Starting my first nano - 10 gal or 20L?

[wav3form]

I have a 10gal and a 20L but i'm not sure which one I want to go with. Any suggestions?

 

[wav3form]

I was thinking of doing an all-in-one setup but I was also thinking that the 20L would make a great sump/refugium for the 10gal. I'm trying to do things on a small budget and I would like to keep some corals, a couple hermits, shrimp and maybe a small clown.

 

[theop]

Bigger is better

More water = more stable, but more cost (more lighting, water change volume, etc).

Given the choice, I'd make the 20L the main tank and use the 10g or another 20L as a sump/refugium.

 

[Mark426]

20L...lots of lighting options that way.

 

[LBCBJ]

Definitly the 20g, the more water you have to work with the better, less water means that water parameters must be monitered extremly closley and can change at the drop of a hat, especially for a begginer. Plus you have more choices for fish, corals, and equipment in the 20.

 

[bcoons]

I'd also go with the 20L. I started my first SW tank in a 20L 8 months ago primarily because I had an extra one lying around. Now that I have read a lot more I have come to find that the 20L is considered an excellent size for a nano reef. I'm even thinking about building up another one, with overflows and a sump, to replace my current tank.

I'd go with the 20L dispaly and a 10 gal sump.

 

[wav3form]

Yah this will be my first SW tank as well. I have a 75 gallon mbuna cichlid tank and a 65 gallon with 3 caribe piranha and they're all doing very well. I'm pretty anal about water quality so I think going SW will not be that difficult for me. I like the sump idea but can someone give me a good size for bulkhead fittings? I still may do an all in one to make setup a little easier.

 

[LBCBJ]

I have an 18g clam nano without a sump and it does great. The only filtration I have is an AquaC Remora skimmer. The only you would need a sump would be to increase the amount of water in your system or just to hide things like a heater and skimmer. IMO its more trouble than its worth on such a small tank, of course I would suggest one on a larger one. If I were you I would put all my $$$ into a nice skimmer and be religious with water changes and testing.