Hey Jon, welcome to the party! I'm in Porter Ranch, but there are others in this area who can help as well. I'm usually free on weekends, so if there's anything you need, just reach out. I'm usually hanging out at Golden State Corals on Saturdays, which is in Reseda and my favorite LFS. I like Unique as well, but I don't get to hang out there as often as I like to.
To start, I would recommend picking up a few books (I know, I'm still recommending books), because the info contained within these books is unchanged and will give you the fundamentals to be successful.
Robert Fenner's: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist (second edition) is an awesome book for beginners. If you're a more science oriented person, then The Reef Aquarium Vol.3 by Delbeek and Sprung is my go to.
I'd be happy to stop by and see what you have and talk more in detail whenever you have the time?