akamel

recently got a 65 gal tank--decided to go SW. But not sure how to start. We eventually want corals. I know you have to have special lighting for that. I have heard that you need LR but van also put "not liverock" in to obtain hitch hikers-What kind of filter and pump do I need ? Is a protein skimmer a must ? what fish are good for starting out/cycling tank ?

ATP

A skimmer is a must for a 65 gallon. You'll need a sump for a 65 gallon. You could either drill your tank, buy an overflow or search for DIY Overflow box. For a sump, I would get a 20 gallon tank at petco (make sure it fits under your stand) and make a small section out of acrylic for the place water goes into, than skimmer, than refugim, than return. (search DIY Sump/ Refugim).
(Don't get cheap skimmers)

You'll also need power heads for water circulation. (1 power head at the front top right (or left) pointing to the other end of the tank and the other one vice versa,

I would do a lot more research if I were you
[if you were to buy everything new, with LR (in store price) lights, corals, all that stuff, it would be above 4000] so I recommend you find used stuff at saltwater only LFS or buy/ trade stuff at a local aquarium society (would cost less than 1/4 of the price)

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...r_Aquarium.htm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

Do research on how to start a reef. Than research on what you want to keep. (do research on the same thing from different sources) After you memorize almost everything for the basics, than you start. I researched for over a month before I started my 125 an I'm still always researching for.anything.

akamel

Yeah - I have been doing research off and on for a couple of months and I am still not even close to being ready to set it up ! I want to do everything right for my new soon to be babies! I'm just confused about the sumps etc. Why do you need one ? Is it for cycling tank water ?? Thanks for the info ! I am getting my husband to help me research sw and DIY stuff. I bought my tanks used ( they are old but in good shape ) and I figured I would look on craigslist and yard sales.

ATP

Sump is like a giant canister filter, but instead of going throught chemichals to clean the water, it uses a skimmer to remove the dirty water, a refugim to eat all the nutrients (preventing bad algae growth) (refugim has live sand lr and macro algae) than it pumps back up into the tank.