Has anyone had luck with 8 gallon tank??

[lennon]

I am buying an in wall tank. I decided to go with the 32L by 4 1/2" front to back. about 20" high.

Do you think I can do a reef tank or will the maintenance be incredible?

I need to make my final decision as to SW or FW.

Thanks in advance to everyone that helps with this.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

4.5 inches front to back will be hard. The corals will have no room to grow. Plus finding LR that will fit will be an even bigger challenge. Not to mention getting a magfloat or other algae scraper around the corals / live rock wouldn't be easy. IMO. it's just too narrow for a reef tank. As we all learn, if it's hard to do the maintainence, it doesn't get done as often as it should.

I hope that helps.

Angie

[graphixx]

I agree with Angie, your gonna run into to many problems with the constriction of space. and your going to be soooo limited on stock you can put in that tank. I would not do a reef. i wold be hesitant to do a FOWLR tank because of the lack of front to back depth.

[dakar]

Not impossible, though the smaller tank will pose it's own challenges.... Tonga branch makes for good LR for a narrow tank, fish only with some LR would likely be the best option is you must have the in-wall tank, however with only 8g total volume it will limit the amount of livestock you can effectively provide a good home for, since the 48" 18g tank is out of consideration.

[Fatman]

My local fish store has a 5 gallon desk nano with a PC lighting it , it has mainly softies and 1 goby.

[lennon]

I think after all consideration, I may do the 18 gallon instead then.

I can fit LS, some tonga LR and then maybe do critters and a few fish.


I am also considering just doing a regular tank BUT I would like to have a "dory" fish and a couple of clown fish. The only thing is that everyone tends to say you need 50+ gallons to do the dory fish. It's so strange because I have seen that fish in smaller tanks.

Please help. What would be the smallest tank I can get for that fish?


I am happy I have not purchased anything yet

[graphixx]

if you do a "dory" fish you will need at least 50 gallons if you do anything smaller than that your condeming that fish to eventually die. They need a lot of space and grow large fairly quick. You would be able to do a clown in the 18 gallon.
Look into some of the gobies, like the catalina goby or the red head, they are small fish and have a lot of personality also like a 6 line wrasse, they are great fish, beautifull and do well in a smaller tank. But i would strongly suggest not putting a tang in a tank that small.

[at]

what is a dory fish?

[lReef lKeeper]

dory = Blue Hippo Tang, they get to be about 12" and the minimum tank size recommended is 100gal. i would agree with Greg (graphixx22), in not recommending it for anything less than a 50gal tank. you would probably have to trade him in because he WILL outgrow the tank.