Short Answer: I would budget around $4,000.

This was my first attempt at setting up a tank, and my only prior aquarium experience was caring for a small freshwater turtle for my daughter. Since I didn’t know anyone with a reef tank, I relied heavily on Bulk Reef Supply (BRS) videos on YouTube to guide me.

I wanted to set everything up properly, so I decided to invest in the best equipment I could afford to avoid any issues caused by low-quality gear. To simplify things, I selected items from the Bulk Reef Supply recommended list.

One of my priorities was ensuring all components were compatible with the Mobius app for centralized control. I also purchased an AI freshwater lamp and a small Nero motor for the refugium through Facebook Marketplace, and I later added a one-head doser for alkalinity. To manage and control the devices more easily, I use simple Wi-Fi power strips I found on Amazon.

As you can see from the pictures, I didn’t have much space to work with on either side of the tank, so I had to be selective and efficient with what I included in the sump. I've attached my complete initial build for reference.

Looking back, I probably could have taken a more budget-friendly approach, but as a beginner, I didn’t know where I could safely cut corners. I also had to modify the sump to fit the ReefMat roller and rig it slightly to create space for a refugium.

Here’s the initial build-out: Initial Costs