Thanks for the warm welcome, I really appreciate it. :bowdown:
When I pick up the tank I can only hope that it isn't too scratched up and ugly to use. I don't have alot of money to throw around, so I certainly don't want to waste it on cheap equipment. Given that this is the case, it'll be a slow build. It'll take a couple of more months before I can even start, and a couple months after before I put any fish in it. I want to make sure everything runs the way it's supposed to.
So here are the preliminary plans, any changes I should make?
Is this too many fish for a 40g Breeder?
Tenative Fish List:
1 Longnose Hawkfish (Problem with feather dusters or cleaner shrimp?)
1 Royal Gramma
2 False Percula Clowns
1 Watchman Goby, or something like it.
1 'centerpiece' fish. Lemonpeel/Flame/Coral Angel? I've heard that these aren't exactly reef safe however. I would leave out the Hawkfish,not safe around inverts,50/50 risk with an angel,personally I go Flame
Any other recommendations? When I think of my dream tank I see a bunch of school fish, a couple of tangs and a longnose butterfly but I know that that won't happen with this tank.
Corals, and what I know about them:
I don't want a 'pile of rocks' aquascaping with brown softies all over the place.
I love acros and montis, and any corals that look like flowerpots, tubes or vase/cup like. Sun Coral are beautiful, I heard there's a coral that looks like it that isn't as hard to keep? Unfortunately, most of the corals I've liked seem unfit for a beginner, any recommendations? I do like torches, pulsing xenias, colorful mushrooms/polyps and pipe organ coral. If you want acros,go with T5-HO at least.One with individual reflectors will be even better.
So what all will I need?
Tentative equipment list:
40g Breeder
10g Sump/RefugiumIts hard to work in the confinements of a 10g,go bigger with the sump/fuge if possible
Refractometer, Test Kits (Recommendations on which ones I need?)ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,pH,akalinity,calcium at the least for a reef system
Closed loop system with SWCD's maybe?I'll answer this in a sec.
UV Sterilizer (I want my water to be crystal clear, is this overkill?)This can wait to after the system is running.You can have crystal clear water without it.You'll need to weight the pros and cons to decide if its worth it to you.
Protein Skimmer (something that'll go in the sump maybe?)I recommend the Octopus skimmers for in sump
Lights - How many watts? MH or T5's? Because of possible heat issues,I leave MH off the list.I'm not going to quote the wpg for your system.It doesn't work with T5.Get a fixture that fits the length of the tank and has at least four rolls of bulbs,a fixture with individual reflectors will be even better.
Powerheads/Pumps - Koralia, Maxi Jets?Close loops is a way to have circulation without using powerheads/circulation pumps.Which way do you want to go?Two Koralia model 2 would be my choice.Maxi's are cheap and works well too.
If this were your tank, what would you start with?
Sorry for being such a newb. Thanks for bearing with me!