New to saltwater!

[kat1000000]

I would like to start a reef tank. I'm thinking of mabe a 120 gal. to start with. I have visited all the local saltwater fish stores, and purchased a recominded book which i read cover to cover. I'm still very  confused. Which filter type do you recomend, undergravel or sand in this case, or canister, or what? I have read that i should have a uv sterilizer, a protein skimmer, filter. What else will i need? I know the  basics like airpumps and test kits, and things like that. Do you have to have a special aqarium that can hold the heavy rocks and corals? Please help me! I'm not in a hurry to do this but i just need to figure out what i need, and i am so confused! And how do you put all this stuff together? Does the filter, skimmer or  sterilizer come first in the line of equipment? Or what? Thanks in advance.

kat1000000

 

[dattack]

Start with these readings.  Read a lot before you decide otherwise it's you might spend thousands of dollars on unnecessary equipment and livestock.

http://reefcentral.com/library/starting_with_Marines.htm

Get a feel for what people are asking in www.reefcentral.com in the newbie forum.  If you still have some questions then you can ask me.  

I think the biggest concern in the reef tank is doing it right the first time and the $$$$$$$$$$.  

 

[eseow]

All I can say is to research as much as possible, Books , internet searching, etc., Your equipment will depend on what your planning on keeping. Fish only, fish with liverock, SPS corals, etc,. All this determines what type of filtration, substrate, lighting your going to need. Talk to LFS's  to get advice, but don't be sold on everything they say, especially when it comes to buying equipment that they only carry. I currently run a canister filter, but with only sponge and activated good quality carbon with areas also for different chemical absorbing filters if needed. I wouldn't recommend UGF, but a sump instead. It has been more popular lately to run a DSB 3-4 inches thick, with a very efficient protein skimmer, and a refugium for filtration, and live rock for biological filtration instead on Bio-ball boxes. Basically setup is tank, stand, lighting for what your keeping, protein skimmer (hang-on or in sump), and a sump setup. That would consist of an overflow box, hoses, sump with partitions for different filtration areas, heater, chiller (to compensate for heat from equipment), and power heads to move water sufficiently around the tank. This is a hobby, so it will take time, effort and money! *crazysmiley*