40 gallon tank supply list and places to buy?

[cypike]

Im looking to get into the hobby and have watched a lot of videos on saltwater tanks and read a lot on them, but clearly there are some gaps in my knowledge.

Is there a way to get a tank set up to be able to make a reef tank for under $500? What are the most minimal supples needed in order to get a 40 gallon tank up and running without any stock? I get most confused when it comes to pumps and filtration.
There seems to be an infinite number of ways to do things and I need a dumbed down version.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cypike]

So far without installing the resin I’m getting 5 ppm out. Not sure if good or not but assuming this will drop after I install resin

 

[Cichlid Dad]

So far without installing the resin I’m getting 5 ppm out. Not sure if good or not but assuming this will drop after I install resin

I get my water from lfs so can't help on this

 

[cypike]

my assumption was correct

 

[cypike]

Now time to slowly make 40 gallons of RODI water lol

 

[ElementReefer]

After cycling, I would make this your first inhabitants:

5280 Pods & OceanMagik

ALL-NEW DURABLE PACKAGING! INCLUDES: 5280 Pods Three Species Mix For Maximum Copepod Diversity Seed Your Aquarium | Increase Pod Populations | Feed Finicky Fish OceanMagik Live Phytoplankton Blend, Four Nutritious Strains Feed Copepods | Increase Coral Growth | Reduce Nuisance Algae

www.algaebarn.com

 

[cypike]

After cycling, I would make this your first inhabitants:

5280 Pods & OceanMagik

ALL-NEW DURABLE PACKAGING! INCLUDES: 5280 Pods Three Species Mix For Maximum Copepod Diversity Seed Your Aquarium | Increase Pod Populations | Feed Finicky Fish OceanMagik Live Phytoplankton Blend, Four Nutritious Strains Feed Copepods | Increase Coral Growth | Reduce Nuisance Algae

www.algaebarn.com

I have been reading about these buggers I think this is a good idea.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I have been reading about these buggers I think this is a good idea.

They will have a big impact on your algae

 

[ElementReefer]

After establishing your pods and going through your diatom bloom, I might think about getting a little zoanthid colony that’s growing on a nice piece of live rock, or simply a piece of live rock from an established healthy tank.

Even a bit of live rock will bring in good stuff like more bacteria and archaea species, spirorbis, sponge, pods, coraline, etc.

These are all things that will come in eventually anyhow, and yes there’s a risk of pests as well, but this is a way to bring stuff in on your schedule, and zoa’s are a good first canary in the coal mine for how well you’re doing with your tank.

 

[xclusive252]

Do you want fish only or reef?

I am getting out of the Hobby and have alot of what your looking for for cheap and all in working excellent condition

 

[cypike]

After establishing your pods and going through your diatom bloom, I might think about getting a little zoanthid colony that’s growing on a nice piece of live rock, or simply a piece of live rock from an established healthy tank.

Even a bit of live rock will bring in good stuff like more bacteria and archaea species, spirorbis, sponge, pods, coraline, etc.

These are all things that will come in eventually anyhow, and yes there’s a risk of pests as well, but this is a way to bring stuff in on your schedule, and zoa’s are a good first canary in the coal mine for how well you’re doing with your tank.

I was planning to stick with just clown fish for a while until I’ve dialed everything in and know that I’m doing things correctly. But not sure when I should add them. Should I go coral first?

 

[cypike]

Also new question after doing some research, I decided to test my ph from my RODI system and like I expected it’s 7.4 (pretty neutral) I’m assuming that agitating the water will raise the PH once it’s in my tank, but how much will it raise I wonder . I’m also reading that the salt I’m going to mix into it wont affect the PH much which I thought was a little weird.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

You have me on this one, I know you're rocks and sand will buffer pH, I would test after salt mixed and address it then. The CO2 in our house is higher than outside and that will lower pH in your tank.

 

[ElementReefer]

I was planning to stick with just clown fish for a while until I’ve dialed everything in and know that I’m doing things correctly. But not sure when I should add them. Should I go coral first?

Fish are fine, but they won’t bring in nearly as much beneficial microfauna (good little critters) as a bit of healthy live rock. CUC is also fine to add first, snail shells bring some of the same microfauna as live rock. Some.

Fish and their food eventually bring in the bulk of your nutrients that fuels the whole ecosystem, but when you’re brand new I don’t think fish is any more or less of a logical place to start than, say, a zoa with reef roids, or some snails with nori. You could do a little starter pack of a clown pair, a zoa, and some snails!

 

[ElementReefer]

Also new question after doing some research, I decided to test my ph from my RODI system and like I expected it’s 7.4 (pretty neutral) I’m assuming that agitating the water will raise the PH once it’s in my tank, but how much will it raise I wonder . I’m also reading that the salt I’m going to mix into it wont affect the PH much which I thought was a little weird.

Everything I researched about pH eventually said “Don’t shoot for pH, shoot for alkalinity and good water flow/surface agitation. If these are good, the pH will take care of itself.”

At least for a beginner.

 

[cypike]

Please refer to me as Michelangelo, thanks

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Please refer to me as Michelangelo, thanks

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I love it!

 

[cypike]

we will see what it looks like in the tank in about 48 hours haha

 

[ElementReefer]

Looks great! You got height, something nice to have that I didn’t do on my first scape.

 

[Spare time]

Also new question after doing some research, I decided to test my ph from my RODI system and like I expected it’s 7.4 (pretty neutral) I’m assuming that agitating the water will raise the PH once it’s in my tank, but how much will it raise I wonder . I’m also reading that the salt I’m going to mix into it wont affect the PH much which I thought was a little weird.

Don't bother trying to test pH with rodi water. The number won't mean anything. Testing in the tank is what's important. Lower pH means slower growth.