- Newbie -

[surfrider75]

Im getting back into the reef tank game after a 10 year hiatus and I realized I dont remember a damn thing about this stuff. I used to have a 75G reef but Ive since given all of my equipment away so Im starting fresh....

Here is where I stand:

I have a 30G tall tank, a SeaClone protein skimmer, a Fluval 405 filter and thats it. I want to get this thing up and running and get the water up to par before I add anything (This takes about a month right?) but I'm unsure of what else Ill need to get started.

Here is the rest of todays shopping list, perhaps there is something Im forgetting:

Powerhead. What size?
Live sand
Live rock
Sea Salt
Water tester

I have the lighting (Halide) and stand and I'd like to get the water pumping this evening if possible. Any idea's on what else I may need to get started?

[Reefland]

Don't get the liverock or live sand yet. You need to get the tank running and water parameters right before doing so.

A couple of things.
1. The skimmer isn't the best.
2. The fluval is not needed.
3. Get a couple of Maxi-Jet 1200 powerheads. (2)
4. Get the tank running, the temp, salinity and pH right and then go for the liverock and substrate.

[sihaya]

Ditto what Scott said. Btw, what do you mean by "water tester?"

And this might help a little too: www.asira.org - Aquarium Basics

[showfish]

I would ditch the Fluval, and just go with your skimmer and live rock. Canister filters are an often maligned piece of equipment in marine keeping, yet they are a staple in the freshwater portion of this hobby. This is because with most saltwater setups the primary means of biological filtration is carried out by the live rock, sand, or algal components in a refugium. In these instances, one does not need or desire the additional filtration of a canister, and the money saved can be put into a top notch protein skimmer. If you do go with the Fluval, make sure to clean it frequently or it will lead to increased nitrates. Just my two cents.

[Minh Nguyen]

Instead of PH in the tank like Maxijet, consider ofne or two of this:
Hydor KORALIA 1 - 400 gph 3.5W Reef Pump: Premium Aquatics
I had this for the last 4 months or so and really like it. Lots of gentle flow. Two of the smallest size one should be perfect for a 30 g tank. I got two in my 24 g aqua pod.