Wow...you just asked a whole lot of questions there. It is very easy to get "information overload" when starting a new tank. The important thing to keep in mind is to relax and take it slow. Do you have any good books on
SW tanks? If not, that should be your next purchase. I like "The Comscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner. I will adress your lighting questions. If you plan to have a reef tank in the future then you will something other then
NO Flourescent lighitng.
CF or
MH are the most populr lighting upgrade. For most things
CF lighting will work just fine. You can keep most soft corals and
LPS coral with 3-5 watts/
gal. of
CF lighting. If you plan to keep clams, anenomes, or
SPS corals then
MH lighting is prefered. 5-8watts/ga. should be okay.
MH is a more intense light that penetrates the water better then
CF.