Blood Parrot Gal

So I have had fresh water and brakkish (sp) tanks since I was 15 yrs old, am now 45 and have some beauiful set ups. But I want to set up my first Salt water tank.

So I can use all the suggestions and idea's and help anyone can give me.

Several yrs ago I fell in love with a panther grouper at a petco in yakima wash. and I wanted to set up a tank for him alone then but the salt guy there detoured me from doing it telling me nothing but bad things about these guys.

So here it is yrs later and yesterday I ran across a beauiful one again about 2.5" big, maybe pushing 3" hard to tell in those small tanks they keep them in. Anyways once again I'm in love again. I want this fish.

So I need any and all advice on him, his needs, how to care for him, ect. ect. I do understand he can get to 28" big. For now I am wanting to keep him in a 55gallon or maybe a 40 gallon hex tank alone.

So if you can help me out, I need to know everything about salt water tanks, what I'll need, ect. I will put some corals and maybe some other live rock in the tank to.

How long does the tank need to sit before I can put him in it?

I don't want this to become a major thing till he needs to be in a bigger tank, for now just a simple set up.

Thanks, Blood Parrot Gal