Hey Brandy, being a self-described newbie I'm wondering (no offense intended) if you are aware how much it will cost you to setup a 170g SPS tank successfully? You're looking at a house down payment.
You're going to need a bigger sump to handle the flow, a bigger return pump, bigger powerheads, and a Wavemaker would be a great idea. Not to mention a mass of other equipment you haven't mentioned (lights, reactors, skimmer, etc). Being a newbie, I would suggest you try your hand at a much smaller SPS tank, and see if you have the knack for it to begin with. Try a 75g or something like that.
Jmo...
