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.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Looking good. I’ll be very impressed if you keep it under $500. BRS mentions a bunch of times in some of their vids that 1K was what a new person spent in the first year on average and that was pre Covid. I tried really hard to stay low buying used and was somewhere around $750 for the first year. (Now closing year 2) It’s just an expensive hobby and inflation / Covid have only made that worse. The budget tank they build in the 5 minute guide is prob like 1500 now.

I think he already went over the 500.00, lol. I started to add mine up and had to stop half way through, could not handle the numbers I was coming up to!

 

[ElementReefer]

A Brute 20 or a Brute 32 is your best bet with mixing. You won’t mix in the tank, too much of a PITA. I store RODI in a Brute 32 and mix in a 15 gallon…bucket…thing…that I got at the hardware store. Then use a pump to get the fresh water in.

 

[jpark457]

I like to mix in a tough tote. One of the square storage bins black w yellow lid. Fits on a shelf better than the brute and I store tubing and other water mixing nonsense in it when not mixing. I just added a 75 g w 20 gal sumo and may need to up volume but thats what I was using for a 34 g Red Sea AIO. It could prob hold the same volume as the tank but I just mixed 10-15 g at a go

 

[cypike]

A Brute 20 or a Brute 32 is your best bet with mixing. You won’t mix in the tank, too much of a PITA. I store RODI in a Brute 32 and mix in a 15 gallon…bucket…thing…that I got at the hardware store. Then use a pump to get the fresh water in.

I actually ordered a brute 20 yesterday and it will get here Saturday.

 

[ElementReefer]

I actually ordered a brute 20 yesterday and it will get here Saturday.

Pro. That way you’ll have capacity for an emergency 50% WC, in the even you ever had to.

 

[cypike]

did a little cable management today.

 

[Celestion]

the 40g $60.00 Petco right now (united states) , greatly increase it's reliability with a center brace 10" acrylic or equivalent , or two 5" placed a foot from the ends , weld on3 or equivalent ye ha

 

[cypike]

the 40g $60.00 Petco right now (united states) , greatly increase it's reliability with a center brace 10" acrylic or equivalent , or two 5" placed a foot from the ends , weld on3 or equivalent ye ha

Is this something I actually have to worry about?

 

[Celestion]

Your call , remembers lots of other reefers read these posts

 

[cypike]

What

 

[cypike]

Also, am leaning towards returning HOB filter and just biting the bullet and going sump. If I wanted to do this, how much would I spend for a setup?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Also, am leaning towards returning HOB filter and just biting the bullet and going sump. If I wanted to do this, how much would I spend for a setup?

I have 800.00 and it is basic

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I have 800.00 and it is basic

Sorry, 1000.00

 

[cypike]

Sorry, 1000.00

Ok hang on back is fine lol just wondering how I’m gonna put a lid on it with HOB

 

[cypike]

RODI reservoir made

 

[ElementReefer]

Ok hang on back is fine lol just wondering how I’m gonna put a lid on it with HOB

A few ideas:
Red Sea DIY net cover
DD Aquarics jump guard
A piece of twin wall polycarbonate sheeting
1/2” grid egg crate from BRS

 

[cypike]

A few ideas:
Red Sea DIY net cover
DD Aquarics jump guard
A piece of twin wall polycarbonate sheeting
1/2” grid egg crate from BRS

Might do egg crate

 

[ElementReefer]

I will say from experience that I very quickly got a second small tank to run parallel with my main tank, as I do not have a sump either. A 5 or 10 gallon would work fine. I use it for all kinds of things. Quarantining new fish. A jail for naughty inverts. A place to acclimate or observe corals. A lifeboat in case the main tank crashes or leaks. A hospital tank. Etc.

A 10 gallon Aqueon, a Nicrew internal filter and a small heater will set you back about $35 before tax.

 

[cypike]

I ordered an ATO but the micro one by tunze, might return it though because the tank I have a has a lip and I don’t know if I can get it to fill to the point I want it to.

 

[cypike]

Salt added, measured it and it’s at 1.025 currently but I’m assuming it might change after 24 hrs….