Need help with build list for saltwater 96x36x30-96x30x30 tank

[JJ&]

I’m wanting to custom order an acrylic tank in the dimensions in title but new to the saltwater game. I’m wanting it to be mostly a sps or lps reef tank with around 10-25 fish but mostly tangs. What sump, skimmer, and other items would I need for this entire build. I’m trying to get a build list going so I can account for the entire set up cost

The tank would be on the main floor of the house, no basement, large wide tile flooring, no crawl space. House built in 2008. Will be against a 159in wall that has a bathroom behind it

 

[twentyleagues]

You are going to need some serious lighting for this. If you want to do it as easy as possible I'd say 10 radion xr30, plus supplemental lighting like t5s or ai blades or xhos. That might get you to the light lvl needed for sps at least in the top half. Might want to look at a regal 300ext something in the 10 or 12" diameter for that tank. Sump would be as large as possible doesn't matter what brand. If this does well for you youll need a way to account for calcium and alk usage calcium reactor and supplements on dosers. Anything you can get automated especially in the parameter handling department such as a kh keeper will help keep it stable.
This site is mainly fresh water so you'll probably not get a lot of responses. Have you kept saltwater before?
You way want to check out reef2reef.
Ive been planning a return to salt for a couple months now, man it's so expensive.

 

[JJ&]

You are going to need some serious lighting for this. If you want to do it as easy as possible I'd say 10 radion xr30, plus supplemental lighting like t5s or ai blades or xhos. That might get you to the light lvl needed for sps at least in the top half. Might want to look at a regal 300ext something in the 10 or 12" diameter for that tank. Sump would be as large as possible doesn't matter what brand. If this does well for you youll need a way to account for calcium and alk usage calcium reactor and supplements on dosers. Anything you can get automated especially in the parameter handling department such as a kh keeper will help keep it stable.
This site is mainly fresh water so you'll probably not get a lot of responses. Have you kept saltwater before?
You way want to check out reef2reef.
Ive been planning a return to salt for a couple months now, man it's so expensive.

Will something this size require to be connected to my house plumbing or can I keep most of the items underneath the tank?

 

[twentyleagues]

Will something this size require to be connected to my house plumbing or can I keep most of the items underneath the tank?

I wouldn't connect a reef tank to home plumbing other then maybe a drain. You'll need an ro/di unit regardless of your water quality. You'll need a water holding and saltwater mixing station to properly hold your rodi water and have enough saltwater on hand for water changes or emergencies, at least half tank volume. A close to 500g reef tank isn't a great starting point unless you have unlimited funds tbh. It's ambitious for sure. Again have you kept a reef before?

 

[phreeflow]

A Neptune Apex is a must, some storage containers to premix and store saltwater, Ecotech wavemakers and pumps, and everything else already mentioned

 

[Bsixxx]

The secret to keeping saltwater tanks is not maintaining the fish or coral but maintaining the water. That's the small detail that makes or breaks your system.

That being said. You are jumping into stony corals which need near perfect water quality, intense fluctuating flow rates, and typically teeth gritting expensive lighting to even survive.
Next you need accurate monitors to measure all your elements and dissolved supplements constantly.

To be fair your tank is quite small for majority of tangs available in the hobby and you aren't going to have fun constantly trying to balance your water and lighting parameters and worrying about fish picking at or slamming into your coral to even enjoy the tangs.

Take a look at some of the saltwater dedicated forums like reef central and you will see people not even flinch dropping $10k on equipment alone for smaller setups.

Also, if you aren't new to saltwater disregard this entire message. Look at neptune and reef octopus products and and maybe API to start.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Yep, what Bsixxx said. If you can't throw a thousand dollars into the street and walk away from it, then stay away from reef tanks. I had a 120g reef tank and I can't tell you how much money I flushed down that toilet. I built my own equipment thinking that it would allow me to afford it, but I had four fish kills that each cost around a thousand dollars (not counting lost corals). I later got into giant clams and lost nearly everything when they spawned. One clam was $350 by itself but I had around $1500 in total. The big one barely survived the spawn and later turned to snot, killing most of the new replacement stock.

Vacation...not if you own a reef tank. Every time I went on vacation I would do all of the maintenance to carry the tank through till I returned. I always dumbed down the instructions for the tank sitter. I always returned to a disaster with dying/dead stock...every time.

 

[Kruss]

Take it from someone who has that tank size reef. Not knowing about it and saying you want sps is crazy. Start a sps tank like 55g first learn. Basics. You def need a drain and huge water storage for sanity for 400+ gallons. Huge sump. I’d run 4 kessil blue if I was you if you’re for sure going to do it. I just converted my reef to peacock bass arowana and catfish . Way more enjoyable. Good luck.

 

[Kruss]

Yep, what Bsixxx said. If you can't throw a thousand dollars into the street and walk away from it, then stay away from reef tanks. I had a 120g reef tank and I can't tell you how much money I flushed down that toilet. I built my own equipment thinking that it would allow me to afford it, but I had four fish kills that each cost around a thousand dollars (not counting lost corals). I later got into giant clams and lost nearly everything when they spawned. One clam was $350 by itself but I had around $1500 in total. The big one barely survived the spawn and later turned to snot, killing most of the new replacement stock.

Vacation...not if you own a reef tank. Every time I went on vacation I would do all of the maintenance to carry the tank through till I returned. I always dumbed down the instructions for the tank sitter. I always returned to a disaster with dying/dead stock...every time.

lol this guy has had a reef tank as well. Not to mention all the rip off mofos in the sps game

 

[JJ&]

The secret to keeping saltwater tanks is not maintaining the fish or coral but maintaining the water. That's the small detail that makes or breaks your system.

That being said. You are jumping into stony corals which need near perfect water quality, intense fluctuating flow rates, and typically teeth gritting expensive lighting to even survive.
Next you need accurate monitors to measure all your elements and dissolved supplements constantly.

To be fair your tank is quite small for majority of tangs available in the hobby and you aren't going to have fun constantly trying to balance your water and lighting parameters and worrying about fish picking at or slamming into your coral to even enjoy the tangs.

Take a look at some of the saltwater dedicated forums like reef central and you will see people not even flinch dropping $10k on equipment alone for smaller setups.

Also, if you aren't new to saltwater disregard this entire message. Look at neptune and reef octopus products and and maybe API to start.

Yep, what Bsixxx said. If you can't throw a thousand dollars into the street and walk away from it, then stay away from reef tanks. I had a 120g reef tank and I can't tell you how much money I flushed down that toilet. I built my own equipment thinking that it would allow me to afford it, but I had four fish kills that each cost around a thousand dollars (not counting lost corals). I later got into giant clams and lost nearly everything when they spawned. One clam was $350 by itself but I had around $1500 in total. The big one barely survived the spawn and later turned to snot, killing most of the new replacement stock.

Vacation...not if you own a reef tank. Every time I went on vacation I would do all of the maintenance to carry the tank through till I returned. I always dumbed down the instructions for the tank sitter. I always returned to a disaster with dying/dead stock...every time.

I appreciate everyones help, but I’ve soaked in a lot of info throughout these last few weeks and have already started my build list. Bought the Neptune/Trident bundle, 4 MP60s, Two of the Versa Four-pack dosers, 2 sdc 9.0 pumps, 12” 300EXT Regal skimmer, 4 eco tech back up batteries, 1200watt titanium heaters, jbj 1/3 HP chiller, two reef mat 1200s, 5 Kessil Apx9, and 7 stage RODI. I believe that’s everything so far, I have lost track, but I will be placing and order for the tank and a custom sump soon

I’m in no rush so I will be starting with mainly lps until I move on to sps.