[passinetti2007]

Okay, I'm want to get equiptment ready before I even get the tank. I'm going to be getting a 75 gal megaflow tank with a really fancy base and lid that will match my living room decor thats gonna cost me about $1,500. So I'm going to get all the other stuff ready. I know I need a ro/di unit and a big garbage can for extra water, but what else should I buy that I'll need. So far I got:

Powerheads
Skimmer
heater
hydrometer
thermometer
sump
lighting <what kind of lighting should I get? I want to have colorful corals. what will give the best color and growth for them?

I know I'll need testing supplies but what exactly? Is there a kit that gives you all you need in one purchase?

[FisH NooB]

the set-up sound great.. i don't know much about lighting but there are plenty of posts here to fancy your inquiries.. i wouldn't recommend a garbage can... initially i would use 5 gallon ozarka bottles and a little 5gal bucket to mix water... keeps the water fresher... after that ur r/o filter and a bucket will do the trick.... as for testing, i know i'm gonna get a lot of disagreements, but i like testing strips... they sell an all in one strip that measures everything but phosphats i think and they are disposable... the reason i choose this method is because ur testing tubes can easily get contaminated giving false readings... my friend lost a ton of coral because of contaminated tubes... not only contan=mination from old tests but from the water u use to clean them and air particles that the tube can aquire during storage... the strips are a bit expensive but then agian so is a test kit... also, if this is your first tank, try running a FOWLR(Fish Only With Live Rock) b4 reef... u'll learn alot, it'll get u accustomed to the maintenance, and, depending on the fish u buy, u wont lose as much money if something goes wrong... or u could just get someone to set it up and maintenance it.. safe and great for display but totally not fun... LoL...

[volitan_fa]

Quick reply here, but I'll cover as much as I can.

Powerheads are up to you, but a lot of people now are preferring closed loop systems in larger tanks.
Skimmer just make sure to always get one that will handle MORE than your total water volume
Heater be safe, get two smaller ones that are good quality (VisiTherm, Jager, etc)
Hydrometer I would get a refractometer instead of a hydrometer.
Thermometer for this, I would get one that can control your heaters (or chillers). They slightly pricey, but well worth after the first time you lose your whole tank to a temperature disaster.
Sump this one is up to you. You can buy pre-made ones or you can DIY
Lighting MH with T5 or VHO actinic will give you the best color and lighting hands down. BUT at a huge cost upfront and in your electric bill/maintenance. T5 HO lights will give you a really good lighting system as well, with lower costs and less maintenance. Finally, Solaris LED systems will give you best lighting, lowest operating cost, but highest upfront cost. Do research and decide on what you need.

I have no quibble with FisH NooB's test strip idea. I use all-in-one test strips as well. They work great for taking a quick test. Either way, usually if you buy a "master test kit" it will give you all the basics and you can consider adding additional kits later.