Predatory Tank?

I'm contemplating building a Predatory tank in the somewhat distant future. I have a rough Idea of what I'd like in the tank and how big the tank should be My Fiance and I are looking towards a 300Gallon long, as I'd Really like a Panther grouper. And she wants a Picasso trigger Not sure if both are going to happen, but I need some help deciding what all I need.

So far I figure I'll be getting an acrylic 300 gallon long, Likely will have to build the stand.
Since it's a predatory tank I know the fish will be messy eaters so the system will have to support a heavy bio-load.
A few rocks will litter the area to provide caves and maybe some hiding places but it will be mostly open as it will be a FOWLR.
I'm thinking a super fine sand bottom. Likely about an inch to 2 inches deep (I used a calculator on how much I'll need and I almost cried)
The Fiance wants one of those small blue dot stingrays, I think it's going to end up being a Haller's stingray Or no Ray Since they require a lot of care.

Either way my questions start around here
What kind of filtration system should I use I know a few people swear by Wet/Dry filters for High bio-load tanks but I've also heard that like a canister filter you have to clean the bio-balls and that they are nitrate factories. I'm kind of leaning towards building an Algae turf scrubber. Or maybe a Fuge.

What other fish would cohabit with a panther grouper? I know smaller fish will either have to be fantastic hiders or food. I've seen Groupers living with puffers, but I haven't seen a full sized panther grouper and i know they 'in the wild' can get to 20 inches.

With building the tank stand how much support do I need? the tank I'm looking at is 96x30x24. I've looked over a few other stand builds and though the concept is fairly simple, I'm not sure if I could build a stand that's going to almost exactly mirror the tank so 96x30x24 Would I be able to fix a Fuge or Wet/Dry under the tank or would there have to be center supports to cover for the over 3000lb weight?

There's more questions but it's late so I'll ask them later.

 

Wet/Dry filters are very efficient at handling heavy bioloads. They house kazillions of the bacteria that convert the ammonia to nitrite and onto nitrate. But this is where the conversion slows down and the true reason behind the term Nitrate Factory. It has nothing to do with debris and detritus. It's a bottle neck effect.

If you go overboard on the bioload, you'll never keep up trying to remove nitrates. Don't make it too hard on yourself or you'll grow to hate the tank or skip the waterchanges. A lot of fish can handle a good amount of nitrate, but there are longterm effects, and we all wish to keep our fish longterm.

Most of the true preds aren't messy eaters, they just eat large amounts of food. There is never a drop wasted over here.

Resist the urge to mix in high light corals. Stay with low light softies. Then light you tank with the lowest amount that is also pleasing to the eye. The higher the lights, the more nusiance algae problems you will have in the future. I haven't even cleaned the sides of the tanks in months, in our low lite tanks.

 

Absolutely use a refugium with lights so algae will be concentrated there. High bio load? Nope. Use a larger enough sump and that will be a medium bio load. Skimmer? Yessir. Filter sock? I sure do recommend so.

Keep us updated! I have a predator tank that has small fish in it right now that will grow big. and I'm already saving funds for a huge aquarium.

Niger trigger
Picasso trigger
Bluejaw trigger
Flame angel
Blue angel
Toby puffer
Mandarin
Snowflake eel

 

I have the same tank. I have the grouper lion fish shark and puffer