Advice on a new set up

[scubadiver]

Hello all... I have read the good advice given on this board from alot of nice folks who are knowledgeable. Perhaps you can spare a little more
I have had marine tanks back in the day when it was pretty new... the fish did well but inverts were very very difficult.
Here is the plan... a 75g tank...
lights... 2 ultra daylights... 20,000 kelvin each on timers to have a period of bright light and a dusk dawn period.
filtration... a couple of power heads (brand and flow not yet known).... a venturi skimmer... and i am making a 10g trickle filter... UV sterilizer.
I intend to put LS (not sure how much to buy.. advice plz) LR and one of the CC from SWF.com (any advice?)
I am not intending to use any mechanical filtration (other than the skimmer)...
I would love to have a nice anenmome and clowns... do they survive better these days?
I like forward to hearing what you nice folks have to say

 

[shadow678]

The setup I recommend, and has worked the best for me in my experience, would be(adapted to your size tank) 100# of LR, 125# of fine-grade LS, a GOOD protein skimmer, IceCap 660 ballast with 4 48" 110watt bulbs(giving you 440watts total, or just under 6 watts.gal) With 2 of those being actinic blue, and 2 10,000k. As for an anemone, once the tank has had time to settle and stabilize(I would give it 1.5-2 months after the END of the cycle), a bubbletip anemone would be the best bet for your first anemone. Also, almost any clownfish will take to them, so one clownfish or a mated pair of clowns(I suggest the gold-stripe maroons, they are just beautiful) and a large bubbletip. They will host in the anemone, and that will give you what you want as per what you have stated here. The intense lighting will also give you plenty of leverage to add many different species of corals as well. HTH

 

[carrie1429]

Hi and welcome to the board
Do you plan on having any live rock? This helps very much with the biological filteration. What are the dimensions of your tank, this will help figure out how much LS you will need.
Keeping anemones is pretty difficult sometimes, even if they do well they still won't live nearly as long as they should, they need intense lighting, excellent water conditions, a mature tank and above all knowledge. Research a lot before getting one.

 

[scubadiver]

Thanks for the quick response. Very nice of you
The aquarium is 48x18x20"
I am going to buy LR. I have read that i can use the LR to cycle the tank. I am thinking of buying one of the 25# boxes for sale by SWF.com and getting a smaller box of LS and adding sand available at the LFS.
Please tell me your thoughts and experiences about this... also if you know any alternatives to buying sand from the lfs that is appreciated too.
I noticed the janitor specials and other clean up crews ready to ship from SWF.com... any suggestions on which ones may be better suited? I have read posts about the Sally-Light...somethings
Thanks again

 

[carrie1429]

I forgot to ask how deep a sand bed do you want? 2 inches 3?
With the clean up crew what inverts were you interested in? Sally light foot, ect?