New to hobby - new custom 330 gallon FOWLR need recommendations

[KidHersh]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forums and have had small saltwater tanks before but am now jumping up to a large custom tank. It is 96" X 18" X 44" so about 330 gallons. I am going to do FOWLR but since the tank does not have lighting yet I was wondering what my options are for the lighting itself (best option for viewing with the fish below) and if I have options for any coral or things of nature with certain lighting.

Also it needs a sump - I was thinking I would get a 75 gallon tank and make it into a sump - do you have any recommended reading or something I could emulate so I know what I have to do for a sump project? Keep in mind I am new to this.

For the stock list I am surprisingly having a hard time finding consensus when I search the web on what a guy can and cannot do. Seems like it has lots to do with size of fish and when added for if things work out or head south. I will keep that in mind, as phase two after figuring out stock will be what fish to add at what size and what step of the process. For my stock list what I would like is:

Emperor Angel
Queen Angel
Blue Ring Angel
Panther Grouper
Polleni Grouper
Voltan Lionfish
School of Yellow Tangs
Naso Tang
Picasso Trigger
Zebra Moray Eel
Snowflake Moray Eel


Can I get some recommendations for what will/won't work above and also what I do for a cleanup crew for the tank? Also, what other smaller fish options do I have that can live with the above? Or am I missing any good larger fish options that would work well? I am open for suggestions - I want to do it right and not have fish missing.

Thank you in advance, I am excited to plan this one out. I get the tank this weekend.

 

[jay0705]

The panther is a great fish but even in a 330 its going to get big. I could be wrong but i don't believe the big angels mix well with eachother. Other than that your list is fine

 

[beth]

Agree about the panther and you could very well get some aggression going on with angels. Heck, you will likely see some of that as well with a school of tangs. With angels the less they look like each other with color markers the better. It looks like you are going for an aggressive set up?

Look forward to seeing you do a photo build which you can post here if you're able. 75 gal sump is a good choice where you can place equipment as well as set up some natural filtration.

 

[lmforbis]

I'd go bigger than a 75 for the sump, maybe a 125. You need enough extra space for the water to drain if your return pump is turned off.

Not sure about the fish part mine are all small fish.

 

[2quills]

Wow that's going to be a tall tank. Will be a little more difficult to keep corals without some pretty powerful lighting unless you keep them all in the upper half of the tank.

Maintenance wise I find anything taller than 24 inches to be much more of a pain to keep clean.

What are you going to use for a stand? If the tank is only 18" wide that might be a limiting factor in your design to fit a 75g or a 125g sump under it unless you incorporate a little more room width wise under the stand or plan to have the sump kept elsewhere.

 

[KidHersh]

I can certainly go with a 125 for a sump. The sump is going to be downstairs directly underneath the tank. It's an unfinished basement so I can fit anything down there.

As for the stand it has a custom built iron stand. It's small, to go with the tall tank, at 18"

 

[beth]

You will need to decide if you want an aggressive tank or a reef tank, generally the two options are not compatible. Right now your fish list leans toward aggressive tank. Keeping a strictly fish tank, any good quality lighting would be good, but obviously if you plan to go down the reef route, you will need factor in lighting needs for corals and what type of corals you want since that too plays a role in lighting choice.

 

[jay0705]

An aggressive tank. Lions, eel, grouper , ect doesn't mean corals would be an issue. Any inverts would be tho. I like your fish choices but they will really limit your inverts and future fish selection

 

[iidylii]

I can certainly go with a 125 for a sump. The sump is going to be downstairs directly underneath the tank. It's an unfinished basement so I can fit anything down there.

As for the stand it has a custom built iron stand. It's small, to go with the tall tank, at 18"

I have exactly what your talking about lol...my tank is in my living room and my 125 sump is underneath in the unfinished basement...if you want any pics of what I have done id be glad to post or send you a pm...good luck on the tank wish mine was that size lol