Help with equipment please

[cgolds83]

Hi, I wondered if anyone can help me. I used to keep marines a long time ago. I recently brought a Redsea reefer 250 but I am completely lost with it. Everything has changed since I last had them and I now feel like a complete newbie and what I did know I’ve forgot. I have no idea what equipment I should buy. I will list the equipment I have below but could someone tell me if there’s any other bits I need or bits I need to replace please as my head is fried and I don’t know where to start with it all any help will be greatly appreciated.

V2 vecton 400 (which is too big)
Marine dc pump dcp-4000
Bubble Magnus curve 5
X2 filter socks
Eheim 200w 220-240v heater
Salinity hydrometer
Ato topper
Marine lights mars I think they are which I’ve discovered are rubbish so was looking at x2 Redsea 90’s
Jecod wave maker

 

[tzabor10]

you might want to watch the 52 weeks of reefing on YouTube. Very helpful

 

[cgolds83]

you might want to watch the 52 weeks of reefing on YouTube. Very helpful

Thank you, I will take a look.

 

[sturgesz]

Jabeo has come a long way at 1/4 the price of anything else…
Easy starter list
Return pump
Powerhead
Heater
Skimmer
Powerstrip
Ato
Ato container (not needed but makes life easier)
Rodi ( I use BRS 75gpd for 100 gal reef)
Refractometer
Nitrate tester
Phosphate tester
Ph tester
Reef salt
Reef light

There will always be fan boys/ girls of equipment but my suggestion is decide what kind of reef you want
FOWLR…. Mixed reef…. Softies only…. Lps…… or SPS

Then start figuring out equipment to support the tank you wish to have. I personally like Jabeo (jacod equipment)

When it comes to lights you can research yourself to death again figure out your goals and then go from there. Each type of light has pros/cons t5/led/mh there are good budget choices however for leds noopsyche k7 seem to be popular now also quanta pros are a good t5 alternative.

It was overwhelming for myself coming back too and I’m still learning about all the new things (mainly automation) however equipment itself hasn’t changed much just gotten better

 

[cgolds83]

Jabeo has come a long way at 1/4 the price of anything else…
Easy starter list
Return pump
Powerhead
Heater
Skimmer
Powerstrip
Ato
Ato container (not needed but makes life easier)
Rodi ( I use BRS 75gpd for 100 gal reef)
Refractometer
Nitrate tester
Phosphate tester
Ph tester
Reef salt
Reef light

There will always be fan boys/ girls of equipment but my suggestion is decide what kind of reef you want
FOWLR…. Mixed reef…. Softies only…. Lps…… or SPS

Then start figuring out equipment to support the tank you wish to have. I personally like Jabeo (jacod equipment)

When it comes to lights you can research yourself to death again figure out your goals and then go from there. Each type of light has pros/cons t5/led/mh there are good budget choices however for leds noopsyche k7 seem to be popular now also quanta pros are a good t5 alternative.

It was overwhelming for myself coming back too and I’m still learning about all the new things (mainly automation) however equipment itself hasn’t changed much just gotten better

Thank you, honestly my head is fried with it all. I honestly don’t remember it being this much of a headache last time lol I’ve had the tank sat empty for about 7 months because I just don’t know where to start with it. I’ve got all this equipment and I’m not sure which bits I can use for this tank and which bits need replacing. There is so much conflicting information where one will say this is what you need and another will say it’s rubbish ‍lol like for instance my wave maker, the shop said this is what I need. But I’ve seen on here I would need atleast two Redsea 25s so now I’m thinking is the one I got enough? do I need another to add to it? or do I need to get rid and replace it all together lol it’s so confusing and don’t even get me started on the uv I have no idea what I’m doing with that ‍lol

 

[sturgesz]

Uv sterilizers are not a must have that’s a personal choice….. they serve a purpose but also kill both good and bad microorganisms

If the wave maker is controllable then put it in and adjust as needed if you think you need more flow add another. There again it depends on your end goals

Each reef tank is different but In The end stability is the most important aspect

 

[sturgesz]

I beat my head against the wall and finally pulled the trigger on an Ati t5

I’ve ran radions for 3 years they were great but always felt something was missing and decided to go where leds try to reach and bought an 8bulb t5

 

[Gumbies R Us]

If you wanted to, you could do an AIO tank. They are a little pricey but come with much of what you need.

 

[cgolds83]

Uv sterilizers are not a must have that’s a personal choice….. they serve a purpose but also kill both good and bad microorganisms

If the wave maker is controllable then put it in and adjust as needed if you think you need more flow add another. There again it depends on your end goals

Each reef tank is different but In The end stability is the most important aspect

Thank you, the wave maker I have is controllable this is the one I have. But I’m not sure what speed I should set it to? My last one was just plug in so I didn’t have to adjust anything lol

 

[cgolds83]

If you wanted to, you could do an AIO tank. They are a little pricey but come with much of what you need.

Thank you, as much as it would be easier, because i already have the tank, I’d rather just set this one up. I just need to know which bits I need, but I’m sure once it’s up and running it will all come back to me. It’s changed a lot since I last kept marines, there’s so much new equipment it’s fried my brain lol

 

[cgolds83]

I beat my head against the wall and finally pulled the trigger on an Ati t5

I’ve ran radions for 3 years they were great but always felt something was missing and decided to go where leds try to reach and bought an 8bulb t5

With the lights, I’m looking for something I can hang a bracket on the back of the tank rather than hang from the ceiling or wall. Not fussed about it being Redsea specifically just a half decent one that sits on the tank itself.