saramendoza1982, there is another group here in the area called Puget Sound Aquarium Society. They have a forum here on Reef Frontier. I believe that in May, they are having a tank tour. They will be going to a few homes to check out peoples tanks. It would be a good way to see what others are doing. What type of fish and corals they are keeping. There are a lot of members here in the area that would also be willing to let you visit and see their set up. This can give you more of an idea as to what type of tank you want to set up and keep. You are welcome to come over and see my tanks if you are ever in my area. I am on the Kitsap Peninsula. I believe the tank tour is coming up to my place.
Now when I started 5 years ago, I had a mentor for a little while that got me started on my way. He had a 1000 gal tank with a lot of big fish.
what he told me is that I needed an RO/DI system. Reverse Osmosis/Deionization system to make pure water. It helps with water quality and keepking algae from growing. I make my water and store approx 26 gallons of fresh water at all times and 32 gallons of saltwater most all the time. Think about how much and where you can make and store water. Or if you are near a local fish store where you can purchase the fresh water.
The next thing I suggest is research the equipment you need. Do you have a tank and lighting and heater and sump and skimmer or other filtration?
Depending on the type of fish you WANT to keep, will determin the size of tank you will need and that will determin the size of the skimmer and filtration you will need. It will also determin what type if any coral you will be able to keep also.
Like others mentioned some fish will eat certain types of coral. Some types of fish are not compatable with other types of fish.
Get your water supply figured out. Decide on the size of tank you will need or can support. you dont want at 300 gal tank if you can only do 5 gal water changes. you want to be able to do 10-20% water changes. So if you can support a 75 or 90 gal tank, get the tank, equipment and the sand you want and rock and get the tank cycling.
While it is cycling you can research more on fish and coral.
Sand, as mentioned previously, aragonite by carib sea is a great sand. Yes you will want to rinse it real good. you do not need live sand. It will become live soon enough.
Rock is your tanks best filtration. There are many different types. In my opinion, it is best to start with dry rock and let it cycle in your tank. This will guarantee you are not getting aiptasia, or rock crabs or other nasty critters. All of which you will end up getting anyway and then learning how to deal with it.
Salt types. There are a number of different types of salt too. Most of which are good salts. The most used is Instant Ocean and Instant Ocean Reef Crystals.
Talk to people about lighting and skimmers. The best you can get initially will save you money in the longrun. Dont by cheap because you will end up having to buy better later, so might as well save the money you would spend on the cheap stuff and put it towards buying better equipment to start.
Lighting will determin the type of corals you will be able to keep. There is T5, metal halide and most used now are LED lighting options. You can keep a lot of different corals under T5 lighting if you get the 6 or 8 bulb units. Metal halides, you can keep most all coral with. LED's are proven to keep all coral too. They are spendy, but you do not have the heat issues that you have with halides and they use less electricity.
Skimmers, bigger the better. depending on the size of the tank and how heavily stocked it is, will determin the size of skimmer you will need.
Will you be running a sump? will you be running a refugium? couple other questions for you to think about.
Well, if this wasnt enough for you to think about, let us know. I am sure we can come up with something else.
