OK, you are just starting with your marine venture. Read This.
Part 1:
I've see plenty of new guys entering this hobby. Going big, and BIGGER. All the latest add ons, top of the line, over the top equipment not even needed for softies. And the non-reefer (your spouse / partner whatever) not happy with the money spend. Only to exit the hobby within the first year, setup in the for sale section and vultures picking up the equipment at give away prices. What I'm trying to say is: get the basic equipment. Learn first how the keep water parameters stable. Understand your tank. Understand what you want from your tank. Use SunSun pumps in your display. Use T5 lights for your softies. Some time later you would realize that you like SPS more, or clams, or actually prefer the softies. So your requirements change. Then get the flow pumps for the corals, get the light units for your corals. Start cheap, get to know what you want. Then upgrade. There are plenty T5 units in the for sale section.
Part 2:
Now the opposite. A system success depends on the setup, better flow pumps, good lights. Better equipment makes the husbandry routine easier. And any tasks you do now happily every week on your tank, will become a work in a couple of months, will became a schlep thereafter. So get the equipment that will make your life easier, although that is normally the more expensive, top of the range product. Buy once the right piece of equipment. No need to throw away money on replacing working equipment when upgrading. This will give you more time enjoying the tank and less time working on the tank.
Oops
Yes, part 2 totally contradict part 1. The solution is to find the best path in middle.
But
Everything except the glass box depends on the type of coral you want. Well, the glass box in a way as well. Unless you eventually decided on what type of corals you want, how would you know what equipment to buy?
My opinion
A new guy starting out, get a good T5 unit second hand. Buy SunSun pumps new. But get the best skimmer you can afford for your system. Start with softies. Learn first on how to maintain a system successfully before you venture to the more difficult to keep species of fish, inverts and corals.
Part 1:
I've see plenty of new guys entering this hobby. Going big, and BIGGER. All the latest add ons, top of the line, over the top equipment not even needed for softies. And the non-reefer (your spouse / partner whatever) not happy with the money spend. Only to exit the hobby within the first year, setup in the for sale section and vultures picking up the equipment at give away prices. What I'm trying to say is: get the basic equipment. Learn first how the keep water parameters stable. Understand your tank. Understand what you want from your tank. Use SunSun pumps in your display. Use T5 lights for your softies. Some time later you would realize that you like SPS more, or clams, or actually prefer the softies. So your requirements change. Then get the flow pumps for the corals, get the light units for your corals. Start cheap, get to know what you want. Then upgrade. There are plenty T5 units in the for sale section.
Part 2:
Now the opposite. A system success depends on the setup, better flow pumps, good lights. Better equipment makes the husbandry routine easier. And any tasks you do now happily every week on your tank, will become a work in a couple of months, will became a schlep thereafter. So get the equipment that will make your life easier, although that is normally the more expensive, top of the range product. Buy once the right piece of equipment. No need to throw away money on replacing working equipment when upgrading. This will give you more time enjoying the tank and less time working on the tank.
Oops
Yes, part 2 totally contradict part 1. The solution is to find the best path in middle.
But
Everything except the glass box depends on the type of coral you want. Well, the glass box in a way as well. Unless you eventually decided on what type of corals you want, how would you know what equipment to buy?
My opinion
A new guy starting out, get a good T5 unit second hand. Buy SunSun pumps new. But get the best skimmer you can afford for your system. Start with softies. Learn first on how to maintain a system successfully before you venture to the more difficult to keep species of fish, inverts and corals.