i use thinkorswim through td ameritrade. forex is meh, imo.
I had to throw in $25k at the beginning so I can daytrade. I make around $500 a day just trading SPY or UVXY (for down/volatile days).
no, It only takes $500 to get a margin account. By law you have to have 25k to be allowed to make more than 3 trades in a 5 day period. It's a bullshit archaic law that should be revoked (PDT).