Opinions wanted for new SW tank!

The larger the better for the beginner. If you are not careful things can go wrong and very fast. temp change, water quality.
as for magic SW ready for adding livestock.......

It can be done, but that much biomass in a small tank will require a lot of attention.

If you want to do a pair of clowns, starting with a 20 will make your life easier. Fish are your biggest waste producers, and even the smallest clown species will ultimately be happier in a 15-20 gallon tank. For a 10, you might consider a few neon gobies or no fish at all.

If you want a starfish, the easiest are the serpent stars. They will eat almost anything, can be easily target fed, and will do a little scavenging. A sifting star will need a whole lot more sandbed than you will have. I'm not too fond of chocolate chip stars, because they have a reputation for being predatory.

I like my urchins, but they do eat coralline algae. It's not a problem in my 90, where the coralline can regrow as the urchin grazes elsewhere, but there may not be enough rock for one in a nano tank.

If you're not keeping corals or macroalgae, then lighting isn't much of an issue. Whatever makes things look nice to you.

If you are going to get a skimmer, get a good one. For HOB units, I like the CPR bakpak and AquaC remora. Simmer/filter combinations have terrible reputations. Get a HOB power filter and a couple of powerheads for now and save for a good skimmer if you can't afford it now.

The biological filtration in the tank is in the rock and sand, not the water. The "live" water will not speed your cycle appreciably.

That's a start, Keep the q's coming.

oh this dentist my mum worked for before she went into helping an orthodontist's, they had a nice saltwater tank. it had im pretty sure a bird wrasse.....another fish i cant remember, and this cute puffer! they named it Timmy, and it never hurt anything! it was so sweet too, you'd go up to the glass and its little mouth would kinda smile at you, and then it'd follow you everywhere! im not sure about what it'd eat. but it WOULD probably eat your hermits and probably crush through the snails.

The heater and powerhead are both good.

I would again suggest dumping the skilter. I have yet to hear anyone say something
good about its skimming abilities, and you're better off getting an Emperor or a second powerhead for now and saving for a better skimmer.

I'd buy a bucket of salt rather than a bag. Easier to work with and store, and you'll need it for water changes.

Maybe get a digital thermometer. The Coralife ESU Reptile works great and its $7.95 at Petsmart

you said you were buying your stuff at drsfostersmith.com but you should check out petsolutions.com and bigalonline.com much less expensive

Listen to Morgunda, the skilter is a waste of money. Take it from someone with experience