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I think 350-450 for the class and open water certification...my wife and I got ours in Bonaire and then recently we did refresher at Dosils was 100 each for refresher.
Nice, I will say that a fuge that has solid color walls is a real bonus. You won't get algae growing where you don't want it. My baffles are a solid white and my skimmer section always was clean.
A sump is always helpful if not needed. So you wouldn't need to do anything special to the 55G at this point you are ready to go. Once you plan the bigger tank it will make a wonderful sump. I like having a sump you can put the skimmer in it, you get surface skimming from the overflows, added...
I know from the emails that ACC had Maxima Clams for sale...assuming that I would place it on a slightly elevated rock placement. Maximas will attach to rock. I have had luck with the one we have placing it on sand bed, however that is not optimal as they grow the opening in the shell...
Looks great, bit biased because that is the look that I tried to go for. I think that if you ever stop worrying about it that will be the day something goes wrong so just keep worrying. What dimensions is the tank?