Advice in regards to tank setup

[Agartha]

Hello am planning to start my saltwater tank in a short while, needing some insight as to what equipment is most suitable and what not, as to fish compatibility issues, as to when to buy a tank so that I don't end up paying a arm and a leg and other miscellany, from individuals who have been in the hobby for ages........Okay the tank will be at least 6 foot long, 180 gallons, would like a 8 foot long or 10 foot long tank if I can find one at a reasonable price. It is going to be a semi reef, having less demanding soft corals and hard corals but no mobile invertebrates such as shrimp, craps, snails....maybe a sea slug. The main focus of the tank is the fish, I just love fish, so far the list includes: tasseled filefish, copperband butterfly, longnose butterfly, freckled tang, zebra lyretail angelfish, harlequin tuskfish and/or red breasted maori wrasse along with smaller fish such as lemon chromis or blue chromis, grey headed wrasse, dusky wrasse and a small school of anthias.....................................The tank will have built in overflows(and I already have a sump), advice as to the most suitable skimmers, lighting, pumps/water circulation and any other equipment that would be needed will be truly appreciated!

 

[gone fishin]

Welcome to the forum. It is tough to suggest any equipment until the size of the tank is nailed down. There is a sticky at the top of the forum called "setting up" It has a lot of useful info. Good luck on your tank search. When I got my tank I got it off of a local reef club member.

 

[hkgar]

I would not recommend the Butterfly fish. They are at best very difficult to get to eat. I would venture that 90% of Butterfly fish introduced to a DT tank die within a few months, or less. They are often bought to help rid a tank of Aiptasia and will die when there is none left to eat. Please do some research on fish you want to add and to not just accept the "advice" from a LFS, or the write up on the online store web site, they want to sell fish.

Here is a link to a compatibility chart.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=21#marine

Please set up a QT fish and add your fish slowly. The most peaceful fish first and gradually move up to the most aggressive. Your bio filter needs to have time to grow with each new addition as it will only grow to the size required for the bio load.

Consider doing a TTM (Tank transfer method) for Ick treatment with ALL new fish. Once Ick is introduced to a tank it is EXTREMELY difficult to remove.

Visit all the forums: New, Reef discussion, reef Chemistry, Equipment. Read read read and ask questions. All the info you need is here to be success full. Too many of have learned from our mistakes, me included, and it is not necessary.