Could this be a nano-beginner reef?

[sylock]

10 gallon tank with a 3 inch DSB and 10 lbs of live rock with a couple crabs/snails. Normal Output lights.
My reason is this. I'm finishing my basement, which I will be putting a 90 gallon reef tank into. I want to show my wife the neat things that can happen. She doesn't want me to spend the money on the 90 gallon ($1500-$2000 after LR and LS). So I want to try to get her hooked using something that wouldn't cost much at all.
No fish, no coral. Just LR and the critters that would hitch-a-ride and some crabs/snails/shimp (whatever).

 

[josh]

Hi, sounds good to me. I have to be honest I am not sure about the DSB as I don't have one. You could always put a mushroom in there. Also, if things go well you use it as a hospital tank in the future. Or you could just save money all together and show her pix of other's tanks or take her to an aquarium or zoo. She would be probably taken more by an established reef than a ten gallon with nothing in it. Just my .02
Josh

 

[fshhub]

i like the dsb, and yes that sounds good in theroy, LOL, we have all said:just this......., but look at us now, LOL, you will probably wind up with a coral or 2 and a small fish anyhow(probably)
and she will love the little one i'm sure, get her involved, if she gets her hands in the thing, you'll have that 90 in no time, guarenteed, just go slow, and keep plugging, there will be problems, none that can't be handled(we all have them in the beginning), an dthe more you do(and her), the more you will want, trust me, we all said one thing, then when we got hooked, we got hooked goooood
and as for possibities, i have seen smaller nano. in fact, there is a web site just for nano reefs, and they even have a 3/4 gallon, i think it is nanoreef.com ro nano-reef.com, check it out

 

[kris walker]

No corals, no fish? I'm not sure that will win her over, but I really wouldn't know. I think you would have better luck with online pics as josh said, or better yet, go to a good lfs where they have a big display-only reef tank.
Good luck!
sam