switching to acro etc.

[mattsilvester]

Having kept a "marginal" reef tank for 5 or 6 years now, I was thinking of switching to a hard coral tank. I had alway stuck with softies to avoid the need for major calcium replacement etc. Having done alot of diving recently, and inspired by tanks such as this months "tank of the month", I think I might take the plunge.

Basically, I was wondering, what would you guys consider the minimum "kit" for sucess with large branching corals like acro's etc.

I will need to beef up my lighting (standard 180 tank) to 3 no. 250W, and 4 flo' tubes. I will need a bigger, better skimmer. I will need a couple more tunze streams. That is the basic stuff, that I already have and know about. What else?

Calcium reactor?
Automatic top up (from RO)?
Would a kalk dripper be needed in addition to the above for ph etc.

I'd like to be able to set the tank up, get all the gear needed for its long term on going sucess, and then be able to just let it without constantly having to add aditives and mess around with bits and pieces. I don't mind doing a monthly water change and take readings etc.

Am I on the right track...... guidance here would be appreciated. At this stage my first concern is can I afford the gear I need, before I set my heart on the project, and secondly will I have the time required to maintain it..... if I could get an idea of the financial and time commitments needed, I can start planning, or shelve it for retirement!!!

Cheers,
Matt