kris there are a number of corals that are suitable for your tank size but much of your capability will be measured in your skills and lighting set up.
No offense but being a novice at this I would recommend cutting your teeth on some soft corals or Softies as we like to call them. Most are fairly easy to do and many come in some absolutely stunning color morphs, such as Zoanthids and Mushrooms and Ricordia. Zoanthids/Palys and Ricordia are some of my faviorite corals! I just picked up a Blue Ricordia and some Blue Berry Zoanthids from reefgardener one of our sponsors I believe here. I would stay away from the Leather type corals unless you want nothing but various leathers in the tank due to some Chmeical Wafare issues they will create otherwise. But there is a pretty long list of suitable corals in this catagory.
Some Softies that I would persoanlly recommend are Xenia, Kenya Tree corals, Zoanthids, Palys', Starburst Polyps, Yellow Polyps, Mushrooms and Ricordias. This is not the only corals that are possible just some of the fairly easy and fairly common and many are quiet colorful. With these on this list success should come rather easily.
From here, LPS corals are just a small step away in their requiremnts. If you have been successful with Softies for several months and have adequate lighting its an easy transition to these corals. They do however have sweepers in mmost cases that they will extend and sting other corals with so they will need some elbow room. Something like a Candy Cane or Trumpit coral is one that comes to mind thats preety suitable. Some of the Brian Corals may also be in the offing as well.
From there is you really want to be challanged and think you got enough gas in the tank, SPS corals can really be colorful and awsome. But this will require pristine water conditions, husbandry skills and some pretty intense lighting. Dont recommend this route until you consider yourself a fairly advanced reefer. Even then they can be quiet the challenge. I am currently in the process of setting up and stocking one of my established 10 gallon Nanos thats being Upgraded. Hopefully in a month or so I can start adding some photos and what not as a example that someone can loosely follow.
HTH's
) I think that you should start here, and may even stay here. This list in my opinion represents some of the hardiest, least expensive, and fun to look at corals.
