starting a nano tank,HELP!

[ScubaSteve]

I'd say 10g or 15g. The 5's are hard to run stabily (they's pico territory)... I tried it. really easy to do water changes though.

A 50W heater would probably be fine for that size. 100W to be safe.

I'd steer away from CFLs as they tpically have low output and very low colour temp, thus limiting what you can keep and would likely promote algae... atleast in my experience.

HOB, yes.

Egg crate? Meh, only if you feel you need it. It's nice to put under some areas of LR so that critters don't dig under them and topple them but I don't think it's necessary to do the whole area or any of it for that matter.

Softies would be fine with PC lamps. A coralife PC unit would likely be fine. Wait for a lighting deal around here if you want a higher power set-up. I had a 150W halide over a 15g and it was sweet. Remember, colourful corals typically need high light inorder to maintain that colouring; so softie or not, you might want to go for a higher lighting option.

Just my 2 cents.