I am thinking about getting a 30 gallon tank. I am a novice and I was wondering what is the best thing that I can do to prep, and take care of fish. What type of fish, equipment, and extras should a beginner buy.

Well i hope that you know that it takes ALOT of money to take care of saltwater fish. They say that it is about $50 per gallon to get your tank started (meaning equipment, fish and such) so all together it will cost you approx. %1500 just to start it up and then the tank ontop of that so roughly %2000 depending on the cost of the aquarium. Also they are really complex.
If you are a novice to aquariums in general then i would start with a fresh water community tank which are cheap and VERY easy to take care of.

very true,
also, a 30 gallon isnt really enough to keep a stable salt water aquarium, most people would reccomend 50 or more, anything less is really hard to keep stable, and you need stability in an aquarium with such fragile fish.
i also think freshwater is your better option. if you get cichlids you can mimic a saltwater tank, especially when cichlids have such marine-like behavior and very bright colors.

opps.
I ment to put:
$1500 and $2000
not the percent sign.
ahahahahaha
lol