The ETA is something you'd really need to touch base with your vendor on, but in terms of what you need on hand for arrival:
1. Fist, inspect the package for any damage, impact marks (etc.), take pictures and mark this on the shipping waybill if there is any visible damage. Note: Don't feel bad about making the courier wait while you open the box for inspection.
2. The stand comes disassembled and the components are both in and under the tank, so you'll need to set the tank off to the side to gain access to everything. Important: The overflow bulkheads stick out from the bottom of the tank, so don't set it down flat (you'll need to place padding, foam or blankets under the tank to support it). Also, the black vinyl on the back of the tank can be scratched or torn easily - so be careful handling on that side.
3. Assemble the stand first, then mount the doors and add the sump last (just trust me on this). Some assembly is required - and the instructions provided for the stand are not the greatest to read and sometimes hard to comprehend as they switch perspective a lot. Tip: If you plan to add a ReefMat 500 fleece roller, unless your tank is a G2 you'll want to get the sump modification kit and make the changes to the sump first before setting up.
To move the tank itself you're going to need two strong individuals (ideally three) - and this is where those glass suction cups come in handy (these can be rented for reasonable prices). Again, make sure you don't attach them to the back as they'll tear the black backing.
Other things that you can do now:
* Figure out where you want to mount your electronics and order any panels or pull-out sliders (Red Sea makes a slide-out panel and Adaptive Reef makes an awesome control panel).
* Plan some flexibility into your build, which could include a UV, reactor, etc. if you're not adding any of these at the outset (although I do recommend a UV).
* Pickup a bunch of the orange 5-gallon pails from Home Depot and start filling them with RO water - then seal up until you need them. You can add the RO water to perform your leak test and then mix the salt directly into the tank with some wavemakers when the time arrives.
* Get some extra filter socks if you're going that route - as these need to be changed out every 3-5 days. I like the 100-micron felt, but these also accumulate debris faster.
Good luck!
