Maintaining a Stable Environment: Does Tank Size Matter?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

No matter the size of your tank, reef keeping can present unique challenges in every tank and to every hobbyist. But does the size of your tank predispose you to issues?

Do you think the size of a tank can make it easier or harder to maintain a stable environment for your reef? Let's talk about it!

Photo Credit: @shaner014

 

[F i s h y]

Maintaining proper water parameters is no more or less difficult in a large or small tank in my opinion. You have to set up and stick to a schedule that allows your parameters to stay stable. As your tank changes so must your schedule of tasks. I.E. water changes, dosing, maintenance, etc.

What makes smaller tanks more difficult sometimes is that if an unexpected event happens, the parameters can swing much more rapidly in a small tank potentially causing catastrophic disaster.

When i started reefing way back when... I was told...

The solution to pollution is dilution.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I will always tell people that get into the hobby to start at a minimum of 40g and up. Preferably larger with plenty of room for equipment in sump. Bad things happen more quickly in a nano.

 

[exnisstech]

Maintaining proper water parameters is no more or less difficult in a large or small tank in my opinion. You have to set up and stick to a schedule that allows your parameters to stay stable. As your tank changes so must your schedule of tasks. I.E. water changes, dosing, maintenance, etc.

What makes smaller tanks more difficult sometimes is that if an unexpected event happens, the parameters can swing much more rapidly in a small tank potentially causing catastrophic disaster.

When i started reefing way back when... I was told...

The solution to pollution is dilution.

^^ pretty much what I was thinking

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I've always heard the best tank size to start with is a 40-50g. I feel like with a bigger tank you have more wiggle room than one that is smaller.

 

[Nano_Man]

At. the beginning of this journey but as years have gone by I would say it doesn’t matter there’s pros and cons for both small and large setups. The smallest I’ve kept was a jam jar and largest 100g these days I would rather have the jam jar

 

[Chikpeas]

I’d say it depends on how much time you’re willing to dedicate and how much experience you have. A large tank you can leave a lot longer before having to do top offs, water changes, and water tests…. Nano tank? You’re doin this daily. All of it.

It also helps that every-time you test you’re parameters on a nano (mine’s 7 gall), you’re basically doing a water change with the syringe
If something goes wrong though you have to catch it immediately or you’re doomed.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I’d say it depends on how much time you’re willing to dedicate and how much experience you have. A large tank you can leave a lot longer before having to do top offs, water changes, and water tests…. Nano tank? You’re doin this daily. All of it.

It also helps that every-time you test you’re parameters on a nano (mine’s 7 gall), you’re basically doing a water change with the syringe
If something goes wrong though you have to catch it immediately or you’re doomed.

great point. Experience in the hobby pays dividends in maintaining any size tank.

 

[Bpp124987]

Of the people who have responded how many have had tanks of various sizes and aren’t just repeating conventional wisdom

 

[VintageReefer]

My 1.1 gallon pico is designed to be low maintenance. I haven’t had to do anything but swap out coral as it outgrows the tank, and add top off to the gravity ato

I don’t have to clean glass, do water changes, nothing. Once in a while I’ll add a few drops of all for reef and reef energy ab+

You can keep a pico or nano easily, but it takes self control and planning. 1.1g is easy to pollute so my rule is no fish, minimal snails and hermits, and no corals that require feeding. If I’m not putting food in the tank, I’m limiting phosphates and nitrates. I have just enough of a clean up crew to keep the sand, glass, and rocks clean on their own. It’s perfectly balanced and maintains itself

 

[Extremeengineer]

I am sure viewpoints, opinions, and experiences matter, but my noob perspective is this; a small tank will have greater swings due to less “volume buffering”, But I chose my salt based on parameters, so I do 20% water changes in a 75 once a week, and so far that’s been great.

 

[VintageReefer]

A swing on a small tank is easier to happen, but it’s also easier and faster to fix

 

[VintageReefer]

On my 1.1g pico if I had a terrible parameter swing I could literally make 1g of saltwater in an emergency and do a 100% water change and have the issue resolved in less than a half hour. I could even siphon 1g out of my other tank to save even more time

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I have always had various size tanks ( MTS) if I had a spare tank, I would put water in it because I could. As stated before, different size tanks have there own challenges. The bigger the tank, the bigger the buffer, but also changes happen slower, good or bad. Nano/picos, things can happen quick, but you can also make effective changes quick.
If you want to learn how to become a good reefer, start with a 6g tank. If you can learn stability with that, then you will do well with a bigger tank. But for some, it is hard to become content with a small tank. (Too many fish/corals in the sea as they say) A small tank requires much more patience. In the end, when your successful, it will be worth it.
Or buy a big tank, and whine (forum) because you have an issue for over a year you can't solve no matter what you do. :thinking-face:

 

[Rach77]

Of the people who have responded how many have had tanks of various sizes and aren’t just repeating conventional wisdom

I currently have a 20 gal AIO and a 6 gal. Previously had a 75 gal and a 150gal. With years of experience and time to dedicate... Large tanks are definitely easier to maintain, as someone else previously stated smaller tanks, you MUST check daily if you love your life systems, as things can go downhill quickly from eg: snail death causing nitrate/nitrite spike. I have also found that fish also seem to be more stressed in the smaller environments, which sets them up for more disease issues such as ich. I currently have 4 small fish in the 20 gal and it seems too many for their territory choices. Tons of rockwork for hiding. Springeri damsels are quite territorial.

 

[Bob Weigant]

I used to run nothing but medium to big size tanks. Now Im in a 35L and pay much closer attention to things. So far so good

 

[timmyrules]

My very first tank was a 1.5 gallon….i kept nems and corals in it. And, I would say it actually LESS maintenance than my other tanks.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

for new reefers, i’d say it is actually a bad idea to recommend anything under 30 gallons.