I was trying to think of something that you could keep changing. Because you keep buying more tanks lol how many do you have now? You could start with a fowlr ( fish only with live rock) tank and just keep upgrading to more fish and lights and corals and so on and so on lol as time and money become better.
Anyways
There are some Cichlids you can keep with plants and some its just recommended not to. I know people that have got away with plants and some that have been destroyed. With me I couldn't keep them it drove me crazy seeing the live ones all torn up and dug up, the fake ones drove me crazy too. Here is a picture of my tank and you'll see you can still have fun with just rocks
For me its the fish I'm trying to show off not the plants.
I hope this helps and ill stop rambling now lol plus I'm not trying to talk ya into anything just trying to give ya stuff to think about.