Question: Cost aside, is a smaller reef tank easier to care for than a larger tank?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

"The solution to pollution is dilution" (i.e. small volume = easily contaminated or negatively chemically affected). Overfeeding once can lead to Ammonia, Nitrite/Nitrate spike or a dead snail can do the same in a pico or small nano; whereas a large tank volume could absorb something like that happening without a large effect.

Small tanks its often more important to have covered because evaporation over a couple of hot summer days can lead to significant evaporation and salinity change. At the same time, you have to be aware of temp. spikes cause small volumes will change more rapidly than large volume systems.

For small systems, I've come to appreciate all-in-ones. Have a Red Sea Max (34g) and really like it. Will be setting up a BioCube 14 next week and that's as small as I would want to go.

The real "trick" with going small is to control the natural urge to overstock. The BioCube14 will be getting a pair of donated tank-bred fancy clowns & an established, "eating frzn" goby.

Anthony

[Oilers]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

"The solution to pollution is dilution" (i.e. small volume = easily contaminated or negatively chemically affected). Overfeeding once can lead to Ammonia, Nitrite/Nitrate spike or a dead snail can do the same in a pico or small nano; whereas a large tank volume could absorb something like that happening without a large effect.

Small tanks its often more important to have covered because evaporation over a couple of hot summer days can lead to significant evaporation and salinity change. At the same time, you have to be aware of temp. spikes cause small volumes will change more rapidly than large volume systems.

Anthony

Very well said. I totally agree.

[mrhasan]

Bigger tank = more forgiving when things go wrong
Smaller tank = lower cost in maintenance and setup (to some extend)

One of the prime advantage of smaller tank is how easily you can carry out maintenance on it than a larger tank (although it can required more maintenance than a bigger system). Another advantage would be how quickly a smaller tank will attain the matured look than a bigger tank. In the end, its more of a personal choice. And I always say, a smaller tank with proper maintenance is much better than a bigger tank with no care.