Need a lil help from the more experienced.

[Pinks]

hey guys,
well anyways at the start of the year i bought from my uncle who runs my lfs, I got everything below wholesale, a 55 gallon bow, cabinet, it has built in bio? filtration with bio balls and sponges in the hood, im currently running white and blue lights, it has nearly 20 kgs of base rock now slowly becoming covered in coraline, and 10 kgs of live rock, it also has a fiberglass fake ropck background so i dont have to look at filters and stuff. My tank has been running since christmas bare bottom, and just with everything mentioned above, i dont have a skimmer as i dunno how to fit one in? should i add one? also what substrate is best i was going to use crushed coral but im not sure if it would make myt tank look bad or not?. Anyways i would also like some stocking suggestions that would go well together, as i believe my tank is finally somewhat mature enough to slowly start introducing more live stock. I know it says i can add stuff after the cycle, but this is my 2nd tank and i wanted everything perfect and belive me it was hard holding out getting fish the minute the water was in lol. **** lfs, always have so many nice fish too bad there so overpriced. But its a good thing i get my fishies at wholesale price. Anways suggestions please!!!

[capecodder]

as far as the skimmer goes check this link out
www.aquariacentral.com/faqs/reef/reefkeeper1.shtml#2.2

as far as livestock, do you want big, small, aggressive, community?
start to narrow it down by thinking about what kind of tank you want to keep.
good luck!

[Pinks]

umm i want a community or species only tank, but i want a large focal point fish and then smaller fish to go in with it.

[wannabefishguru]

check out drsfostersmith.com and check out there fish department, i would go with arag-alive substrate, but thats just me

[Pinks]

hey,
Ive decided to use sand for the substrate but just not sure what type yet. I was thinking as a possible stocking list : 3 banner fish
2 long nose butterfly
1 copperband or racoon
Is this too much for my tank? also i was thinking of setting up and overflow/sump system, do i have to drill the tank to install it or is there a way i can use a pump to draw the water into the overflow? Any websites with help or any other types of help would be greatly appreciated. Also can i run the skimmer in the sump tank?
Thanks

[capecodder]

if you are going to turn this into a reef, i would look into the copperband and the butterfly, they tend to nip at corals

[DansMarineTank]

copperbands,I believe, are on on the leave in the Ocean list, they are very difficult to keep alive for a long period of time, that aside they are beautiful fish.

All the fish you have chosen are larger fish and you will prob end up being overstocked.

[Pinks]

Hey,
Thanks for the replies so far. I dont want to turn my tank into a full on reef system just yet as theres a possibility of us building a new house late this year, but i was thinking what about if i just had 3 long nose butterflys? is that too many for my system,

[capecodder]

heres a link to check out butterflys
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=350
i wouldn't put three in, if you're planning on having other fish.
as far as a focal point, what about a flame angel (x-mas island)?

[Pinks]

yea flame angels are nice, i was thinking either a community tank or a butterfly only tank, btw anyone wanna see a pic of the tank? it was taken around the time i set it up, but it still looks the same except for more coraline growth.