Just getting started...

[telophase]

Greetings,
I have a good range of questions I would like to ask, I hope this is the appropriate forum for them.
I will be setting up a 35 gallon reef tank, hopefully with corals, anemones, the works. I plan on using a Prizm skimmer, live rock, and live sand for filtration. Is this enough? I'm considering setting up a deep sand bed, I don't know if this tank size will accommodate it.
For the lighting, I plan on using florescent tubes. I'm not sure how many tubes I need, their length, and what kind they should be e.g. regular, actinic, etc. More specifically, things like "marine-glow", "power-glow" and "life glow". I doubt the aquarium I plan I buying will accommodate the amount of tubes. How do I fix this?
About the fish. This will mainly be a clown tank; I'm having trouble deciding between the commons and the perculias. Which is harder to keep, and why does it seem that most places only sell perculias? Which species has the brighter orange colour? I always get this mixed up. Other possible fish include a yellow tang (not sure if it will have enough space), or a blue damsel (too aggressive?) What order would I add them in? I realize that this will take months, perhaps years, to get the coral and anemones set up properly. I am willing to be patient.
Many places advertise cleaning crews. What type of package should I get for my aquarium? I realize if this were to be a DSB, the critters would be different.
I know I have more questions, I can't think of them now.
I would really appreciate any and all responses, advice, and warnings.
Thank you

 

[y2says]

I have a 35g hex that I just started as a reef tank. I too have two percs right now and they're great. I also have a yellow tang that's about 2.5 inches. I know when it gets bigger, I'll have to remove him. As far as your lights, JBJ makes lighting systems for smaller tanks that will be enough for soft and hard corals. It's expensive, but well worth it. Just make sure you read a lot about the corals and livestocks before you put them in. It'll save you money in the long run. Good luck and welcome to the board.

 

[telophase]

Thanks for the replies. I was planning on a rectangular tank. A salesmam that I talked to led me to believe that for a 72 gallon reef tank, you could get away with 4 floresent tubes. Could some point me to a good source for thes power compacts?

 

[telophase]

I'm pretty sure a power head is included in the tank. If I was to get more, what size/power would I need? How many?

 

[blutang]

I would advise you now to make a decision as to whether or not you want this to be reef or a fish only.......with the small size of your tank, fish can use up all the "good stuff" that the corals need to survive. A yellow tang shouldn't be put into this tank.
Make sure you get some type of small hang on filter as well as the protein skimmer.
Later!

 

[von_rahvin]

watt's per gallon. it is the type of light that matters. MH's are great lights, custom build your whole setup and it will save you hundreds of dollars. The only problem with MH's is they give off an insane amount of heat. Like frying bacon type of stuff. If you have a way to easily get rid of it. Mh's are the best way to go. The bigger the tank is the more expensive it is, but also by the same token it is harder to kill the tank. With a larger tank it is much harder to screw up the water. In a small tank if your mess up with your salinity on a 5 gallon buket it might throw your entire tank off.
Also there is a type of floresent tube that would wor for a large tank. VHO's or very high output. They are cheaper tham metal halides and PC's and in my opionion work better than PC's (hurts me to type that i am a computer science major) and is more that satisfactory for any tank.
we can not post any site that sells things thatare fish realated it is against the rules. email me if oyu have any more questins