Help build a shallow tank

[mushy coral]

AIO Shallow Tank Setup

Tank Dimensions:

55 × 30 × 25 cm (21.6" × 11.8" × 9.8") with a 12 cm (4.7") filtration chamber at one end. Total volume is roughly 10 gallons.

All rockwork and filter media are currently cycling in a tub and will remain there for about six months.

This tank will be either a bubbletip anemone tank or a soft-coral–dominant tank with a few LPS.

Questions

A. Hardware

1. Filtration Chamber Design

I’m planning to divide the filtration chamber into three sections, similar to the reference image.

Chamber 3: Intake

Chamber 1: Return pump

This layout allows a skimmer to be placed in chamber 1 and filter media in chamber 2 (or vice versa).

The downside is that I might not have room for a heater if needed.

Could anyone suggest a more practical or space-efficient chamber layout?

2. Pump and Nozzle Selection

Since this will be either an anemone tank or a soft-coral tank, I’m looking for a pump that provides low to moderate , even flow across the tank.

What turnover rate should I aim for?

For the return, should I use a duckbill nozzle or a 360-degree nozzle (as shown in the image)?

3. Lighting

Due to placement constraints, the light can only be mounted 20–25 cm (7.8"–9.8") above the water’s surface.

What wattage (or specific light model) would provide adequate PAR for the tank’s intended inhabitants?

B. Fish Stocking

How many fish can this tank reasonably support?

Here’s my current stocking plan—would this be viable, and are there better alternatives for a tank this size?

A pair of clownfish (I already have one Picasso)

One wrasse (6-line / fairy / flasher)

One Banggai cardinal/ firefish/ or royal gramma

Any insights or recommendations would be appreciated. Let me know if more information is needed for a better assessment.

 

[Peace River]

There are several things that I like about this but a couple of words of caution - fish tend to jump from shallow tanks; bubble tips often struggles with new tanks and have a better chance at thriving in a mature tank. Good luck!

 

[mushy coral]

There are several things that I like about this but a couple of words of caution - fish tend to jump from shallow tanks; bubble tips often struggles with new tanks and have a better chance at thriving in a mature tank. Good luck!

About the fish yes some of them on my list are jumpers like the fire dart and flasher wrasse so i will reconsider my stock list cause i really dont want a lid on the shallow tank at all it will block the top view which the tank setup was all about. The rocks and filter medias are being cycle at the moment and will continue cycled for few more months and the tank water will be taken from my other tank so i think nems will have no issue with it