New/First ever salt tank

[alfred14]

I have been doing for freshwater for awhile and would like to jump into the saltwater side. Not looking at doing any fancy corals, maybe a couple really easy ones if there is such a thing. Would like some advice.
I plan on setting up a 75 gallon tank in my wives Ag classroom. I was thinking of doing blue and gold fish as that's the FFA collars.

We currently have a 75 that has a drilled corner overflow. We also have a 30, 50, and what I think is a 40. I plan on using one of these as a sump. I was told by the LFS that I would need a wet/dry style sump. Any advice with evidence on this?

I have 2 nock off 24" CPR refrefuge with the built in skimmers.

I also have about 50 lbs of dry rock, and would like to try making some more in the future.

The LFS told me I could do a couple blue/gold damsels, a yellow tang, and a pair of clowns. How accurate would this be?

Trying to see what I have to work with and what would be my best setup for a simple tank that the wife and her students could maintain easily.

Thank you in advance for any and all help.

 

[puckett26]

Well I would stay away from the Damsels. They are pretty fish but aggressive. Back when I started my first tank, I was told after the cycle toss in a blue damsel. Well I did then added fish slowly after that, and he slowly killed them all as I put them in. When I realized it was the problem I tried to take it out and I had to rip apart all my rock work to catch him and it has still an all day process. Just my 2 cents

 

[wesamazmy]

I cycled my tank using damsel

check my tank cycled video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01GVWemosrY

I use 3 strip damsel, yellow tail damsel, blue damsel

the yellow tail is the less aggressive damsel ever and you can add with them any other fishes

Now I removed them all after my tangle fully cycled and start adding another fish such tang, wrasse, gobies, blenny ..etc

this the tank now after 1 year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2cA-pml9vs

I advice to add 2 yellow tail damsels they hardy and will not face any problem with them later

 

[pyithar]

you don't need any fish to start a cycle. it's a thing of the past and it's cruel on the fish.

 

[homer1475]

you don't need any fish to start a cycle. it's a thing of the past and it's cruel on the fish.

This x1000!

 

[Cool_fish]

Some of my reading must be soaking in... I read about cycling his tank with a fish in it and I went Huh??? Hey, I'm learning!