Aquarium Help!!

Question
I am looking for some help\ information on the basics of the aquarium mechanics. Here is my situation, I have spent lots of time and reading and trying to gain ans much info as possible about the basics. I have an 80 gall fish only right now. I want to build a 125 gall and move to a reef tank. I have about 50-60 lbs of live rock, 10lbs of GARF grunge mixed with about 2 inches of black sand, 3 hydor karolia pumps, a penguin 400 bio wheel filter, and for lights a all in one fixture with 2- halides, 2- power compact actinics, with 12- led night lights. Here is the first main question 1. What kind of equipment is essential for an aquarium? Skimmers, reactors, UV, sump filters, etc, etc??? I want to began getting the equipment to set up for the 125 gallon tank and don't know where to start? Which leads into the next question of how do I improve the quality of my 80 gal tank to make sure I am ready to have a happy healthy tank for corals? I know I need reef janitors in a big way which I am about to order. I do water changes of 14 gal a week with a tap filter and that has made a diff in the algae growth, but is the amount of fish making it hard to keep it clean I don't know.... I have a Huma Huma, Valentino Puffer, Yellow Tang, 3-blue damsels, Snowflake Eel, Giant red hermit crab, a giant snail, and about 12 little hermit crabs. So the second big question is 2. Many if not all may not be reef safe which ones can stay and do I have too many fish to keep my 80 gal clean or is it because I am under staffed in equipment of janitors or both? I apologize for the length of this email but I don't know were else to go for great knowledge on the hobby? Thanks and I do appreciate you time and effort!!

Answer
Hi Jeremy

For a 125g tank, you will need to install a sump to house all of your filter equipment and add another 100lbs or so of live rock to the rock you already have, at a minimum.  With regards to substrate, it is really up to you as to whether or not you want it.  I do not have any substrate in my tank.

For your new tank, you may need to add extra pumps/powerheads to the 3 Korallias you already have.  Also, get rid of the penguin 400 filter.  No filter of this kind is required for saltwater aquaria.  The live rock and protein skimmers will be your filters.

For your size of aquarium.  I would recommend a protein skimmer rated to at least 250 gallons or 1000 litres.  If you are wishing to keep SPS coral (Acropora sp. etc) then I would recommend that you add a calcium reactor and metal halide lighting supplemented with T5HO lighting.  A UV filter is optional - I do not use one and never have used one.  Obviously, you will need to plumb in overflows from your tank to your sump, and plumb a return pump back up to your display tank.  

I would not do anything to your current tank and start up your new tank from scratch, but transfer what you need/want when the time suits.  This is because some of the equipment that I would recommend for your 80g tank will not be suitable/adequate for your 125g tank.

As you are wanting to eventually have a reef set up, I would recommend getting rid of the trigger, pufferfish and eel.  These will all eat janitor type animals and the trigger and puffer will most likely consume most or all corals you place in your tank.  Also, for good measure, I would get rid of the damsels as these will become a nightmare for you in the new tank - I will never add damsels again to my tank after they killed many fish and shrimp (when I first started keeping saltwater).

I also recommend you join the forum www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum

Towards the bottom of the main forum page is a section for Saltwater fish keeping.  I am a member there and there are also many other professional aquarium keepers on that site.

If I can help in other way, please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Kind Regards

Michael