Hi Fisherman,
The best place to start would be with some up to date books. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, by Robert Fenner; or Natural Reef Aquariums, by John Tullock, are two of the best. I would recommend getting either or both; each is available online for about $25 apiece.
Corals must be introduced to your aquarium, though occasionally a few polyps show up as hitchikers on live rock. The best source is other reefers for "frags" or buy aquacultured corals from reputable dealers.
What are the dimensions of your 60 gal?
There are many variables in setting up a new tank; size is one factor and what your goals are for corals is another. Some corals require more intense light than others.
As a very basic plan, I would recommend a
deep sand bed of 4-6"; Approximately 60-90 lbs. of live rock; a sump of at least 20 gallons and a good
protein skimmer. As for lights, you need to decide your goals before choosing.
It is so important at this point to read as much current information as possible and ask questions on the board before making purchases or decisions concerning your setup. There are many ways to set up a nice tank but there are also many conflicting opinions, even among the "experts". The best way to avoid unneccessary expense or potential mistakes is to read, read and read some more!!
Here are some good websites with information about setting up a tank; sandbeds and live rock:
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webri...g=reeffaq;list http://www.hobbyschool.com/reef/ http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/new.htm http://www.reefkeepers.org/faq/cache/33.html http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog...ek_090698.html
And of course, the archives here on TRT!
Again, welcome to The Reef Tank!
Dick
