To coral or not to coral...

[wrboyle]

I put this earlier in the new hobbiest board, but I think it would be as good (or better) here.
I'm looking for opinions on keeping coral in a nano-tank. The more I read the more I realize how difficult it will be to keep coral in a 12 g tank. I have the nano dx so I should have enough lighting to keep at least sot corals if not hard corals, but just keeping them alive and keeping them happy and healthy is a different story. Is there some necessity in keeping corals? I think I would eventually like to do a reef tank (that is if I don't do it now) but wonder if it wouldnt be better until I can get room (and the 67 million it will cost to do it in a bigger tank). Are there some fish I can keep with (or with out) corals that I couldn't keep otherwise? Can I keep more fish with out corals since there would be more room and a lower bio-load? Any and all help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your help, it has been most appreciated.
-Walter

 

[jacksdad]

Keeping corals in a nano is not necessarily harder than keeping them in bigger tank. Corals need good, if not pristine water quality to thrive. Maintaining that kind of condition is more difficlut in a nano, but not impossible.
I have both a 12DX and a NC24 and haven't had any problems keeping softies. Zoos thrive as well as GSP. I also have a branching torch that I think will need to be fragged soon and an open brain that has been healthy for almost 2 years now. And I am less than diligent when it come to water changes. (I get around to it about twice a month...GASP!)
As far keeping more fish without corals, I don't think so. I could be wrong, but I don't consider coral when it comes to bio-load so the number of fish that can be kept in a 12 gal fish only is the same as a 12 reef. JMO.
Hope this helps,
Bob