Ok, coupla things. FIRST of all, if you're using Ecosystem filtration, you do NOT want a 3" sand bed, you'll have a nitrate factory. With Ecosystems, keep the sand bed LESS than 1", decorative only.
You need about 1.5 lbs. of rock per gallon, so you're looking at between 250 and 300 lbs. of rock.
If he wants a lot of fish, then what I would recommend is a good power compact setup, and go with mushrooms and varied polyps. In a tank with lots of fish, you'll have trouble maintaining SPS and other corals, and he'll get annoyed if they die and look lousy. You can't go wrong with mushrooms and polyps. Also consider carefully the fish you choose, you'll want to have lots of shrimp and crabs in there, so keep that in mind.
Since he has 'unlimited funds', do everything SLOWLY, and correctly. Set up your powerheads under rock so they don't show. Buy backups of the powerhead you're running the ecosystem with, in case it burns out.
Get the new titanium heaters, and put them in chamber 4 on the ecosystem. (Always get 2, not one big one).
Keep me posted!
