.

[Slipstream]

Thanx Salmon