Suggestions for Species to Keep in My Tank

[Tobman]

I have a newly setup 65 gal AGA with PC lights (2 96 Watts - Coralife Aqualight), a 55 gal refugium/sump. Coralife 165 skimmer. 130 lbs of live rock, and a 2-inch thick live sand bed. Canister filter with carbon when I need it. I have not finalized my flow, but will do so once I figure out what to put in it the tank; I've got about 300 gph coming from the sump now, and a ViaAqua 4900 as a temporary powerhead which pumps about 1300 gph (just using during the cycling period). The ViaAqua is a bit noisy, big and ugly in the tank, and at 1300 gph, is probably too much flow long term.

What can I best keep in this tank, and what would be good selections of corals/softies for a newbie - I want the full reef affect, but want to start with hardy species.

I would prefer a mix of softies and hard corals, but have heard they do not mix well, mostly because of the softies chemical defense mechanisms.

[dc]

Well you need a lot of lights for hard corals also. I like LPS, they may do well with your lighiting. Things like a bubble coral, and open brain. There are some great softies tho. Kenya trees, colt, various mushrooms and zoas. You'd need to research the individuals you choose and what you want long term.

[MCary]

The toxins produced by soft corals is not as bad as the hype. Its kind of been overblown. There are some worse than others. I believe leathers are an example. But since they get pretty big and your tank is small, I wouldn't get one anyway. But if it worries you, just run carbon. I love LPS. They don't really do well in my tank because I'm set up for SPS. But they hae great colors and are fun to watch and feed. A prurple tipped frogspawn or hammer is a great coral. Bubbles, candy canes, and torches are cool to. Then you have all your brains and acans, some with great reds and pinks. Add of course plates. Love plates. The big down side. Sweepers. LPS have some nasty sweepers.

A couple of very nice, hardy corals that look great are yellow polyps and green starburst polyps. But they grow very fast and are hard to control. That's not a problem unless they decide to overgrow something you love.

Never had Zoas but love the look.

Mike