noob starting a 50 gallon reef

[SerLunchbox]

well, to save on some costs, i am hoping that i can find someone close to me that could donate some LS from their existing tank. I guess i will pick up an RO/DI unit off ebay. Looks like all RO/DI units have the same filters (unless i am reading wrong).

So to keep costs down i figured i would start off with some LR but mostly base rock. What would be a good proportion? 15 lbs live rock to 60 lbs base or what? What is an average time to change the base rock into live rock?

For a skimmer i was looking at either a bak pak 2 OR a coralife super skimmer. Albert Dao was pretty impressed with them when i was at Gold Aquarium's yesturday.

As for corals, yeah, i will probably start off with shrooms and zuma ... maybe a xenia.

As for salt, i will probably go with either instnt ocean or the seachem reef salt.

Nice to be around this board. fast responses

**EDIT**
So i was just told by someone to take all filters off if i do corals, is this a necessity? I don't have room for a sump