NEWBIE w/ 120 Gallon Saltwater tank ?'s

[jnhinsd]

I'm thinking of finally setting up my 120 gallon tank that is convigured for saltwater......but i have a few questions 1st.

what do all of you recommend for filtration and lighting for a tank that will eventually have a reef set up with a few fish mixed in?

Any lighting set ups i should be looking into?

remember im new to the salt water scene and it wont be even started untill after christmas 08(most likely tax season 09) as i will be on deployment the rest of this year.

all advise is welcome with open arms.

[Samper]

It sounds like you have plenty of time to research which is kudos for you. The people that rush into this blindly usually end up quitting within the first year.

For a 125 I would recommend a pretty good sized protein skimmer. An economical skimmer for that size display is the ASM G4. Of course there are always bigger and better so get the best you can afford.

I like T5 lighting and prefer to use it wherever possible.

Here are some additional items to think about for a reef.

Refractometer
Test Kits.....salifert or LaMotte At the minimum NO3, Ca, ALK, Mg
pH probe or test kit
Salt Mix
Heater/controller and thermometer
timers for the lights
2 part Ca and Alk supplements or a Ca reactor and media
pickling lime and a drip system or a kalk reactor.
Refugium/sump combo and a light for the fuge
If the system is not already drilled you may want to have overflows installed. If not you will need a hob overflow.
Return pump
media bags/ carbon/ ferric oxide
live rock
sand
powerheads