another new guy

[hollandmp]

hey guys and gals! I'm just learning about all this and figuring things out but i have lots of ideas. This isn't anything I'm in a hurry to jump into. I figure ill buy the things i need over the next few months. But this is what iv Had in mind so i thought id see what you guys think. I want to setup a 75+ gal. aquarium 100 gal. if possible. i have a 29 gal. i want to make for my sump. I don't know what to use for lighting yet but i want to keep corals. I was thinking 80lb live rock in my DT and 5-10 in my sump. I also don't know what brand of protein skimmer to use. Of course thinking about all this iv come up with a list of fish, corals, cleaning crew, and everything else i thought id run by you.
fish:
Melanurus fairy wrasse
3 Bangaii cardinals
Bicolor psudochromis
Blue mandarin
Orange firefish goby
Ocellaris clownfish
3 sunshine chromis
Heniochus black & white butterfliefish (after the first year)
Blue hippo tang (after the first year)
Corals:
cabbage leather coral
cauliflower colt coral
toadstool mushroom leather coral
yellow Fiji leather coral
inverts:
feather duster
blue texedo urchin
sea cucumber, tiger tail
cleaning crew:
20 reef hermit crabs
15 astraea turbo snails
20 dwarf blue leg hermit crabs
1 sally lightfoot crab
1 arrow crab
2 emerald crab
3 pepperment shrimp
1 coral banded shrimp
10 nassarius snails
Now that i went on for ever this is what i want in my tank. I don't plan on putting them all in at ones but slowly after the cycle is done for a while but anyway what do you think.
thanks, mike

 

[al&burke]

Well Mike welcome to SWF - you came to the right place. I think you should decide on your equipment before your livestock. Read the stickies here, some great information. Go as large a tank as you can afford, if you go too small you might regret it later. Good luck

 

[hollandmp]

thanks and iv been reading through them and looking at ordering a good book. and right now i am focused on my equipment but it hard not to thing about what gos in it.

 

[flower]

 

[shista]

welcome to the boards!! there are many choices you can make and now is the best time. If I were you i would look into some LED lights because IMO they look really nice, Metal Halides would be good too. The bigger the tank, the more money, but the happier you will be with your tank. And just a heads up that the butterflyfish are not completely reef safe, some will nip at corals and you are taking a chance by buying one.

 

[hollandmp]

thanks guys and iv been doing lots of research on the light and i want somthing with a moon light on it any sugestions on brand would be nice. and the butterfliefish that seem to be the best i can find for a reef tank but i know its a risk but thats a long way down the road.

 

[1guydude]

Welcome to the site holland

u dont have to order a book, just go to a local book store or library and look for sw books!
focus on equipment right now and well ur tank is cycling ull have plenty of time for livestock talk!
good luck and welcome to the hobby or addiction watever way u look at it!

 

[hollandmp]

thanks and will do. i could see how this could be an addiction!

 

[1guydude]

ya i already have 2 tanks and ive been in the hobby for like maybe 6 months.... just dont get carried away cuz u have to have time to clean and test and ect... the fish and coral are my fav part!