I have the Itch!

[IBMGeek]

Well it helps to know what you want in the tank because that lets you know what you need regarding water flow,lighting,etc.. I imagine you're shooting for a mixed reef, which is a tank with exactly what the name implies mixed corals (lps,sps,softies,mushrooms,etc..). Yes you can mix hard and soft you just have to be careful where you place them in your tank and use different things such as chemical filtration,protein skimming to help.

Since you plan on drilling the tank you have alot of flexibility regarding flow and water movement in your tank. In a reef tank you want to achieve some type of random water movement.

Go to this website and look at the different kinds of corals you like
Corals

Have you bought any equipment yet?

I would suggest you buy a good book on saltwater aquariums, and read as much as you can on forums like these (use the search option)

[Kloned]

If I can do a mixed reef, that is exactly what I would like. Thank you for the site, there are some very nice corals. I do plan on having a wave system of some sort..

I have not bought any equipment as of yet... Just as you said I am doing as much research as I can.. I do not really plan on buying anything until next summer, Hoping to have the tank up and running by late fall early winter of next year.

I am assuming that if the bottom of my tank is tempered then I would still be able to drill the back pain of glass to create my overflow. I should be able to squeeze the pvc pipe behind the tank and the wall.. I would like to keep as much of the equipment hidden as I can, also the tank has to stay between 2-3" from the wall.

I plan on doing a sump refugium system with a skimmer. What do you mean by chemical filtration?

Not sure on the brand of tank I have. I picked it up in my LFS a while back, but I can find out.. They are selling the same tank in Petco.. I will run in there soon to get the dimensions and the brand of the tank.

Thank You
Kloned.

[IBMGeek]

Well if your tank bottom is tempered you can do the holes on the back glass. What I meant about chemical filtration is using things like activated carbon to clean the water.You have alot of time to do all your research, so i suggest reading as much as possible.

You can go to Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums to find info on sumps. Excellent site.

A proteins skimmer is definitely one of the most important things you can buy so your headed in the right direction.