Open vs closed top / fish list / is this a good red Sea aquarium

[Tryingsaltwater]

Hi folks

I have been looking for a saltwater aquarium for some time... (previously only freshwater)

I am looking for: mixed fish and corals (soft and stony)

I'm in doubt between a nano (to learn, cheaper - -though harder to maintain) and a mid-sized one (circa 50g)

-- I guess for me now a "plug and play" would be an easier way to start.

One BIG question I have is "open vs closed" top. I could not find much about the topic, I hear open is better, but suicide fishes and evaporation can be a pain..

So far I am about to purchase the "RED SEA MAX SERIES 260", including the additional filtering and automatic top off - seems pretty nice and of good quality...
http://www.redseafish.com/aquarium-systems/max-aquarium-systems/max-e-series/

I have not yet thought about the corals.. (any ideas??)

I was told that one should plan ahead for which fishes to have before buying an aquarium... so my candidate list of fish and invertebrates (potential to have) are:

FISH :fish1:

OCELLARIS CLOWNFISH
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+27+755&pcatid=755

Jawfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+188&pcatid=188

Flameback Angelfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+16+446&pcatid=446

Orange Stripe Prawn Goby
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+197&pcatid=197

Orange Spotted Goby
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+195&pcatid=195

Wheeler's Shrimp Goby
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+226&pcatid=226

Yellow Stripe Clingfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+1483&pcatid=1483

Royal Gramma Basslet
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+53&pcatid=53

Blue/Green Reef Chromis http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+115&pcatid=115

Yellowtail Damselfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+134&pcatid=134

Bicolor Blenny
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+66&pcatid=66

Sailfin/Algae Blenny
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+94&pcatid=94

Linear Blenny
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+2561&pcatid=2561

Midas Blenny
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+83&pcatid=83

Neon Blue Goby
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+194&pcatid=194

Scissortail Dartfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+205&pcatid=205


INVERTEBRATES

Banded Coral Shrimp
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+698&pcatid=698

Blood Red Fire Shrimp
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+525+697&pcatid=697

Spiny Star Astraea
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+2844&pcatid=2844

Brittle Sea Star
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+528+1528&pcatid=1528

Serpent Sea Star
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+735&pcatid=735

Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+696&pcatid=696

Peppermint Shrimp
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+701&pcatid=701

Feather Duster
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+539&pcatid=539

Electric Orange Hermit Crab
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+1638&pcatid=1638

Electric Blue Hermit Crab
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+1479&pcatid=1479

Bulb Anemone
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+499+604&pcatid=604

Any thoughts / ideas / suggestions would be great!!

Thank you!!

 

[Sk8r]

You WANT evaporation: a gallon a day for a 50 gallon system is good if you want stony corals.
Overheating is the big problem with canopies, but they make serious fan arrays for cooling off the lights. If you have LEDs, this is a non-issue.
Damsels: one, only one, in a 50. In a 100 gallon you can have multiples. It's a space issue, despite their size.
Serpent stars eat fish. Shrimp eat other kinds of shrimp. Coral banded shrimp eat small fish. Anemones take a mature tank: wait about 6 months.
Quarantine all fish: look up Tank Transfer in the stickies above.

 

[homer1475]

As usual Sk8r, another great informative post for newbies.

 

[Tryingsaltwater]

Thanks Sk8r, very helpful.
I guess I need to plan well for the invertebrates too... any suggestions on corals (I am thinking about starting with soft ones, than the hard ones)

For the cover, re-filling water is some pain (my osmoses filter is VERY slow) but is fine.. I am mostly concerned about jumpers.
--> do you know of any solution for an open top that still preserves the aesthetics of the aquarium?

 

[Sk8r]

SOft and stony aren't that compatible---stonies reach out with tentacles and softies spit into the water: when one irritates the other, ain't nobody happy. And they don't take the same lighting, though how far down in the water affects that too. Equip with T5's lights for a softie tank, MH, T5 or LEDs for a stony tank. I'd advise, if you go stony, try the euphyllias (hammer, frog) or the candycane for starters. Maze brain is also tough.
There are a number of attractive hanging lights---but a canopy does prevent jumpers. I prefer a canopy myself, and with LED lights, don't need the fans. Access is, however, more limited. I have a tall tank and have to stand on a ladder to almost reach the bottom even with the canopy off. With it on, I have to use a net to scoop up something on the bottom. But then you really aren't supposed to put your hands in the tank often, so it keeps me honest.