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
Hey Jeremy. Sorry for the late reply, ive had a swarm of pre christmas questions asked here!

The basic equipment for the 125g would be a good skimmer, and if you can a sump. a calcium reactor is only needed if you want to keep alot of hard corals like SPS, but if youre just starting with corals i would wait a while. you dont want a UV sterilizer, they kill alot of beneficial organisms in saltwater.

Your 80g sounds good for corals, sounds like youve got good lighting so you would have to do no extra work for some basic corals like mushrooms, zoanthids, polyps, brain corals, kenya trees, etc. your water change schedule is fine.

Your stock sounds good, the eel will definitely like the 25g though. With corals, keep an eye out on the triggers, they can nip corals. its really hit and miss, but all the triggers ive had that have the possibility to nip corals have left my corals all alone.

Your stock sounds fine, and clean up crews dont play a huge role. my 125g has no inverts, my lunar wrasse eats them all and i literally see maybe 1 snail and 2-3 hermits at night. in your tank i would get some sand sifting snails though since you can have inverts without them getting eaten

The best thing for your tank is water changes, keep up with them and you will have great water conditions

if you ever have questions setting the 125g up, feel free to ask me them!