Future ideas

So somewhere in the future I plan on having a large FOWLR preditory tank. I love how a baby panther grouper looks and my wifey wants a dog face puffer which both of them get large. I plan on getting a 120-150gal tank to support them. Great I have a tank size a core group of inhabitants but now I need to figure out if I want a fuge or a wet-dry filter system. I don't know much about either but I know I want a tank with a built in overflow to lead down to either a sump or fuge. I know a wet-dry is good for fish dominant tanks as it gives you the room to have a heavier bioload because the bioballs have such a large surface area it breaks down more ammo is and nitrites, but produices slot of nitrates so with this in mind how do you keep from nusance algae from forming or wise the dreaded cyano? (unfortunately I'm battling cyano now in my 46gal LPS tank.)

A fuge is said to be best with reef tanks because you can grow macro algae and give a safe home for those nummy pods. But would it be at all useful for a pred tank?

I want to know and have the info ready in my brain so that when the time comes I'll know what to get. I don't plan on having nearly as much rock as what's called for with a reef tank big fish need room to cruise. Should I go with a sandy bottom or crushed coral? (not like I get a choice the wifey already told me it's going to be sand but I just want to know.)

Should I invest in a skimmer for this pred tank I know they can be messy eaters.
All in all I just want to have a nice big home for big fish with out all that ugly algae.

In order to keep a tank clean of nusance algae am I going to have to break down and buy a GFO reactor?!

I know it's alot of somewhat scatterbrained questions but I assure you zombies didnot eat my brains I'm at work at 4am sitting on me bum typing on an IPOD touch.

 

No one has ideas?

 

Caspian, I am no expert on this but, both of the fish you are selecting sound great and are extremly beautiful in my opinion. I believe the refugium can be used in both. In fact throwing macro algeas in it will help keep that dreaded cyano from forming in your display as they will compete will the cyano and starve it out of resources.

 

+1... A fuge with macroalgae is always a benefit to any system. You may want to use an oversize skimmer though, maybe one rated for 200 - 225g to help remove excess DOCs.

You'll definitely want sand as crushed coral or gravel will be a big waste trap.