Hi Everyone first post here! Question about small tank.

[Fiver]

you really not saving much money between 20g and 40g. the start up will cost just as much. IMO

I disagree with this. Those of us who have been in the hobby for a long time have the fortune of having spare parts and equipment laying around.

Starting fresh, even if you buy secondhand items online, there will be a big difference between the cost of putting together a 20 vs a 40 gallon tank. Just a 20 long tank itself is less than half the price of a 40 gallon. A 20 long will also fit on top of a lot of sturdy shelves, dressers or countertops the average person will have, while the length and width of a 40 will almost necessitate buying a specific stand. The difference in cost for appropriate pumps to move water will be very noticeable.

For a young, new hobbyist, those cumulative savings can make a huge difference in stretching a budget to allow for good equipment, fish, corals, etc.

 

[gwklam]

I really wanted to put something on my desk as a first tank, only for a year or so, before moving to something much bigger.
I was well aware before starting this thread of the rapid changes that can happen in systems that store less volumes of water.

I still haven't decided on tank size yet(but definitely 20 gallons or larger), but I made of list of the Live stock I may eventually get (nothing more in terms of amount of live stock, I can control myself until a much larger tank arrives.), but not sure if this will make a good ecosystem yet. What do you guys think?

 

[MurphyLong]

That BTA will outgrow a small tank...

 

[Fiver]

A BTA could live in a 20 long for a few years without outgrowing it if you get a small one. But it might move around and chances are higher in a small tank that it could touch and kill your corals. You just have to be vigilant.

 

[Oldreeferman]

Ive always ran Nano tanks and i can say without a doubt you do not want a BTA sharing a tank with corals period. Firstly, anemones require seasoned & pristine tank params which are very hard to hold stable in a nano tank.
As well as a good quality lighting setup.
I have 5 fish all living happily in a 20gal long that is literally stuffed with hard corals end to end and i assure you its akin to taking care of an invalid LOL.
That being said, yes it can be done im doing it now over 3 yrs. but its not for you unless you are all in for the long haul with no room for errors like power outages, water heater failure in the on position, or off in Winter with any time to spare.
My advice is if 20 gal or under...... forget corals period & do FOWLR period, much easier.... no strict params to follow per growth etc.