Minimum Recommended Tank Size

[tech27]

How small a tank can one have for LS/LR/Corals and Fish? I'm thinking of
starting on a smaller one and learning instead of possibly having an
(expensive) disaster in my 100 gallon display tank.

I would set it up just the same (refugium, heater, skimmer, lighting, etc)
as the big tank will be.

Thanks



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[Pszemol]

"tech27" > wrote in message ...
> How small a tank can one have for LS/LR/Corals and Fish? I'm thinking of
> starting on a smaller one and learning instead of possibly having an
> (expensive) disaster in my 100 gallon display tank.
>
> I would set it up just the same (refugium, heater, skimmer, lighting, etc)
> as the big tank will be.

The minimum I could suggest will be 40 gallon breeder tank: 3 feet long
and wider than a regular non-breeder with larger surface/volume ratio.

There is a lot of options for lights if you have 3 feet long tank...
For example: a nice fit you will got on twin 34" 96W powercompacts lamps.
You could hide 4 of those under a custom canopy and have 360W of light :-)

I have 30 gallon 3 feet (not breeder, regular one) and I am missing
space for rockwork. This is too small tank in my opinion...

Of course - bigger means better in this hobby, so larger tank will be
easier to keep, more stable and the maintenance less often required.
4 feet tanks seem to be more standard everywhere I look :-)

Smaller than 30g tanks are for experts only becasue they are not stable.
They call this "nano-reef", they have limited animals placement as well.