Few questions about new setup...
 

This is my first time running a SW tank in quite a few months, and back then I only had one running for maybe 6 months before I had to shut it down.

The tank I'm running now is a 40gallon cube, no sump.

First question is about flow... I have a Rena XP3 filter with a loc-line end on it, a HOB protein skimmer, and a MJ 1200 there right now. Is this too much flow? There is alot of water movement on the surface.

Next question is about lighting... I have a 175w MH, and 24w T5HO. How much light should the tank get per day? Here is an odd request... I eat breakfast by 4:45am. I am sitting beside my tank until I leave at 6am. Is it possible to have the lights running in the morning for a few hours, turn off for the day, and then run again in the evening when I get home again? Or will this be too stressful for the fish or something else?

Next question about heat... 40gallon cube = ?w Heater? Right now I have two 50w in there, they seem to be on all the time so I am looking to pick up something powerful enough to take care of the tank on its own.

That's all for now!

Jeff

Jeff, what kind of tank? Reef, FOWLR, Fish only? If reef, ditch the canister filter. Lighting is fine with a couple of three hour intervals.
Heater will need to be upgraded to probably a 150w.

Thanks for your reply. Right now it's empty, but I would like for it to be reef. Why should I ditch the canister? I don't have alot of room for HOB filters, the tank is right up against the wall.

The canister will generate too much NO3, unless you clean it every 3 days, which you won't :)
The filtration for a reef is done solely with live rock and a skimmer (most of the time). With 30ish pounds of good porous rock, you won't need a filter. A "good" skimmer will take care of the rest, with regular small water changes.

Speaking from experience......you will have nitrate accumulation and they are a pain in the a$$ to clean out. I had a canister on my 27G filled with LR rubble and carbon and still had problems.
Now run a 72G with sump and skimmer and LOVE it! Much easier by comparison. If you have anyway of running a sump, do it.