http://www.sareefkeeping.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19837

With regards to bigger livestock, I often think of nanos as the reefkeeping analog to bonsai. There are definite restrictions on what can (or should) be kept, but that doesn’t just apply to nano tanks. Everything should be proportional; I’m sure there are shark police for all the tang police. Besides, even a 280 gallon is a drop in the bucket compared to the volumes many reef fish are used to.

I agree that temperature and the salinity are more influential for nano tanks. However, these are also some of the easiest variables to control.

You see Jake over at Reefbuilders.com also posted a list.

Then I realized that I wanted some bigger fish, so that started the quest for a bigger tank.

Now I have my 125g tank (300g total water volume). But I also have a 34g Solana, and a 10g breeder.

I love nano tanks! I really do. But, while there is a wow factor about the miniature tank and how perfect it can look, there is also a wow-ness factor when you see a custom in-wall tank that is 9 feet long and visible from both sides!

5. Water Changes. Nothing stopping you from using the same equipment on smaller tanks for automated water changes. You may need to adapt the concept a little, but it’s still very possible. Even so, a 10% manual water change on a 14 gallon tank takes less time than the 10 minutes you take for your automated one on a larger tank.

4. Tang Police. So what. So you can’t get a Hippo Tang that easily get ich when it’s stressed? Big deal. Most of the smaller fish that are suitable for a nano are more colorful than most larger fish, and are more entertaining IMO. Plus, they also don’t cost $200+.

3. WOW Factor. Seriously? Have you seen some of the well put together nanos? I’d say they rival most larger tanks for WOW factor.

2. Stability. Stupidity and ignorance leads to instability in small tanks just as much as it does to large ones.

1. The Gateway Drug. While in many respects that’s true, smaller tanks show the work, effort, and money involved in keeping a reef tank, and often will put a sense of perspective in to what it will take to get into a larger tank. I’d say that more often than not, those that are not prepared and get into a larger tank will get out of the hobby as they start to not be able to afford the upkeep. There is less of a dropout rate with smaller tanks considering the much lower cost of upkeep.