beginner of salt water aquarium

Question
QUESTION: Hi im mike,im gonna buy a 125 litre tank and im gonna aim to get 5 or 6 fish.  I was just wandering whether im ok to just get 5 or 6 bits of coral along with 5/6 fish or is it strongly advised to get a reef tank.  Basically, is it essential to have a reef? Also in my local shop there are regal tangs, puffer fish, clown fish, wrasses etc; am i ok to mix them together?

ANSWER: You need to tell me a little more, are you going to use live rock and sand? What type of equipment and lighting will you have? The puffer i would not put in a tank with corals. Let me know on the above and I will help you get started. Also go out and get a book on beginner marine aquariums, and read.

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QUESTION: To be honest im not really sure what to put in a 125 litre tank.  I probably will use live rock but not to much.  I have no idea on the lighting yet but to fill the whole tank up with coral and live rock is gonna cost a lot of money! and yes i will use sand.  I don't want to fill my tank up with fish, i probably only want to get a couple of baby regal tangs, a clownfish, a damsel and a wrass or something.  To be honest i don't know how much i could have in there.  What would u advise me to do in terms of live rock and coral etc.  I definitely know that im gonna use sand.
Mike

Answer
If you plan on corals, you need to get it set up first with all of your equipment, live rock and sand, let the tank cycle with the live rock and sand. I would put a sump or refugium on that size tank for sure especially if you are going to do a reef. Lighting 135 - 270 watts, heat aprox 335 watts, rock 23 - 38 kg, sand aprox 30 kg, and i would use a skimmer for sure. As for coral that would be your preferences, read up on some beginner corals. Let me know if you need anymore help.