Newbie in need of advice...

[Scuba Dan]

First I would like to say hello to all of you, and what a GREAT site for information and PICS. After spending the whole weekend at the LFS, I have information OVERLOAD from all the shops. I would like to start a reef tank using a 40 gal breeder tank. At the moment I have a 150 gal. salt water tank, so I know the basics. My area I NEED help in is lighting. There are SO many options to go with, not to mention $$$$$$. I was going to go with PC, but dont know if I should go with A 150WATT HQI. Any help would be great. I guess If I go with the HQI I can almost have anything I want?? or can I? What about the P-Skimmer? They range from $60.00 up to $300.00 Im far from rich, so money is an issue, I dont want to spend more then I need to.
Any SUGGESTIONS would be great!!
Thanks Sooooo much for your help.

[Casey]

Hi welcome to TRT good to see another Floridian here

[Spanky]

Hi back at cha Dan! There's no one here from Florida, it's all smoke and mirrors!

40galB are my favorite tank. If it was me, I would use one of the new IceCap ballasts that will burn all the MH bulbs. That way in the future you'd only need to change bulbs and sockets if you want something different. I know they have the 250watt out and I'm pretty sure they are working on a 175w or 150w. Something like that. 175/150 would work fine on a 40B.

WELCOME TO THE ASYLUM............woops I mean TRT!