All of the above is correct, however do not get discouraged by this.
Get a standard
used 48" 120 Gal tank buy
Instant Ocean salt two buckets will cost $80 free shipping combined with rocks from J&L.
$30+tax
300W heater
here is your good affordable base rock
Add some of
this "goby rock" to get good landscaping shapes Dont buy too much it will restrict the flow just get enough for two piles, one on the right one on the left. 100lb will only cost you $250+tax+free shipping. Go with dry rock to keep the cost down and also to keep the hitch hikers pest out. You can seed you water with bacteria later easily, by getting some dirty water from fellow reefer in the area.
Here is a $150 light+shipping
Here is a $130+shipping protein Skimmer + $20 power transformer from 220V to 1120V that you will have to get (got mine 200Watt transformer for $10 on CraigsList)
O this one if you want a fancy cone skimmer but i there is no proof that cones are better just claims.
If you want to get big and bullet proof as well as to skip on some water changes
get this big $600+shipping skimmer and you will be good to go for many years.
I got my Calcium Reactor, overflow and my protein skimmer from these guys and they are legit. ( i would NOT buy electronics from them though, just acrylic work like skimmers etc)
here is your $239 free shipping circ pump, silent, reliable and with 3 years warranty
If you don't over stock and just keep a few fish, your water will be stable. Keep light low and you will have no algae problems. Only keep fish that you absolutely mast have make a list of 6 fish (for example: here is my favorites and absolutely mast haves :# 1 Moorish Idol, # 2 Blue Face Angel, # 3 Sohal Tang, # 4 Purple Tang, # 5 Queen Angel, # 6 Zebra Moray Eel)
Get Ozone and
$60 UV light to protect your fish.
On your equipment only you are still at approx. ~$1300
You will be amazed at the reaction of people visiting you place who will see your fish. Fish will cost another $600 to $800++ but obviously you will not have to buy them all at once right?
So depending on how much you spend on used 120 Gal+stand+sump All in you are still at $2500 range
$2500-$3000 seams like a lot but the point here is that you do Not need a mortgage.
When i started my first 108Gal, I stopped counting after $7000!!!.
The reason was that i did not have a plan and i wanted everything.
Do Not buy cheap fish just because it looks cute and
"one more fish isnt gonna hurt", This is the main "money waister" and also one small fish will generate waste that is expansive to remove. Stick to the plan !
If you think and plan ahead, combine shipping, know what you want and realize that you may get carried away for bigger better that may end up looking worse then 14Gal Nano tank. Stick to the plan and you will be OK and most importantly
you will have time to enjoy your tank, because you have done everything right, from the start.
Just my 2c worth.