[cotontail2]

Hi all.
I am think of getting into this hobby, and have spent the last couple months reading books and surfing the net for information. I have also visited several saltwater stores in our area. My problem is the conflicting messages. To sump or not to sump, size of skimmer, lighting, quantity of live rock/sand, number of powerheads, etc. All my sources have different answers! I am planning on starting a partial reef tank in a 55 gallon set up. I dont want a full reef set up, but about 1/3 of the tank with corals, live rock, etc. We are putting it in our home bar as a focal point. I recently had to put my 16 year old lab down, and I really need a new hobby to keep my mind off her loss and give me purpose. We already have a 3 year old 30 gallon freshwater set up at home that hubby fell in love with and has taken over. I also take care of two freshwater aquariums at my work, a car dealership. They are a 30 gallon in the service dept, and a 120 gallon in the waiting room. So dedication is not a problem. Is there a fool proof guide to buy or download? Or do I take all this information and decide what advice to use and what to discard? This is a large investment financially, but also in living creatures. HELP! I am overwhelmed!