looking to start up a salt water tank

i am planing on going reef in a year from now but starting out just fish for a year. Here is what i don't want getting everything up and running and finding that i could have gotten better lighting or the pump sucks or what every it is could have been a better one. I would like to get the system to look like the great barrier reef with all it's glory. I plan on having this system for a very long time and want it to grow slow and healthy. So i will start slow as i am a newbie but the goal is a full blown off the chart reef. This system will be a center piece opposite a home movie theater. The goal is a stunning wow factor for the home. And lots of enjoyment along the way with trials and tribulations I'm sure but that is why I am asking so many questions now. so i can limit as many mistakes as possible. (I am 43 years old and have done fresh water from the age of 10. I have been out of the hobby for about 6 years and am now going into salt. need to make sure I don't have to upgrade stuff on the way would like to just replace it as it breaks down not because it sucks. thanks for all your input.

 

i should add that the system needs to be silent because of the proximity to the movie theater. so a strong powerful durable system that is also quiet. Tall order but it must exist.

 

Yeah its not that difficult to achieve.

 

yes to the anemones there is nothing i like better than to see a fish hanging out in the anemone. As far as corals i have no idea i guess what ever I can get to live in one tank the size is 200 gal.

 

quick question where can i find plans on building your own custom stand to support a 200 gal tank. I am a builder but not sure of the specs and weight

 

There are plenty of people here that can help. You can start a build thread for a stand and call it something like "How to build a custom stand" and people will chime in. I would make the corner post and the center beams out of 4x6 to be on the safe and for the top part that will support the edges of the tanks, I would run 2x4's or 2x6's. I have never built a stand for a tank this size though.

Edit: I think Reefbruh is building a custom stand for a tank that is around 600 gallons. You might be able to ask him.

 

thanks

 

shoot jonathon at reefwerks.com a message! he'll giving ya some good plans! Heck he'd probably build ya a full out great system for your budget! No fuss!

 

FishandTips.com: do it yourself aquarium stands

 

Tank-im not sure which is quiter reef ready or overflow box.
Skimmer-reef octopus
Pump-eheim makes good ones.There are a few other good brands too.
Lighting-since led is the newest best thing arguably then i would get led lighting but if you dont like led then get around 400-500 watt mh setup.
sump-melevsreef.com has lots of diy setups pretty easy to make.
test kits-salifert is top notch i personally use red sea kits.
powerheads-koralia evolutions are great.
Reef keeper-apex
scrubber-magfloat
rodi setup if you plan on mixing your own water.Atleast 4 stage.
Heater-jbj or tunze but you probably wont need a heater if you go with mh lights.

Thats all i can think of right now to have a modern setup.anyone feel free to add to this list.