Stocking help? What would you want in a big tank?

[Morgie]

In a week or two I'll be getting a 125g tank and start my first ever saltwater aquarium! I'm pretty excited. I'm experienced with freshwater, but I'm pretty clueless when it comes to stocking a SW tank. I'm so used to knowing which fish are compatible and which fish are right for the tank size!
So! How about some suggestions? You could give me what you'd do in a 125 if you had one empty right now, or suggest what you'd think would be best for a SW beginner.
The tank is going to go in our living room, and my mom wants "colorful" fish. :>

I have no definite plans for it, although it will likely be FOWLR,

 

[zacheyp]

Tangs tangs tangs

 

[Bige]

Chevron tang or kole tang

 

[joy13]

I wished you had your tank up and running I have a lemonpeel that would love a nice new home. It would do best with larger fish since it is an angel with the devils attitude.

I would go with a sailfin tang they are so pretty to me and graceful.
A rabbitfish of some sort maybe a foxface.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Blue hippo tang or ocellaris clownfish or maybe a royal gramma (I like Nemo-themed tanks )

 

[all4wheels2]

Are you going for a peaceful tank...or a semi-aggressive/predator tank?

You could definitely look at some triggers, groupers, wrasses, dottybacks and puffers. They are all semi-aggressive carnivores (very colorful) that are probably much easier to keep than tangs. But tangs are awesome too, they're just high maintenance

 

[redsea]

Certainly some kind of Tang(s). I love the Zebrasoma species!

 

[Morgie]

Probably going to go for a semi-aggressive tank. That's usually what I go for in freshwater and they have a ton of personality.
Lemonpeel are such pretty angelfish! Trust me, I wish I had it up and running now too.
I love triggers, they're probably my favorite SW fish at the moment. I'm definitely planning on one.

 

[joy13]

Triggers are aggressive more so than semi aggressive.

 

[Morgie]

I was thinking maybe a humu trigger since I've heard they aren't as aggressive as other triggers.

 

[slitherbomb]

All triggers are aggressive lol. I wouldn't put them with smaller fish. My Picasso so far is very docile though and my blue jaw has even been beat up by my yellow tang..

 

[Morgie]

I'm probably not going to get any small fish, or any fish that could potentially be a meal for another, etc.

 

[slitherbomb]

Just saying lol. A 125 could make for a semi-aggressive/aggressive tank. Triggers, tangs, maybe an angel, eels, a harlequin tusk, you have some choices for a beautiful tank. with a strong skimmer of course with fish like these lol

 

[Morgie]

I just went to see the guy I'm buying the tank from and it was up and running and looked great! He's selling it to me with the stand, two sumps, a large protein skimmer and a lot of other accessories and supplies. They only hardware I'm going to have to get is a canopy/lighting system, but that won't be too bad. He's also giving me a large amount of sand and water.
Any other fish suggestions would be great! I'll start a new thread for the build process once I get it in the house, which should be within the week.