Looking for expert opinions

[Snappy]

I agree with Rory in that there is more than one way to be successful in keeping a reef. One suggestion I have is to get the most pourous live rock that you can as it creates more surface area for the bacteria to grow (inside & out). As you can see from this thread there are many different opinions, and usually most have some merit, however, do some reading and go with what you feel will work best for your circumstances and budget. No matter how much you read there is most often still a little trial & error. I have found that this hobby is more forgiving than a lot of people let on. Do the basics properly and the rest will come as your hobby and experience grows. I have found that even though this board is made up for the most part of amatuers I have still learned a lot from them.
Good luck,