Help starting a reef tank

[saltwaterulz]

hello everyone. Well since my predator tank failed i decided il try a reef tank with my 80 gallon corner tank. I want my tank to look like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhkjVR7BC9c

I currently have $300 to spend between coral and a protein skimmer. Any suggestions on what skimmer i should get or what corals i should get would be appreciated.
I currently have a puffer (planning to take back for a refund cuz he is not reef safe, will put money towards skimmer and corals)
i will keep my sailfin and powder brown tang if they start to get along i was thinking about adding some more damsels maybe 2 clownfish some hermit crabs, some shrimp, a reef safe wrasee (maybe a 6 line). 1 or 2 carberryi anthias, a catalina goby, a citrinus goby. So any comments or suggestions will be very much appreciated. the tank is a corner tank and the demensions are 42Lx27hx24w

 

[Mr_Altepeter]

If you haven't found it yet.....check out Garf.org for some great tips on reefs!!! Good luck with it. Definately want to see pictures once you have it set up and running.

 

[FLESHY]

I currently have $300 to spend between coral and a protein skimmer. Any suggestions on what skimmer i should get or what corals i should get would be appreciated.
I currently have a puffer (planning to take back for a refund cuz he is not reef safe, will put money towards skimmer and corals)
i will keep my sailfin and powder brown tang if they start to get along i was thinking about adding some more damsels maybe 2 clownfish some hermit crabs, some shrimp, a reef safe wrasee (maybe a 6 line). 1 or 2 carberryi anthias, a catalina goby, a citrinus goby. So any comments or suggestions will be very much appreciated. the tank is a corner tank and the demensions are 42Lx27hx24w

This is a really broad statement you are proposing, so Im just going to respond to a few things that I feel are key points at this time.

First off, an 80 might be big enough for your powder brown, but its definitely not big enough for your sailfin. You will come to see that when he grows up.

Anthias are a harem fish. I wouldnt recommend putting them in an aquarium less than a 125g, and even then only as a species tank with at least 5 fish.

Catalina gobies are tiny. In an aquarium as big as yours, with such fast, large fish, and being a bottom dweller, I suspect that it will probably starve trying to get food.

Now, I am famous for saying that there are NO RULES to reefkeeping. If someone says you cant, and you can, come back here and make a thread about it. Thats why we are all here, to learn.

I have the aquaC remora skimmer, and I think that they are one of the best on the market. Mine for my 75g ran me about $200. Skimmers are not something that you want to skimp on. In a reef they are the most important thing...other than your lights. I actually dont run any other filtration on my 75g reef other than my skimmer, and I have no detectable wastes, feed very heavily, and am growing acros, millis and other "difficult" corals...

My advice is do this the right way...take your time. Put a little money into it. The first $300 shouldnt come anywhere near to corals. You have a process ahead of you to do this the right way. The reason people get out of reefing is because they try to do everything at the same time. Good luck, and post back some more questions. Its easier to answer them piecemeal rather than in bulk.

 

[saltwaterulz]

thanks for all the help all other suggestion/comments will be appreciated

 

[FLESHY]

thanks for all the help all other suggestion/comments will be appreciated

If you failed at a pred tank, you are going to want to take it real slow and easy with the reef. I dont think reefing is harder, it just requires different skill sets and techniques than other kinds of aquariums. Starting doing research, reading books, and keep the questions coming on the thread.

wet web media is a great online source for information. Submitted questions are reviewed by not one, but a group of scientists or at least very qualified saltwater experts. Good starting place as well.