I think your idea of a touching tank is kind of cool! That being said however, I don't think it is the safest for your living animals in your tank.
By putting your hands in the tank you run the risk of adding pollutants into the water, stressing your fish out and possibly getting infections yourself if you have a cut etc.
If the tank wer much bigger, the chnaces of pollutants entering your water column would not be as prevalent and the pollutants would be dilluted somewhat as is the case with many other variables(ie. salinity and temperature variations). That is one major reason why people get as big of a tank as they can to lessen the implications caused by human error especially!
If you do decide to continue to pursue this "touch" tank, make sure your skimmer is working adequately, better yet, wear gloves when placing your hands in your tank.
Also, make sure that if you get Sea Stars, you DO NOT remove them from the water...you run the risk of killing them if you do!
Best of luck with whatever tank you decide on! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | 
