Help with 125G FOWLR setup

[MiniTang]

Hi guys, I'm a complete newb when it comes to this hobby! I've been spending lots and lots of time researching and read all the stickys and all the how to's etc.

In the process I learned A LOT about Marine Tanks. Thank goodness I started to read before I jumped in.

I plan on going big and setting up a 125G FOWLR tank. During my research I learned about stocking, cycling, water changes, clean up crew, nitrates, acclimation, QT tank, Ich, and all that other good stuff.

So I need LOTS of help! I'm still no confident and that is mostly due to the plumbing of the tank. I understand I need a Protein Skimmer. PERFECT, I understand that! I need a heater as well. Ok good, I'm not lost yet...However, after that I'm completely lost. I get varied opinions and to dos and not to do when it comes to filtration. YES I read the sticky with Setting up a FOWLR tank and it talks about mechanical filter and biological filter etc. However, it still wasn't clear to me what I needed and how to set it up.

So please can someone put it in LAME terms or (dummy newbie terms) for me what I need as far as equipment is and what does this equipment do? NOW, I will NEVER make it a REEF tank, I can not and will not make it a REEF tank. I love Reef tanks, I love the look, but Reefs are a whole different world and I will not venture off into that world, no matter how tempting it is. All I want is the best possible running FOWLR tank so what do I need? PLEASE PLEASE help. Also Power heads. Do they need to be pointed in a certain direction? I plan on having 2, one on the left blowing to the right located towards the front of the tank and one on the right side blowing to the left at the rear of the tank. Is this ok?

Also this is my stocking list. What do you think?
4 X Green Chromis
Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
2 X Clown Fish (tank bred)
Black and White Clownfish
Banner Butterfly Fish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Foxface Lo
Auriga Butterflyfish (Maybe, not sure on this one)
Royal Gramma Basslet
Chocolate Chip Star Fish (Do you guys think it is a good idea to have one of these?)

I know I will not add all those fish at the same time, I'm thinking over the course of 6-8 months. My other question is, when it comes to the 4 times Green Chromis and the 2 clown fish should I introduce the 4 Chromis at the same time? If so, would this hurt the bio load? Will it disturb the tank? I don't want to put any fish in danger but I feel like the chromis should be introduced at the same time so they school. Also when the time comes for the clowns, should I introduce them at the same time also? I don't want them to fight thats why I want to introduce them at the same time. But again how will this affect the bio load?

What should I get for a clean up crew? and why do you recommend them? I'm thinking turbo snails so far and shortspine urchin as well as Spiny Star Astraea Snail, what do you guys think?

I'm still scared to jump in and I'm thinking of starting this set up in 3-4 months time. So I want to get all my unknowns out of the way and get your guys experience input. All and any of your input is greatly appreciated. I read this forum all the time and love it! 

[unfucwitabLe]

from what i've heard introducing clowns at the same time so as long as they are not adults will work since they grow and the dominate one becomes the male(switch gender)....as to having a sea star like the chocolate chip if you ever, which once you get the hang of things(running the tank for a while) you'll probably want to have a reef, chocolate chips are not reef safe, also i've heard some sea stars are hardy, but most are very sensitive to ph and temp changes that they wont survive long....make sure to run tank until proper cycle has been done.....i started with alot of "live sand" and dead coral rubble with the help of some old wet filter sponges from my freshwater tank that contained alot of good bacteria and it only took a couple of months to cycle.

[Reefing Madness]

Thats going to be alot of fish in that tank, once you have Live Rock in there, the room is not going to be all that great, expecially for the fish that you have picked out. Clown fish add at same time. Chromis you should add at same time also, but with this in mind, you will probably only end up with one in the long run. They chase each other to the point of jumping out of the tank or death in the tank.
Fish Only With Live Rock:
You will need a big skimmer, at least twice the tank volume, 1.5-2lbs of live rock per gallon, and powerhead for water movement, at least 10x the water turn over rate, so in a 125 you should have 1250gallon per hour flow rate. And of course the normals, Refractometer, heater and water test kit. In a FOWLR you can run with 40 trates and not the reef trates of 0. In the tank for salinity you can run 1.020 to 1.025, wider range for error than in a reef.

[MiniTang]

Thanks I didn't know about the Green Chromis. I still love the fish, so I'll just have 1 instead of 4. I was hoping for a little school in my tank, but I don't want to risk the potential lives of other fish!

Also do I need a UV sterlizer? Sump? Refulgum? What are these things? Do I need a Wet/Dry Filter? I don't know...

[Reefing Madness]

Thanks I didn't know about the Green Chromis. I still love the fish, so I'll just have 1 instead of 4. I was hoping for a little school in my tank, but I don't want to risk the potential lives of other fish!

Also do I need a UV sterlizer? Sump? Refulgum? What are these things? Do I need a Wet/Dry Filter? I don't know...

you don't need any of those things. They all help in the water quality department. They help clean the water for you. Good to have but not a must have.
Ultraviolet Sterilizers: Improving Bacteria and Algae Control in Your Aquarium or Pond
Melevsreef.com - What is a Sump?
Wet Dry Filter - How Wet Dry Filters Work
These should give you an idea of what they are and what they do.