I've got a hoodless 29 gallon biocube with a Chinese black box hanging over it and a micro ato, deep sand bed (which I never vacuum). Inhabitants are a Valentini puffer, firefish, and a cave goby and a big clean up crew and it's stuffed with mostly softies and lps, but have a few sps scattered throughout. I only do a two gallon water change once a month with zero problems. Well, other than my valentini eating monti caps like potato chips ;Bored. It's the easiest reef I've got. So yeah, go for it! But I'd give a used biocube from CL a look, the glass is very clear and you can get them CHEAP!