I'm not wanting to be 'taken' by the next sales clerk at Feeder's Supply!
If you have been taken once by your local
LFS, chances are you will be taken again. Places like this are your best friend when it comes to advice. You'll get much more information here, which you should still sift through, but they are all personal experiences NOT in it for any gain, except to see your set-up sucessful.
As for the set-up- Yes the basics are a tank and stand. Protein skimmers are a great addition, I use an AquaC as well. (actually I run two
HOB skimmers). The
LR is also a very important factor and can also be one of the most costly of intial expenses, but worth it's weight in gold. Make sure you get good quality
LR, if you haven't done so already. As far as the powerheads and flow goes, it really all depends on what it is you want to keep in the tank. Most fish and soft corals will be fine with a moderate flow, but some species of fish/coral require a much higher rate of flow(tangs for instance). I have 2 Sieo M1500's running and that in conjuction w/ the flow from the skimmers I max out at around 3,500
gph.
No canister filter either, as said before the
LR will do that job for you. Good luck and c'mon, let's see some pics...