Just a few info, ownself problem ownself I encountered while going about buying all the items.
Skimmer : I have an old tunze 9001 but sadly couldnt fit into the ios compartment. read on nano reef, ppl cut off the holder or smthn but too much work for me. so decided on the coral box s150. If not wrong, they just rebadge it since its a also a red star fish brand same like my ATO.
Lights: this was the biggest self inflicted headache. initially decided on the sanrise A029 30w aqua knight. some carousell seller selling for $135 and he lives just down the road. Then I felt IF I were to add sps inside, what if it's not enough? Nearly pulled the trigger on the AI prime HD. Was at madpetz and I was literally staring at it for 15mins deciding. Decided to walk away and give it another day to think. Finally after reading and reading, and being a cheapo, I got the MarsAqua led, an Ebay chinese black box. Receive quite good reviews in the US so why not try,
Bought already, how to hang since the lights does not come with tank mounts or legs. start another round of searching for light stand, search and search, all damn expensive. end up, went on lazada and bought a pull up bar for $15 to fix it above the tank. Already kena poke fun of, "for your fish tank u buy pull up bar; for yourself never ever think of getting" that line is to be added to the long list of lines such as "your fish you buy aircon, yourself sweat use fan", "your fish eat better than you", "wah your fish drink vodka, you drink water". I think I can write a short book of "things a reefkeeper's family say".
Some other small issues is hc-100 use 12mm pipes, i didnt think of that, only realise after coming back from c328 with 16mm hoses.
First time trying the nyos test kits, bought from madpetz, have been using salifert all along. Oh, in my rush, I bought the phosphate test kit as well when otw to gambas, I was telling myself need to get the hannah checker instead.
I think thats pretty much it, so far.