Starting a 72 gal salt water tank

Question
What do we need to start a salt water tank? We are complete beginners but plan to have coral and a couple fish.

Answer
April,    I did not forget you!!!!! I will answer your question more completely later today. I have a couple questions real quick have you had freshwater before or is this your first tank? It is fine of you haven't. I will talk you through it piece by piece so we don't lose fish. They are expensive. I personally think my salt tanks are much more stable and less problematic then freshwater anyway. The whole thing is filtration !!!!!!!! Did you buy a set up or was it given to you? What was in it if it was given so I know how to tell you clean it and what type of filtration do you have with it. The rule with saltwater is bigger is always better. Remember the number of fish are going to have are more limited with salt. Though if you layer it right (your bottom feeders, middle swimmers and top) you can put a couple more.  Trust me the colors and personalities they have are make it worth it. My 125 salt community is definitely a living piece of art. As far as sharks....they are going to be your bottom feeders also your fish eaters but, don't worry we won't put him in with fish that will let him. Your tank size is good for the "catfish" type sharks that top out at 6 to 8 inches. Your nurse sharks are catfish sharks but, they go into BIG water they can get 3 feet...lol I am going to send you a site that has some real beauties to look at. Also if you are going to keep a scaleless shark your going to have to use ocean sand and not crushed coral or puca shell it will injure it. The dead corals are fine. No live plants in this tank. You are going to be upset when you wake up and your 50 dollar plant is eaten. Here is the site try to get that info to me. I will go step by step on how to set it up and cycle it down. REMEMBER these tanks are not set up and fish in there in two days loaded fully stocked or your going to really be upset that all your fish are dead the next morning and I will explain all this to you and why. Prepare to put some money out on filtration after that the worst is over and over do it because if you want a shark I would recommend upgrading as he grows and it will be probably within a year to year and a half they need lots of room you can't stunt their growth like some fish or you will have fish with bites out of them......I would probably go 200 gallons really. Sharks are VERY expensive. This is just a short site some beauties. These are also not novice fish and we are going to put him with other aggressive. Personally, I would either make that tank either a beautiful community or an aggressive minus the shark because of tank size. Like a lionfish and a snowflake eel and maybe an angel and a trigger or two. Mine eat goldfsih!!!!  Site:     http://www.aquacon.com/Sharks_saltwaterfish.html  Get back to me so I know what you have already., Tina   P.S. Also this not a standard size tank is this a hex or bowed or long. It is going to make a difference.