Since this thread isn't a journal and also isn't marine-specific, I'm going to move the it to tropical discussion for now. I worry if I move it to marine chat there will be zero feedback on the other type of tank in question since that area of the forum is a bit less active than tropical.
Marine: expensive coral and live rock, delicate salt levels
Mbuna: extra filtration needed, expensive fish
Add "expensive fish" to marine as well. Marine livestock tends to be more expensive all around compared to freshwater if money is a main concern. Marine tanks can be cheap, but they tend to be pretty basic and not reefs when done on a tight budget. The livestock for marine is also still largely wild-caught. Captive-bred individuals of some species exist but can be substantially more expensive (although they are usually hardier).
As far as which to pick...research the livestock you're interested in and the costs involved. If neither is a budget problem, then pick whichever set of livestock interests you most. Marine tanks are fascinating and very rewarding if you like ecology and biodiversity at the invertebrate level, as they can provide a diversity of micro-habitats not often seen in freshwater aquaria. If you're stuck for stocking ideas in marine, journals are a good place to look although I assume you've already been through them since you originally posted in the section.
ncguppy830 said:
i only said 55 gallons because i didnt know if the OP kept saltwater before, as 55 gallons is reccomended for begginers and nano reefs are hard to maintain period.
Adding to this response, there are two other fairly specific reasons that sizes like 50-55gal are recommended as the starting size. First, far too many new people to marine botch small marine tanks either due to inexperience or freak accidents and kill a bunch of animals as a result. Even many experienced reefers crash a small tank or two just because there are lots of crazy things that can go wrong. Some problems that will just create a lot of annoying work to fix over a few days in a 55gal can kill everything within hours in a 10gal; extra size is extra buffer against both inexperience and freak accidents. Second, larger tanks are also what is required to meet the needs of what most people are actually interested in: a bunch of fish (plus or minus corals and whatever else). Smaller than that and you have to pick just a few fish, if even one as you go down through nano into the pico range. Basically small tanks like lower end nanos and picos are better suited to invert enthusiasts because of the needs the fish have and their impact on filtration. A lot of people even start out wanting fish that need even bigger tanks than 55gal, which frankly isn't big as marine tanks go.
To put the strong emphasis on safety and buffering against risks into a frame of reference, I used to be very much in the camp of supporting starting with smaller tanks for space and budget reasons. That is, in fact, where I started with a 5gal (although it was invert-only for a long, long time!). However, I stopped waving the pom poms for beginner nanos after I saw even some rather experienced freshwater hobbyists set up tanks that were basically death traps. Experimentation without experience in the basics of marine systems puts the animals involved at greater risk.
