Getting my feet wet

[fire&sputum]

Agree with a lot Mandosh

55 gallons will be fine for 5-6 fish (not including anything that will get big- eg hippo tangs

Stay away from a canister filter- not needed and collect nitrates

50-75 lbs live rock will do you. Arrange so you get good flow around and through them,

Personally don't like sand bottoms. Seem to go hand and hand with cyano. Just spraypaint the bottom of tank a sand color.

Sump is not needed for 55 gallon FOWLR. 25% water change every 2 weeks

Protein skimmer- I like the hydor slim skim in tank skimmer. Have also had a remora pro (way too loud) and a deltec mce-300 (pricey and too much risk of flood)

Test kit- agree ammonia,nitrite,nitrate and a salinity refractometer

[Raf]

Since you have a rather smallish FOWLR tank this is not as vital but in my 220 Gallon FOWLR with really big fish, mechanical filtration is really important! Hence I run canisters quick filters all with mostly mech media(changed often) and a really good protein skimmer.

I suggest you run at least some dort of mech filter beyond a protein skimmer, even if its a HOB type Aquaclear loaded with floss..