New kid needs help with gph powerhead and filter advice

[Humorosity]

So I am new. I was going to do a big 90gallon build decided that was too much for my first tank.

I just got a 40g tank and stand this weekend. Cleaned it out. I have done so much reading and I thought I knew everything I needed to know to get started. Turns out I am a baby who barely knows anything. I would ask what kind of power head and filter should I get. But I've read enough to know you will just ask me about what I am going to have in the tank. so...

Here is my dream tank.

live rock
live sand of course
small regugium in a sectioned off side of the tank with algae and sponge (the tank cant be drilled it says, so unless there is an easy way to get water to and from the sump with no hole I'm just doing a small section inside at least at first)

fish:
3 chromis
1 clown
1 purple dottyback
1 firefish
1 yellowtail blue damsel
1 goby
and eventually a green mandrin dragonette
(i wanted small fish so i can have more but is that way too many for a 40 gallon?)


2-3 feather dusters worms
Blue mushrooms
red
and green shrooms
fuzzy shrooms (i really like shrooms)

1- bubbletip anemone
a few buttons and a couple sps coral


clean up crew:
variety of snails
1-2 peppermint shrimp
1 coral banded shrimp
blue leg hermits and scarlet reef hermits
1-2 emerald crabs

can I get an urchin with corals? If so I want a tuxedo urchin

ok with all that said. What kind of lighting and power head and filter recommendations do you have for me? I know keep mushrooms lower and some buttons in lower light with low to moderate flow and the bubble tip higher light with higher flow. But I think I need high light high flow with options. I have no idea what Gph i need for the filter or powerheads and what brands are afforable but not crap. Any help and guidance is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

-Sara
(oklahoma)

 

[Humorosity]

This is my 30th birthday present to myself! (Next month) And I know its going to take a minute to save up some money to get all the things but I've got a start!

 

[Mike628]

Do not mix the purple dottyback and the firefish. The dottyback will attack your firefish because they are similar bodied.

 

[malira]

Yes to the urchin. But it may pick up a coral or two sometimes. Kind of cool but can also be annoying.
I would rethink the damsel. Can be aggressive and a bully to other fish. They are pretty but most of the time not worth it. Especially in a smaller tank. My son has a 90g and had to take out yellow tail and yellow belly damsels t h e killed 3 fish.

 

[ArcKatana]

I'd remove the purple dottyback - will be too aggressive for the group you want in there. Add the damsel last.

Regarding the corals, what kind of lights? (This needs to be the first question, as your lighting dictates what kind of corals you can keep) T5's will work, but you've got bulbs to replace. 36" long will require probably two LED fixtures, the long single strip ones aren't great for corals. Two cheap 120W ebay lights would give you a pretty bulletproof set up for not a lot of money.

For an easy to use 40B HOB powerfilter, I'd run an Aquaclear 110, along with an Aquaclear 70. Keep the 110 basic (remove the bio media, add more sponge) and then turn the AC 70 in a mechanical (Sponge) and chemical (Chemipure/Purigen etc). One or two Korallia powerheads will push water just fine, as you'll be about 400-500ish GPH with the two powerfilters.

 

[Mike628]

For saltwater fish it is 1 inch of fish for every 2 gallons

 

[Humorosity]

Well dang ok that is good to know on the dottyback and damsel. I might just say no to those all together then. I might try to get a purple firefish instead. I dont have a light yet. I measured last night the tank is 30 in long so it is more skinny and tall.

 

[malira]

A suggestion look at a midas blenny or something similar. They are cool fish. They look and swim like eels.
I think it's, live aquaria, has fish capability chart.

 

[Mike628]

Just do not put a dottyback of any kind in your tank at all. When I put a purple dottyback in my tank it constantly killed my crabs and it hurt my firefish

 

[Cleo642]

Damsels can be devils when they get older. I will never put one in any tank I get. I read something by a aquarium shop owner who said she quit selling damsels in her store because of their aggressiveness. That they shouldn't even be offered in the aquarium trade. For a small fish, they certainly pack a punch.

 

[Humorosity]

One local fish store told me I only need one powerhead for my 40 gallon. But the more I am looking the more I dont know if that is true or if I need two lower output models or one high one? I found a filter online I think is reasonable AquaClear 50 Power Filter - 110 V.

The light I found that seems legit for not much money ? is this horrible? :

24-30 Inch 78 LED Aquarium Lighting Fish Tank Light Fixture
by KOVAL INC.
Price: $39.99 + $11.39 shipping
Ships from and sold by KOVAL INC..

• 78 bright LEDs with 5 colors, full spectrum LEDs and makes phycophyta vivid
• 3 optional control modes: All LEDs On / Only Blue LEDs On / Close
• Extendable bracket makes LED light fits different size aquariums in extendable range High-quality LEDs, can be used at least 50000 hrs
• If one of the LEDs is not working by being misused, the others would not be affected
• High efficiency, low energy dissipation, save cost

 

[Humorosity]

^^^ nevermind i see the error of my ways that is horrible. I'll have to save up for nice lights and do it right.
These are less than 200 and seem like they would be a good place to start. Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light

 

[Humorosity]

no one warned me I would spend more on lights than the thank and stand lol

 

[malira]

The tank and stand usually are the cheapest. Lights, skimmer, sump, reactors, test equipment, powerhead and on and on. You got the inexpensive lights. This is not a cheap hobby but can be done reasonably. Some people spend what my mortgage is on one light fixture.
That why take your time, do your research, get exactly what you want and just cry once.