I just noticed you were looking into a 45 gallon being your first tank. The bigger the tank, the easier it is to maintain believe it or not. Much less fluctuation in water parameters and gives you a little more margin for error. That being said, I'd go with a 40 Gallon Breeder, it's got a much better footprint to work with (36 x 18 x 13 Tall). You want a longer/shallower tank, that way you don't need z0mg huge lights.
You will save a metric ton of money buying used equipment and rock from guys local that are getting out of the hobby also. Liverock online you're looking at paying $4.99/LB shipped. At a pet store you're looking at around $10-$13/LB. You need about 1-1.5LB per gallon for sufficient filtration.
Don't let the cost scare you though man. It's the most enjoyable and worthwhile thing I've ever spent my money on. There's lots of cheap ways to get around some of the high costs as well.
Here's some links for you to check out:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/index.php?s=
This is the largest information forum you will ever find on Reef Keeping. Take some of the info with a grain of salt, but it's a good start to get some great info.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=80
This is a link to the Local Club Forums on reef central. Find your local club and network with those guys/girls that are local. This is your best shot at scoring good deals and getting great info.
You could also PM me if you have any questions. Like I said I install a ton of systems for some extra cash and just for the enjoyment of the whole thing.
P.s. the cat just posted if cute. I heart fuzzy cats.