thinking of getting back in!

Should be about 2 gallons of water in it by the time you are done.
I am with Marshall.Go FW get some fake corals/plants and three cardinal tetras and call it a day.Or go a little larger and add 1 redtail shark.(a healthy 1 is FREAKIN AWESOMENESS.) I have been doing this forever and would never even attempt what you are thinking of doing.

 

I like the 14 gallon bio-cubes- because of the way the hood functions there is very little evaporation and has a nice clean look. Check out craigslist, i bet you could pick one up for 150 if you kept an eye out

 

i dont believe any of this will be a problem, the room is temperature controlled and i have kept several small nanos in here before including 3 separate dwarf seahorse tanks that were only 1-2 gallons.

i was really interested in the mr. aqua rimless tanks ive been looking at. i was thinking of the 3 or 5 gallon long bookshelf tank.

as for the 200 dollar limit that is strictly for equipment. that wouldnt include fish or live rock or anything.

something like this would just be fantastically simply. although i know those lights are not coral capable, i will most likely only have some ricordeas in the tank.

Amazon.com: Mr. Aqua 1.5 Gallon Mini Frameless Glass Aquarium Tank 12 x 4.3 x 6.3 Inch: Pet Supplies

but i was also looking at this, i know its a cheap tank but at that price i could scrap that light fixture and throw a par30 over it or something.

Aqueon® Evolve 4™ nano All-Inclusive Desktop Aquarium with LED - Aquariums - Fish - PetSmart

i know the price range for equipment at least is very doable for me, i dont tend to fancy up my aquariums with all that gear/gadgets.

if worse comes to worse i can always just get a setup off craigslist for that price easy haha

 

all three of these tanks look like good options as well for me.

JBJ Cubey 3 Gallon Pico LED Aquarium

Innovative Marine 4 Gallon Pico Aquarium w/ 4 Watt 14000K Skkye Light Clamp LED Light

Ecoxotic EcoPico 5 Gallon Desktop Aquarium w/ LED Fixture

 

I have the Evolve 8. It is really only around 5.5 gallons in the DT. I like it though. Not stocked yet besides some Kenya Tree, but I am using the stock light, stock pump, stock filters, and an Eshopps Nano Skimmer. Will be a softy w/ goby/pistol shrimp tank. I am making a fan controller, and then an ATO from autotopoff.com. Total cost should be right around $200.

 

yeah that seems like a great little setup to me.

 

Figured that was more what you were looking for. Obviously the skimmer is by far the most expensive part, and is not necessarily needed. I may throw a Hydor Pico powerhead in there as well.

 

yeah i dont usually find that i need a skimmer, i will do water changes every other day so its not really needed at all. maybe along the way i may find a need for one but not from the get go i dont believe..

 

Water changes on a small tank seem interesting to me. The smallest I have ever had was a 29 gal- I bet the water being the same temp is pretty important