Mainly just soft corals, maybe some SPS clown pair if possible if not then some gobies and shrimp.
I think soft corals, gobies, and shrimp would be a good starting point, and would likely do just fine with the stock tank, pump and return. If you are hoping to have a pair of clownfish, that tank may be a bit small, but others I’m sure will weigh in on that.
In our hobby, SPS stands for Small Polyp Stoney, and refers to a group of corals that have similar characteristics. Hobbyists, not scientists, decided to group them together. These animals are generally considered more difficult to keep than soft corals. SPS corals typically require higher-end lighting, very high flow, and near perfect and extremely stable water parameters. SPS corals may be a good “down the road” goal once you have some more experience and equipment.
If your budget is super tight, maybe look at something like this:
You can also try a “PAR” styled light bulb. These screw into a regular household lamp socket, so if you already have a desk lamp somewhere this nay be an inexpensive option:
Again, I would try to get a good quality heater for sure.
Currentley just trying to find a light. Nano powerheads are very expensive...
You may not need any additional power heads or pumps in your tank. I would see how much flow you get out of it as is. It’s almost certainly enough for the easiest soft corals. If not, I’d probably look first at upgrading the stock return pump, it’s super easy, you’re just pulling a tube off a nozzle. I’d suggest looking at the inexpensive Rio pumps like this one:
That’s 138 gallons/hour for $26, and would likely be overkill for your tank. They do come both smaller and larger, I’m just showing you that they are inexpensive and super easy to swap out, so don’t worry about that.
But again, I really wouldn’t buy any new pump or return device until you know you need it, you’re probably fine with the stock pump for now.
I would say the first thing you need is a heater. With your tank and a heater, you can get the system running and start your nitrogen cycle process. This is a very necessary process, and can be time consuming (like weeks long). It’s generally best practice not to light your tank during this process.
For example, get a heater now (along with your water, salt mix, buckets, etc.) and start the tank. Begin to cycle the tank, which will take a minimum of about two weeks (with some help) and sometimes as long as 8 weeks. When your cycle is complete and you’re ready to start slowly adding livestock, then you’ll need a light. So you don’t have to buy everything all at once. Get a heater now, and spend the next 6 weeks looking for a great deal on a light.
If you’re not sure what I mean by the nitrogen cycle, and what we call “cycling” a new tank, this would be the first thing you’d want read up on, and I’d be glad to try to help if you have questions about that.
When considering costs have you considered ongoing expenses like salt mix and water? Just some things to keep in mind when considering costs.
Have you thought about rock and sand?
I hope this helps. I am far from an expert, but I’m sure others will chime in as well. If you have any more questions I’ll do my best to try to help.
In the spirit of the season, if I go through my bins of fish-stuff, I may have some odds and ends that would help you get going. Unfortunately I don’t have a light for you, but I may be able to help with other stuff.
